Knitted and felted hot water bottle cover

Controlled felting in the washing machine
There are many ways to felt a piece of knitting, and you will find a wide variety of instructions in patterns for felted knits. The following method comes from my experience of felting hundreds of items -- some successfully and some not. This method may not be the fastest one, but it allows you to get just the size you want. (Note that these are general directions. Some projects in this book have special needs and require that you follow additional steps or instructions. Remember to always check your pattern for specific information before proceeding.)

The felting process can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour. If you're interrupted or need to take a break, just turn your washing machine off. It will not harm your project to leave it soaking for a while. If you return to find that your water has cooled, you may want add more hot water.

Step one
Place your knitting in a zippered pillow protector, or at the very least, a fine mesh bag. The mesh bag is adequate for most wool, but a pillow protector gives better protection if you are felting with Icelandic-type wool, mohair, or any other hairy fibre. Modern washers are not designed to handle the amount of fibre that is washed out during felting. Most machines cycle water through the pump during agitation. Over time the loose fibres accumulate in the workings of the pump until it begins to leak. This problem is easily avoided by using a bag, so please don't let the fear of damaging your washing machine keep you away from felting.

Step two
Set the water temperature of your washer to hot. Standard hot-water tank temperature is sufficient. Adding boiling water does not speed felting time and can result in painful burns. Hot water helps to soften the fibres and raise the scales of the cuticle, but it is agitation, or movement, that causes the friction between the fibres and accomplishes the actual work of felting. To achieve enough agitation for successful felting, you need a relatively small amount of water and strong agitation. So set your washer for a small load, and moderate to high agitation. Experience (and lots of test swatches) will determine the best settings for your washer and the type of fibre you're felting.

Step three
Add a small amount of a mild detergent -- or better yet, a rinse-free wool wash such as Woolmix or Eucalan (available at many yarn shops or by mail order). The detergent or wool wash combined with the hot water will further soften the fibres and prepare them for felting. The obvious advantage to using a rinse-free product is that you can skip the rinsing step. If you do choose to use detergent, employ a mild one without added bleach or fabric softeners. A clear, mild dishwashing liquid works well and may be easier to rinse out than some laundry detergents.

How much washing agent do you need? For a small item or two, a tablespoon or less is sufficient. You want to use enough to help with the softening process, but too much can actually hinder the felting by coating the fibres. If your water feels slippery and you have mounds of suds, that is too much. Drain some sudsy water and add more water to dilute the soap.

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Excerpted from Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas. Copyright 2003 by Beverly Galeskas and Interweave Press, LLC. Excerpted by permission of Interweave Press, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.