Felted Slippers

[jennrz4]

Hi Everyone.

I picked up some wool yarn while on vacation and worked up some slippers for myself. I made them big because I remembered reading that the felting (fulling?) process actually shrinks the finished product.

Here's my question. I'm not really sure how to go about the actualy felting process. I know it involves the washing maching, hot water and some soap, but that's about it. Do I need to stuff the slippers with something so they don't felt themselves closed? Should I have other things in the wash too or just do them alone? Any good ideas on how long I should leave them in the agitation? Or do you just stand by and watch?

Thanks for any feedback you might have.

Jenn
My New Blog (http://crochetcrafts.blogdrive.com)

[Julie]

Do I need to stuff the slippers with something so they don't felt themselves closed? No, they might mesh some fibers together, but you can pull it apart easily. My purse was fine when I felted it.

Should I have other things in the wash too or just do them alone? First off, put the slippers into a pillowcase that you can zip shut, preferably, or tie shut at the least. The fibers will get everywhere before you know it. Agitation speeds the whole thing up, and a pair of old jeans or a couple of old towels in the water does the trick.

Any good ideas on how long I should leave them in the agitation? Or do you just stand by and watch? You can check it after each wash cycle, which is why the zippered bag is the best. Easier than untying a wet pillowcase. See how the felting is going, if it looks right to you then you can stop after one cycle, or maybe it might take two or three. Just remember you can always felt it more later, if you aren't happy, but you can't ever unfelt it! <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/oops.gif" />

Hope that helps!

[SamplerLady]

I strongly suggest that towels are not a good thing to put in the washewr when felting items. Even if they are in a pillow case. Major pilling can occur and it's no fun picking off all those things. Jeans, tennis balls, sneakers are great for assisting the felting process. You may find more information at any of these sites. :bigsmile

www.mielkesfarm.com/felt_soap.htm (http://www.mielkesfarm.com/felt_soap.htm)
www.feltcrafts.co.nz/inde...structions (http://www.feltcrafts.co.nz/index.php?felting-instructions)
www.mielkesfarm.com/ (http://www.mielkesfarm.com/)
www.hatshapers.com/Feltin...ctions.htm (http://www.hatshapers.com/Felting_Instructions.htm)
www.heartstringsfiberarts...tm#another (http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/feltedberet.shtm#another)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/beginner.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/beginner.htm)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/feltball.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/feltball.htm)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/kidprjct.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/kidprjct.htm)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/hatbuc.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/hatbuc.htm)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/cobweb.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/cobweb.htm)
www.outbackfibers.com/info/scarf.htm (http://www.outbackfibers.com/info/scarf.htm)
www.feltcrafts.co.nz/index.php?felting0 (http://www.feltcrafts.co.nz/index.php?felting0)
www.peak.org/~spark/feltlistFAQ.html (http://www.peak.org/~spark/feltlistFAQ.html)
www.gfwsheep.com/flatfelt/flatfelt3.html (http://www.gfwsheep.com/flatfelt/flatfelt3.html)
www.weavespindye.org/html/felting1.html (http://www.weavespindye.org/html/felting1.html)
www.gfwsheep.com/felting/felt.html (http://www.gfwsheep.com/felting/felt.html)
www.allfiberarts.com/libr...blfelt.htm (http://www.allfiberarts.com/library/felt/blfelt.htm)
www.blacksheepdesigns.com...ctions.htm (http://www.blacksheepdesigns.com/black%20sheep/felting_instructions.htm)
gfwsheep.com/feltballs/feltballs2.html (http://gfwsheep.com/feltballs/feltballs2.html)
www.heartstringsfiberarts...beret.shtm (http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/feltedberet.shtm)
www.geocities.com/Fashion...ebees.html (http://www.geocities.com/FashionAvenue/Stage/4944/freebees.html)
www.peak.org/~spark/feltaroundsoap.html (http://www.peak.org/~spark/feltaroundsoap.html)
www.organic-cotton-clothe...-wool.html (http://www.organic-cotton-clothes.com/hand-felted-wool.html)

[Julie]

That's a very good point about the towels. I use a pair of jeans when I felt, but have read elsewhere of people using really old towels. It's good to thing to remember! No pilling!! <img border=0 src="http://img28.photobucket.com/albums/v84/crochetville/wha.gif" />

[jennrz4]

Wow! Great replies and great links! Thanks guys. Maybe I'll try to felt them tonight when I get home.

Jenn

[marlodc]

I have made two pairs of slippers. No they wont mesh together when washed. Also you can wash the felted item with towels as long as you put the felted item in a zipper pillowcase. I do it all the time. here is a link to some of the felted items I have made.
www.marloscrochetcorner.c...ochet.html (http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/Felting%20Crochet.html)

marlo

marlo's crochet corner
www.marloscrochetcorner.com (http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com)
that girl
www.marloscrochetcorner.c....php?cat=1 (http://www.marloscrochetcorner.com/blog/index.php?cat=1)

[crochetgrl]

I just have to say WOW to sampler lady! That is an awful lot of links! I will have to remember this post for when I get adventurous (sp?) enough to do some fulling myself!:lol

[SamplerLady]

You're more than welcome for the links. When I decide to try something new, I do most of my research on line and save the links. Glad I could share them! :bigsmile