is it really that easy to felt wool jumpers?

[kiwibella]

I've been googling this for tips... has anyone actually done this and had success? I need advice before I take the plunge.

My two dilemmas are that I have a front-loading machine and no dryer.

I'm considering felting some of dds jumpers - I have two boxes that my Grandma knitted for her. She's now 14 and I'm feeling sad about them just sitting there.

Yes, if the wool is untreated - ie not machine washable.

It's the action of the washing that does the felting. I suppose that tumble drying would felt it even more (maybe) but I don't have a dryer and have successfully felted knitted bags etc.

Have also inadvertently felted a couple of lovely jumpers in my time . Also without aid of a dryer.

To felt wool (and it must be pure wool) you need three things, heat, moisture and aggitation. a 60 deg wash cycle will probably do it. i spend my time trying not to felt dd's wool nappy covers

thanks Shona... incidentally, my grandma is Shona too!

Is there any way to tell whether a garment has a "good" wool content. The oldest of these jumpers are 14 years old and my grandma is no longer alive to ask her.

I don't think so kiwibella. You could try with one though. If it doesn't work then it might be a bit stretched but nothing will really happen to it.

I know that acrylic, which tbh lots of people do knit baby clothes with because it's easy to wash, is very "squeaky" but how you would tell an acrylic/wool mix I don't know.

I'm not a massive knitter though. My friend could probably sniff out acrylic from 40 paces but she really knows her yarn.

i'd give them all a good hot wash and see tbh! the ones that shrink are wool, any that don't..... well they'll be nice and clean

(tis the best name )

You probably know this, but the more wool content the more successful felting will be.
Synthetics don't have the self-clinging hooks and barbs that wool does.

Oops, cross post.

thanks ourlady - I do know that but didn't know why!

Good advice reallywoundup... that'll be my Sunday. After many years sitting in storage containers, they need a good wash.

Found another tip to wash with a towel or pair of jeans. So I might try a towel .

washing with a shoe is good as well

Wool mixes will felt as well, to some degree. Basically the more wool, the more they'll felt. If you're planning on making a blanket or something from the felted jumpers, don't worry about the ones that partially felt, just stitch twice around the edge of the square you want to cut, then cut just outside the stitching - that should stop any tendency to fray.