I would like to give all the new felters of knitted woolwares (purses hats etc.) a tip.

When you felt any object that you have spent sooooo much time on. And, if you are using the hot water washingmachine method. Be careful to check it much more than you would think. The best thing to do is check it at least every minute after the first 5 minutes to establish how fast it may be felting and then continue to check it at least every 2 mins. after that to make sure it has not fooled you. I have found that there is like a particular "moment" that the item will felt. It has been understood that it takes two things in general to felt items that I have read about. 1) heat (the water) and some detergent in it to break down any left over lanolin on the fleece. and 2) friction, as in aggitation of the fibers together (like by hand, using a suchi mat or the washing machine, etc.)

But, I'd like to add the 3rd thing that they don't frequently discuss in the books on felting wool wares. That is...TIME. Really, you may think you've just had it made, and let it run one more minute and the item is MUCH smaller than you would have ever imagined it getting. Don't do the mistake that I've made now twice. And, you'd think I learned. But, I have been successful at it on about 10 - 20  other garments and projects, Hence, I did think I had it figured out. So, my point, that is, CHECK IT MORE OFTEN.

Here is my further experience and other tips, as I have done some hand aggitated felting too, and observed other things about wool. I do also process my own wool. (from the very hairy sheep in my yard to the spinning of the yarn, see the pic, that is Mi Mi) It seems that it takes forever, but it is probably really around 10 mins. or so that you are aggitating the item. And, then you notice the item getting felted pretty good, and realize that this takes much more muscle than you thought. And, you find yourself thinking no wonder those women living in Tibet and the Andes are so tough afterall. Really, I think I have a new muscle developed just for hand felting..... So, as I turned to the washingmachine method, I said YES! this is much better, that is, easier. But, not necessarily always better since the lid can be closed part of the time. And, those of you who have felted your loving items by the machine, don't tell me you didn't at least part of the time, sit patiently watching it wheel around in the "wishy washy" aggitator pole in the middle thingy in a dreamy daze, somehow remembering when you were 8 years old and you got your rubber booty caught in the snow that yucky day. What happened to those boots after all?........ OH! back to ahum... the machine. (They really do make you day dream when you stare down into them) only then to LEAVE  your beautiful felted booties alone in that aggitating machine because they, "really look kinda the same size for a loooong time, and you just know that it will take much longer." Well, let us face it, we don't have patience for washingmachine dreaming today in this 'fast food' world we live in. I walked away.

 And, now twice... even as entertaining as the washing machine can be, ever more still I was busy and I didn't have time to sit a watch that thing for 15 mins!!. Well, you had hours to knit the thing.

So, do this, put one pair of blue jeans, and (NOT towels) or anything that has other fuzzies that can come off onto your booties, into the water (like other cotton terry or rags and stuff-not), because those fuzzies come of and felt onto your booties, changing the color and making bad spots on it! So, use a nice slick sheet or a few pillow cases with the one pair of blue jeans to balance it, water on the smallest amount. Wait to felt a few mulitple objects together if you are felting many over a small amount of time, and they are in the same colorways! of yarn, and the same project - with many parts. This saves on all that hot water, detergent, washing time, and electricity. This can add up if you have to wash many pieces. Such as, the handles, I-cords, front and back panels, etc. And always wash things that come in two's such as booties, socks, slippers and other items together to get the same shrinkage on both of the pair. It is hard to match what goes on with the amount of time you are felting. Every time is different. This time issue being the key. I did the felting once inside the pillow case tied up, and it works ok, but it did felt, in the end, more warped. I think it cannot flow freely around in there very good if in a pillow case.

So, there you have it, a few tips on my felting experience that I wish I had, and that I hope helps you all. Oh, also, you have to use the hot/cold rinse setting on the washingmachine. But it seems to get the water TOO hot straight from the machine if you have your hot water heater on the hottest setting, so I decided to pour at least a glass of cold water in after the water filled up, right then, and swirl it around. Because the warm/cold rinse setting does not seem to do the trick. It has to be just hot enough that you don't want to do it by hand. Then take the item out and wrap it around a bowl bottom or a box that is the right size and shape, or a professional mould. Shoe forms are good to get for slippers. Your felted garment WILL take on that shape for good, pretty much. Let it dry for a few days. And, I discovered I did not have to use the dryer. There is supposed to be a way you can do felting in the dryer, but I don't know how, and this method works really nice, if you take all these things into consideration. You really need that hot water, and it is hard to do it by hand when you have to get the water sooo hot. That is the reason anyway that I went to felting with the washingmachine. Other than the realization that I did not want that wierd muscle sticking out the middle of my chest while adorning my next v-neck knitted sweater that I hope to finish by this next century, UG! But, that is a whole nuther subject. Is nuther a word?

Blessings to you all and HAPPY FELTING! Just do it, it is amazing!! Really.

And, any of you who want a child's size felted hat, that looks really cool. I'll have that ad out for you to bid on one day. Really! This is a beautiful cloche I knitted. Just.... hummmp hmp, too small.

Also! I am giving you this information, because I feel that it can help some of you who may be the average hobbiest at home, trying your own thing. SO, do not hold ME responsible for how your felted garments come out. After all, I've warned you. :-) Mary in Ala.