How to Felt Your Knits

[@tbrew8222]

I do this to my sweaters on purpose (for wearing, not crafts). it makes them way more durable, way more wind proof, and even rain resistant (especially if you add lanolin later on). scrubbing them first with a brush helps a LOT, it teases out a bunch of hairs that then add to the felting process. Also, rubbing is the way to go! Its the same reason many wool tags say not to rub or twist in laundering... but if felting over is the intent- definitely do both. I get my sweaters in XL and do this extra hot to shrink and tighten the knit in the same process. Rapid cooling locks it where it is when youre done. And if you should run into a purist or a stickler for words; Technically, this is "fulling", and "felting" is unwoven loose fibers made into a matt. I call it felting though, many have never heard the term fulling.

[@lindasusandelozier1567]

What kind of brush do you use? Thanks

[@Stephlovesnapping]

Lol I used my salad spinner bowl & a potato masher. Rinsed then spun out the water. Repeatedly!! But it was worth it since I don’t have a washer. 😊

[@neige_knits]

Please explain your process? 😊😊

[@Stephlovesnapping]

@@neige_knits I placed the slippers in the salad spinner bowl with the spinner in it then added water. Took my potato masher and just mashed and “stirred” the slippers into the sides and bottom of the spinner basket. Then I put the lid on & spun out the water. Then I kept repeating until they got the the desired fabric & size. Hope this helps. ♥️

[@neige_knits]

@@Stephlovesnapping thank you!! 😁

[@Stephlovesnapping]

@@neige_knits any time! Hope it helps! ♥️

[@LloydsofRochester]

For people who don't know, that was a 2 x 2, NOT a 4 x 4, she just misspoke. A 4 x 4 is something you'd use for a fence post and would be way too big and heavy to use in a bucket. And you can wash a plunger, so get one of those and use it. Much easier.

[@marypfeffer997]

Thanks for showing us both ways to felt-wash!

[@christi4169]

Thanks so much, I would love to see you do some farming videos!

[@pixiew93]

I've seen ads for a hand agitator that might be a good substitute for a washing machine

[@egoreknits]

Thank you for sharing.

[@momgib2000]

Well, because of this KAL I knitted my first pair of slippers. AND hauled my wringer washer to the basement... by myself lol! Uffda! They are agitating now. Fingers crossed! Thank you for the advice in your tutorials, I would have been too chicken to do it otherwise: ). Btw, as a former dairy farm girl I totally reccomend a wringer washer for an occasional deep clean of barn clothes. :)

[@juliamartin4141]

I kinda wonder why the top doesn’t felt to the sole!?! I suppose if they were pressed together they would felt together. I’m going to try to knit some for me AND my sisters.

[@FaerieFenergles]

When I was 17 I knitted a newborn cardigan. I didn't have a washing machine. I used to do my clothes washing in a large electric copper which boiled the clothes. Because I was so young I didn't realise the properties of wool so the baby jacket went into the copper with the other clothes. Oops! It sure felted up a treat and came out doll sized. I wonder how short boiling would affect slipper felting.

[@PurlTogether]

Good question! Let me know if you try it.

[@TheRealRealHousewife]

Wet and soap and roll up and rollback and forth with hands it’s same as wet felting also wet soap and lay flat and roll a wooden massager over and over it

[@QEDOma]

I love your slipper pattern! I wish I knew how to knit! 💗🧶

[@PurlTogether]

You can start learning here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/on-TYYmin9GkaNE

[@Fuj109]

Hi, Jana….I just finished my first clog…just one so far. I am going to wash it now. Can I throw it in the dryer instead of air drying it? I actually thought that the drying process (all this time) was what did the felting. Live and learn…🤷‍♀️

[@PurlTogether]

Yes you can, but the heat and agitation may cause more felting, so be careful and check them often!

[@lynnvancouvering4563]

Thank you for sharing that! Audio was a bit on the quiet side, FYI, but good information. :-)

[@highwaytohealth1040]

Thank u for the video. Where can I find a pattern for those slippers?

[@PurlTogether]

There is a link in the video description

[@erinbarry3368]

I have a very similar pair of slippers that i felted myself years ago. They have a hole in the heel. Any thoughts on how to repair them? I have read you can use needle felting, but i have never done needle felting

[@PurlTogether]

You might try knitting a patch and felting it, then sewing it on. Or you can search KZbin for needle felting. That's a viable option also.

[@erinbarry3368]

@@PurlTogether i thought about sewing on a felted patch, but sew it on with what? Any yarn, wool yarn. And i have somewhat considered needle felting, but with no tools or experience, i don't know that i'd want that to be my first attempt. :/

[@LushMontana]

THANK YOU😻😻😻🎈🎈🎈🧸🧸🧸👍👍👍

[@pamholland7005]

So I knitted the clogs for my mom...felted the heck out of them, threw them in the dryer and they are still too big. I made a women's large and Mom wears a size 10 shoe. Will they continue to shrink if I keep adding them to the wash? Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@PurlTogether]

What type of yarn did you use? Was it 100% wool? If so, depending upon the breed of sheep and the type of wool, it may take a while to felt them down to size. Yes, you should be able to wash them with towels or jeans, on hot, and shrink them more. Let me know how it goes!

[@pamholland7005]

@@PurlTogether I used Alafosslopi, which was pretty rough but, 100% wool. I will keep washing them. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the reply.

[@karieschneider746]

I miss living on the farm. ):

[@courtneyhowe8832]

Can a Fisherman’s rib hat be felted?

[@PurlTogether]

Anything that is made of 100% wool can be felted.

[@courtneyhowe8832]

@@PurlTogether can 100% acrylic yarn be felted? The Internet is giving me ambiguous answers.

[@rondaboyle9362]

When you agitated in the washer, did you air dry? If so, how long did it take?

[@PurlTogether]

I live in a very dry climate, so they were pretty dry after 24 hrs.

[@karenrussell7306]

Great videos!! LOVE your buffalo hat!! Where’d you get it??

[@PurlTogether]

I got the bison hat from a little shop in Centennial, WY

[@karenrussell7306]

Purl Together -l live 5 miles from Buffalo, NY & I’d love to have one! It’s different.

[@karen427M]

What is the best way to clean/wash the felted clogs?

[@PurlTogether]

I just throw them in the washer with a load of towels or jeans. Stretch them if necessary when they're finished and air dry.

[@linnmusic]

But how hot? Is 95 degrees Celcius too hot ?

[@PurlTogether]

I'm not certain of the actual temperature. When I used the front loading washing machine, I used the hot setting and when I felted by hand in the bucket, I just used the hottest water that my hands could stand from the faucet.

[@courtneyhowe8832]

🤩🤩🤩🥰🥰🥰

[@Tinacrafts2]

Ohhh....I’m excited! I’m going to dirty up my jeans so I can have something to throw in with my clogs. I’ve a top loader so they’ll have plenty of agitation. But wait...if I want agitation I have a husband for that. Haha 😂, just kidding. After 47 years together we’ve got it all worked out.😉🙌