By Darleen Hopkins

Question: What do you get when you combine an old wool sweater, a washing machine and a little imagination?

Answer: Anything!

A few years ago I discovered felting (I believe it is called “fulling” when a wool item is already made and then fluffed up but it’s often referred to as “felting”). I had a beautiful partial wool sweater that I just could not wear. Even with a cotton turtleneck underneath, I was bothered by the itchy wool, but I loved the colors in the sweater so I held onto it. One day I decided I wanted a tea cozy. Rather than purchase one, I felted my sweater in the washer. This created a really nice thick fabric. I cut it to shape, sewed the two pieces together and lined it with an old dish towel on the inside to keep the wool fuzzies from getting in my drinks. Now I have an adorable tea cozy and enjoy my beautiful sweater every day!

Felting is fun and easy and can repurpose just about any wool fabric into something new. So, what does this have to do with crocheting? Well, you can make a fantastic Ice Scraper Mitt if you felt an old sweater, cut two pieces to size, embellish with an adorable crocheted snowflake, sew together and voilà! You have a beautiful handmade gift. I used felted wool sweaters to back my Pizza! Pizza! hot pads to protect my counter tops from hot items. Crocheted coasters can be backed to add extra protection from condensation. Or, cut appliques from the fabric and decorate crochet hats or purses.

Felting isn’t just for old sweaters. You can crocheting anything and then felt it. Follow a pattern using a hook one or two sizes bigger than the pattern calls for (remember, the item will shrink as it felts), then felt it and enjoy the results. Here is an example. I crocheted this adorable Christmas tree stocking ornament in a hook two sizes bigger than the pattern called for and then felted it in the washer. I love the result, what do you think? (Note, I added some white roving and needle felted it on the rim.)

Great! How do I do it?

Well, it’s easy. Place your item to be felted in your washer. Turn it on and relax! That is essentially it. It’s best to place the item in a mesh delicates/lingerie bag and wash with your towels, sheets or other items you would normally was in hot. You can also use your cold cycle if you only wash in cold as the agitation of the items in the washer will also felt the fabric. After ten minutes or so, check and see if you have the desired effect. If not, keep it in until you do. Lay your item out to air dry. If you have a front load washer, never fear. Just use the shortest cycle as you will get to a point where you won’t be able to open the door to check on your fabric. You may need to run it through a couple of cycles to get the desired amount of felting.

Felting is fun but remember, once the items has felted (shrunk) you cannot undo it. Take your time, check your item a couple of times during the wash cycle and start with something small that would be OK if it didn’t come out perfect.

Important Notes:

• The more you felt an item, the tighter the fabric will be and the less the individual stitches will show.
• Very thin fabrics may stick to themselves and they would be best not felted in the washer.
• Only animal fibers will felt. (For instance, wool, alpaca, cashmere)
• Synthetics and plant based yarns will not felt. (For instance, cotton, acrylic, bamboo)
• Most feltable fabrics/yarn will shrink 20-30%.
• Your yarn or fabric should be at least 70% animal fiber to get a good felted result.
• Superwash wool has been specially treated to NOT felt.
• You CANNOT go backwards, so go slowly!

About the Author
Darleen Hopkins is addicted to crocheting, designing and recycling and is always looking for ways to combine the three. She lives in beautiful northern Georgia with her husband and two boys who often inspire her designs and serve as her design consultants. Feel free to email her at crochetByDarleenHopkins@gmail.com or you can find her on Facebook and on Ravelry. Enjoy!

Article & images © Darleen Hopkins. All rights reserved.