HOW TO FELT YOUR KNITTING

Felting is a fun, popular way to make artistic accessories. With the beautiful yarns available today you are only limited by your imagination.

 

BASIC FELTING INSTRUCTION

There is lots of advice on how to felt your knitted projects. After much experimenting, the following is how I felt.

  • Put your project in a zippered pillow protector! Do not use a mesh bag as some instructions suggest, it allows loose fibers to come off in your washer. I had to pay a repairman to take my washing machine apart because the fibers has caused a problem between the tub and the sides of the washer which didn’t allow it to spin. 
  • Set your hot water heater to very hot, the water should be too hot to touch. 
  • Fill the tub to a low setting and place pillow protector with your project in the water. Add a beach towel or something abrasive. Put a squirt of dishwashing detergent, like Ivory or Joy in the water.
  • Let the machine agitate. Meanwhile, set your timer and start checking your project after about 6 minutes. Open the bag and take a look. Some projects take up to half an hour. Only you can decide when it is done, you may be looking for a certain size or a “look”. 
  • Place the project in the sink in cold water and leave it for a few minutes to cool. Rinse again. Roll in a towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Lay project in a draft free place and dry, it can take up to a few days.