Step #1 ~~ Select the sweater you wish to felt. Below is the one I chose.
Step #2 ~~ Wash the sweater in HOT water. I use detergent as well, just to ensure it is nice and clean.
Step #3 ~~ Dry the sweater on high heat in the dryer.
Step #4 ~~ Wash in hot water again.
Step #5 ~~ Dry again.
Here is the end result!
Your wool sweater is now felted and ready for a new purpose! I will be posting some fun, cute ways to use felted sweaters in the coming days here on my blog. Be sure to check back!!!
A few points to remember:
1. I have found at second hand stores that most of the wool sweaters have already been accidentally tossed in the washer and/or dyer....thus shrinking it and resulting in its arrival at the resale shop. If this is the case, you may only have to wash/dry one time.
2. As you can see below, these sweaters will shrink considerably! I put a recorder in the picture to depict how much smaller it does get after washing and drying. Depending on the intended purpose...be sure to choose sizing carefully! I almost always go for at least a women's large or extra large.
3. You must use a 100% wool sweater in order for the fibers to fuse properly to prevent unraveling when cut.
4. If your sweater has a musty smell or smells of moth balls (I had one of these recently that smelled up the whole house!!) just pour 1/2 cup of vinegar in with the washing. That should take care of that!
Before Felting
After Felting
Linked to: Not Just a Housewife, Hope Studios
That is cute. I made an end table out of an old suitcase. All I had to do was screw metal furniture legs to the bottom of the suitcase. It gives the room an antique feel.
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