Felting Frenzy
If you have two oversize Garter-stitch slippers and a washing machine that has hot water, you are ready to felt!
Chapter 5 - Felt and Decorate Your Slippers - walks you through the easy felting process.
If you have ever shrunk a wool sweater by accident, you'll know that felting is as easy as throwing your wool garment in the washing machine on hot with some soap and churning away.
The only trick here is to watch your slippers so you can take them out when they shrink to the right size.
You'll have a window of time in which the stitches start to disappear and the thick felted fabric forms.
Watch out - as your slippers felt, they will shrink faster and faster!
Confidence in felting comes from DOING, so get those slippers in the laundry.
Once they're dry, you can needle-felt fun decorations onto the slippers. Let your imagination go wild!
Lastly, you'll use puffy paint or even add slipper bottoms to your slippers to add no-slip traction.
Read through Chapter 5 and watch the videos. Remeber to comment below if you have questions.
In a week, I'll send you an email encouraging you to post your finished photos, but if you're already done with your slippers, please share photos on our All Done! Finished Slipper Photos page.
Today's Step to Get Involved:
Leave a comment below and let us know 1) how huge were your slippers before felting and 2) how do they look now?!
Happy felting!
Thanks so much Mary Claire! You answered yet another question I didn’t think to ask ;-)) Helpful to know that if I let them dry and decide they are too big, I can continue to felt!
Also happy to know I don’t need to rush to keep up with the KAL. I am indeed enjoying the process but need to balance it with all else there is to do; and, I’m just a slow knitter.
Wishes for a safe and happy holiday!
Of course, anytime Marla :) I’m right there with you – holiday knitting has slowed my roll too. Happy holidays!
So, as usual, I’m behind. Just started knitting the second slipper. Will seam, take care of ends, and felt once I have the second one knitted.
Question though about felting – I plan to felt by hand. Regardless of method though, how do I know when it’s the correct size? Do I try them on wet? Measure the length of my foot plus socks and compare that to the slipper as it’s felting? I know this sounds like a “duh” question but I really don’t get how I’m supposed to know. Thanks!
Marla
No worries Marla – this KAL is all about enjoying the process! :)
When you felt, I’d have your measuring tape or ruler handy so you can keep track of the felting process. Consult the pattern to double check what size yours need to be, and just compare while felting. You can always felt them down smaller later if you find them too roomy.