Factors to Consider When Felting In A Frontloader Washing Machine

Thought you couldn't felt in your front loading washer? Think again. It's absolutely possible. But there a few things you need to know:

 1. Always make a swatch or swatches. Measure before and after felting.

Here is an example of some slipper sole swatches. There is still a lot of stitch definition so I ended up felted a second time (not shown here). Without felting the swatches you make you won't have a proper gauge for your end product. Make a swatch using the yarn type and color you intend to use as some colors of the same yarn felt at different speeds. Really. It's true!

2: Water temperature: go for the sani-wash if you have the option. It is hot tap water which is additionally heated by the machine. If this is not an option, pick the hottest wash possible with a cold rinse. The cold rinse is important as it "shocks' the fibres and is responsible for a large part of the felting process.

3: Agitation: 

Add a dozen tennis balls and extra clothing, lots of smaller pieces of heavier fabric works best (so if you have kids clothes, throw them in). You can also use jeans, rags, smaller towels. All will all help.

If the pieces of clothing you adding are too big, they can envelop the item to be felted and actually stop it from being agitated by the tennis balls etc.

I do not recommend putting your item in a mesh bag with tennis balls. The space is too cramped, and in my attempts, the felting turned out uneven.

4. As yarns felt at different rates, pause your washer and check on item intermittently to make sure you don't take it further than you want.

5. You may have to do more than one cycle to get the felting where you want it to be. If after two cycles you want further felting, I suggest doing it by hand (it's not so bad if you do it in front of a good TV show).

6. Some felters recommend wetting your piece before putting it in the wash. Make sure other clothes are dry though (make sure you put the other items in the dryer if you are doing more than one cycle) or the machine will add too much water).

7. Work in all loose ends really well into work before felting. loosely close any potential holes with a yarn and needle.

8. Do not use the spin cycle if you are felting a large piece such as a bag, it may distort the shape. For something small like a slipper, the spin cycle is fine.

Please add to comments section if you have any tips to add. Happy felting everybody!