85% wool & felting

heatherg23 · 04-14-2009, 09:33 PM

I made a purse with either 85 % or 89% wool, I can't remember which...and it's not felting. I put it through a full wash twice. Does it have to be 100% wool to felt. There's no change in the way it looked before I put it in the wash.

Thanks for the opinions..........

suzeeq · 04-15-2009, 03:16 AM

It may take longer (try another couple trips through the machine) and may not felt as small as 100%, but it should felt some.

Jan in CA · 04-15-2009, 05:13 AM

What is the name of the yarn. That would help.

ETA: Any chance it's superwash?

WandaT · 04-15-2009, 11:42 AM

Yes, it should felt. I've felted with less wool in the mix. Sometimes it just takes a while ... once it starts it usually goes pretty well.

imrachel · 04-15-2009, 02:46 PM

That's odd that it's not felting well-- there are yarns with even less than 50% which are advertized as "great for felting". Since you don't know the exact percentage of wool, it sounds as if maybe you've lost the labels-- but do you remember the name of the yarn?

MrsWildchild · 04-16-2009, 11:16 PM

I don't have much experience in this area, but I myself am doing a felted project right now. I have heard that sometimes wool is treated so that you can wash it without it felting, which is desirable, of course, if you're just trying to get dirt out. Maybe your yarn is treated like that?

suzeeq · 04-17-2009, 02:27 AM

That's generally labeled Superwash or washable wook and is usually 100% wool, not a mix. It could be like sockyarn though which is washable wool and nylon. What do the laundry instructions on the label say?