felting wierdness
The odd thing about this bag is that I can't see to get it to felt. It is the same Lopi yarn that I've used for the other felted bags that I've made so I can't figure out what is different.
I've tried it in the wash with jeans, I've tried it with towels. I've put it through twice and it still doesn't seem to want to felt. Anyone have any ideas?
posted by General Ginger | 7:27 AM
5 Comments:
Ideas: didn't it even felt a little bit? White often doesn't felt, but colors usually do, and Lopi, well, how odd. I would try running it through by itself several more times (minus jeans and towels, since both can produce lint that will stick to a colored felt, and although they say use these things, I've had better results minus the non-felted items). Use a squinch of soap (just a little) & enough water to cover it, but maybe not a full washer load? Try half a washer load of water. If you can, stop the washer to re-agitate a few times in a row, but otherwise put it through a few full cycles of warm washes and cold rinses. I'm not sure if you need to use a hot wash, but you could try that. Definitely use a cold rinse though. You need the two temperatures. It might just take the browns A LOT longer to felt. Different colors and different wools (not the case for you, I know) often have radically different felting times. Hope this helps.
Lisa
http://blackwaterpark.typepad.com
Hi there! Too bad about your felting problem. The main color you used looks sort of heather-y, and I think sometimes those have nylon in them. Which means it won't felt. I hope I'm wrong, and that you can shrink your cute bag to the right size!
I agree with Lisa, I think you have to shock the fibers to get them to felt. So try a hot wash with a cold rinse. And lots of agitation!
I had that happen once with Lopi yarn. I made a pair of clogs with brown and beige and the first pair I made came out fine and the second I had to wash a zillion times to get them to felt and even when they finally did they were all bumpy and lumpy...not flat and smooth like they usually look. I still don't know why though so I guess all this blabbering wasn't very helpful. haha
Did you check the water while felting to make sure it was good and hot? It could be as simple as someone having taken a shower or done the dishes or something and depleated the hot water supply.
You could always try pouring in some boiling hot water. I've heard some people throw in tennis balls for extra agitation.
Good luck!
Valerie
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