UNCUT: How to Felt your knitting by hand -- In a Bucket EXTENDED VERSION

[EquarryDishonorabrr]

ya know

[Yomalex3]

I laughed everytime you said "you know? " lol you say it often.

[sandry3080]

@Yomalex3 Whoops! Sorry about that... I suppose it is what I get for doing stream of consciousness commentary.

[nicolll1]

you sound sexy

[bravorogerbravo]

can't you just stick this lot on a hot wash in a washing machine, save yourself the bother?

[sandry3080]

@bravorogerbravo You can certainly do felting in a washing machine, but it is better if you have access to a top-loading machine. (I only have access to front loading machines, and for energy conservation sake there is no real hot option.)

I personally like the control of hand felting, but each person has different preferences.

[ashenzues]

does this work with crocheting as well...i just learned how back in june and i want to learn something new

[sandry3080]

@ashenzues This will work with crochet garments as well. (as long as you use 100% wool)

[TheMinot60]

I'm easing back into needle arts after a 10-15 year break and was wondering what all this talk was about felting. Thank you for your excellent video. In addition to being very clear step by step how you do it, I got a good picture of how many variations there are by your own comments as well as comments posted. Some seemed really snide, but everyone prefers their own method, don't they? Thanks for showing yours so thoroughly.

[AmyJaneOnline]

thank you for your video! It was extremely helpful. I accidentally knit a hat way too big for any human, so I wanted to try felting it. I just finished and it looks great. I watched your video the whole time and it was exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[wahinesurfergirl]

Can I also use baking soda as an alternative, instead of liquid soap?

[sandry3080]

@wahinesurfergirl I'm honestly not sure if it would work or not. I see no reason not to try.

[mtames2002]

silly question....did you use some special yarn to knit with to make it felt up. New to this kniting and have seen pieces that have been felting and wan to try it out!! Thanks

[sandry3080]

@mtames2002 This isn't a silly question! You need to use 100% wool fiber to felt. Yarn with acrylic or superwash wool won't work (superwash by definition won't felt.) Good luck!

[pnijole]

Nice, amazing

[Khamomil]

This has to be the most inefficient and time consuming way of felting. I believe your approach consisting of imitating the movement of a top-loader is erroneous. 1st cuz the machine makes back-and-forth movement that makes the items rub against each other, which is what cleans them, and felts wool items whereas in your demo nothing rubs against the mitts plus you're using an ovaloid bucket while making a circular movement which impedes rotation. Traditional felting is better if no machine.

[sandry3080]

@Khamomil I'm sorry that you feel this way. I use this method to help keep my hands from going raw. I personally do not have access to a top loading washing machine, so I have to do my felting by hand. This agitation method helps keep my hands out of hot water, which is much more comfortable. 

[Khamomil]

@sandry3080 Felt has been made for thousands of years before the invention of the washing machine and the old methods are more efficient than what you show us which is an attempt to duplicate the movement of the wash-mach.

Why not put industrial-strength rubber gloves on so you'd be able to handle the items and knead them properly you could also roll them in a small scale version of the Kirgiz method to make felt for their yurts, which does not involve direct contact with the wet wool.

[sandry3080]

@Khamomil I'm sorry you disapprove of my method. It works for me, and although I am happy with my method I never mind getting new tips. I tried rubber gloves in the past, but found them cumbersome (I am still looking for a pair that will fit my tiny hands better!) Cheers.

[imchellemarie]

@sandry3080 I'm with you on the gloves! I've dainty hands but long fingers. The major glove brands in size S fit me across the hand but the fingers are too short. However I can't stand the feeling of my skin after working in our hard water. I've been lucky with some of the kitchy type kichen gloves...the ones with the fancy cuffs, & I've also got some re-usable hair dying gloves at the beauty supply that rocked. I've a front loader, so I'll try your method with the Fiber Trends clogs. Thanks! :)

[elenasakman]

very nice video thank you! (i wonder what would happen if i would just boil it in the bucket? would not the bubbles do the agitation?)

[sandry3080]

@elenasakman Bubbles alone don't make quite enough agitation to felt items. I have felted items on the stove top with boiling water and a potato masher, but objects might deform a bit more this way.

[setphaser]

i never really believed felting was possible, so it's great to see you do it in a bucket and i can see it happen before my eyes! I'm bit worried about size though, i'm making a hat for a teddy bear, and using 8ply woll with size 5 needles... i'm hoping i can knit the hat about the right size and it'll eventually shrink back to fit? it looks like your mitts never really shrank back they looked very big?

[ChemKnitsBlog]

@setphaser The oven mitts did shrink. For another example of ovenmitts that I knit, visit chemknits(dot)com/2011/01/more­-oven-mitts.html In this example I have a ruler with the before and after versions of the mitts. You should be able to shrink the hat as long as you are using 100% wool.

[Bordeniv]

This is an excellent instructional video, I did my first felting project watching your video! Your tips helped along the way! Thank you!!

[jaizehait]

Thank you for posting this. I too lack a top-loading washing machine and most other tutorials for felting are somewhat sparse. Thanks a lot!

[spidersue]

this has been very helpful, thanks will try very soon