How Do You Make Felt From Wool Fabric?
When you think of felt, you may think of the flimsy, frayable polyester mainstay of kindergarten craft projects everywhere. But this synthetic imitation felt is a poor imitation of felted wool. Wool felts have been used for all sorts of projects–from waterproof coats to briefcase linings to poodle skirts from the 1950s. And with modern washing machines, it’s quite simple to turn pieces of wool into versatile wool felt. Choose the fabric you want to felt. It should be roughly twice the size of the finished size you’re aiming for. So for example, if you want a 3-inch square of felt, you’ll need a 6-inch square of wool. Be sure you’re using 100 percent wool, and not a blend; a wool-polyester mix won’t felt as easily, and might not felt at all. If you’re using old woolen clothing, tear out the seams before felting–the thread usually isn’t woolen, and therefore won’t felt. This can lead to misshapen results or tearing. Set the washing machine to hot wash and cold rinse. Add the wool piece
