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First Time Felter?


why is she wearing that hat inside???

Making hats this year and now Fuzzy Feet
has made me refine my felting techniques.

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ChicKnits Secrets of the YaYA Felters
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Secret #1: Cast-on and Bind-off really loosely if you're making a garment, socks or hat. I use a needle two sizes bigger than the pattern calls for to accomplish this.

Secret #2: If it's a hat brim, try counter-acting the tendency to roll with #1 above AND binding off purlwise if a knit side is facing you OR knitwise if a purl side is facing you.

Secret #3: I felt things by washing them in hot water with two pairs of blue jeans and a little squirt of Dawn Dish soap. Scrubbing Hot Bubbles = Felting.

Secret #4: Put your item in a laundry bag or zippered pillowcase to avoid fibers everywhere - it all sheds!

Secret #5: Keep a long handled *tool* to fish the thing out of the HOT water. I have a handle from a broken back scrubber that I fish with.

Secret #6: Check often after about the five minute mark - different yarns felt faster depending on the fibers used and the way they are spun. I find looser spin = faster felting. I almost shrinky dinked a hat in 5 minutes because the yarn was very soft.

Secret #7: Really Block the thing. For a hat, steam the heck out of the brim on the wrong side (while the hat is still damp). A steamer is best but an iron over a cotton towel works well.

Secret #8: For a hat, use something that is about the same size around as the hat covered with a dish towel and shape the hat. Pretend its PlayDough and pinch and push and pat until it looks the way you want it to. Pretend you are a Master Parisienne HatMaker and bend it to your will.

Secret #9: AHA! I am wearing my hat around the house to custom fit it to my head. I sprayed it with plain water and patted it to shape. Now it will dry and fit perfectly. You can do the same with your FUZZY FEET, ala Miss Wendy in her January 28, 2003 entry.

Secret #10: Do not be afraid! If you don't like the way it turns out, you can soak it in warm water, roll it in a towel to remove excess water, then BLOCK IT AGAIN. My mom's hat took three rounds before it behaved - I was just being too gentle on a mule-spun wool that was very hearty.

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All Material ©2001-2008 Bonne Marie Burns
All rights reserved, including reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

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