Easy Fun Crafts - How to "Felt" Your Yarn Crafts

How to "Felt" Your Yarn Crafts

Felting gives knitted items a whole new look. It eliminates the definition of the stitches, creating a soft, smooth piece. Felting is most commonly done to hats, purses and other accessories.

The easiest way to felt your crafts is in the washing machine.

Here's how to do it, step by step:

1. Set your washing machine on the hottest temperature, longest agitation cycle, and lowest water setting. Adding detergent is optional, but if you do, it's important to use only a very small amount.
2. Place the item you are felting in a pillowcase, preferably one that zips shut. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it will keep your project from getting hung or lost in the washer and keep any fuzz that is produced during the process contained.
3. Wait for the washer to fill and begin agitating, and drop the pillowcase containing your item in.
4. Check the item every five minutes. Felting times vary depending on the yarn used, so this step is crucial. If the washer starts to drain, stop it and reset the dial so that it resumes agitation.
5. Watch for signs of felting, which include loss of stitch definition and shrinkage. Once these begin to occur, start checking the piece twice as often to avoid overfelting.
6. Determine when the felting is complete. If your piece was designed to be felted, it will be done when it reaches the dimensions that the pattern calls for. Otherwise, it's simply a matter of preference.
7. When felting is complete, remove the piece from the washer and let the water drain. Rinse it with cold water, and wring it out very gently so as not to stretch it. Shape it and let it dry.

Tips For Effective Felting

• If you're not sure how well an item will felt, make a swatch and felt it first. That way you won't ruin the project you spent so much time on.
• Some say that yarn crafts felt more quickly if they are exposed to added friction. An easy way to achieve this is to put something else in the washer with them (but not inside the pillowcase). A pair of jeans works well, because they're firm and heavy.
• Most washing machines do not start the spin cycle if the lid is up. If you can't watch your item closely, leaving the lid open will keep the washer from spinning the water out until you can attend to it.
• Items with straps or other parts that could get twisted up will have to be watched especially closely. Twisting will result in uneven felting.
• White and light-colored yarns usually do not felt well. If possible, make sure your item is made of medium to dark thread.