Felting is a method of shrinking a knit or crocheted fabric. It is produced by matting wool fibers and compressing them. When natural wool fibers are lubricated by warm soapy water, the friction causes felting. Be sure not to use super wash wool or washable wool as these fibers will not felt. One of the most important things to do before beginning to felt your project is to mark down all measurements before and after. The fabric you knit or crochet must be made much larger than your finished project because it will shrink a great deal.
The best place to felt your fabric is in your washing machine. Place the fabric into a pillow case to protect the machine from loose fibers. Make sure to pin the pillow case closed or buy one with a zipper such as a pillow protector. You don't want to use one a mesh lingerie bags because of the holes. The pillow case can be re-used by turning it inside out and placing in your dryer. Just be sure to clean out the lint trap when you're through.
You need to add some old towels or old blue jeans to the machine to help with the friction and hot water. Use the small load setting and add a small amount of gentle laundry detergent. Depending on how hot the water is, how long it is agitated in the washing machine, and what color the yarn is will determine the outcome. After about five minutes of agitation, check the fabric for size. To get it out of the hot water, use a tongs or some other long-handled thing. When through, rinse with cold water and roll in a towel to remove excess moisture. Shape your fabric to the desired measurements and let it air dry. Experiment with different yarns and colors to see which works best for you. Have fun felting!

Please visit Nana\'s Notions for your felting yarn and patterns.