How do I know when it’s felted?
Just relax and put your feet up while the piece felts by itself…
Now that the crochet piece is in the tumble dryer you can relax for 20 minutes while you wait for the next step. But don’t forget that timer! Here’s what to do next.
Step 1 After 20 minutes, take the pouch out of the dryer and have a look at the piece – it should have started to felt and some of the water will have evaporated. Dunk it into the bowl of soapy water to make it wet again. There’s no need to soak it this time though. Place it back in the pouch and pop it back into the tumble dryer with the old towels, which should still be wet. Press the start button and set a timer for 20 minutes again.
Step 2 Repeat Step 1 until the piece has felted as much as you want. Make sure the towels are still damp and wet them down again if needed. Make sure the dryer’s timer still has plenty of ‘hot time’ on it – some dryer timers have a cool setting for the final 10 minutes. While you’re checking the piece, you can rub the fabric in specific areas if you need to help the felting process along a bit. You’re aiming for a dense, fuzzy fabric with little or no stitch definition, but the look is totally your choice. If you’re aiming for a certain size, stop felting when you get there. Our purse needed about 80 minutes in total.
Step 3 After felting, the piece will probably still have some moisture in it – this is natural and will actually help by allowing you to pull or block the fabric a little, into the desired shape. Place the piece on a radiator or in a sunny window to dry fully – this can take a day or two. You can work additional seaming or sewing after felting, such as adding a zip.