Hi! So I’m an average crocheter; I like to make relatively complicated lacy shawls, and have made a few flavours of colourful blankies and afghans for various babies.
My feet got a bit cold last night, and I thought it would be nice to have some thick slipper-y socks, or sock-y slippers, or something. Then I remembered that my whole family is coming to visit for Christmas, and wouldn’t it be festive to have matching sl-ocks? Then I wondered if felting was the right way to proceed, since crochet can be a bit lumpy for sockish applications.
So. What do you think? Is this a good way to go? What yarn should I use for felting? Unfortunately the leftovers from the Skipping Stones blanky is superwash, so unfeltable. Bloody expensive it was too, so I’ll have to come up with something to do with the ~6 skeins I have left. Just go to Joann and get whatever is (a) wool (b) cheap (c) red and green?
I’m not familiar with that specific pattern but it looks pretty good and I’ve seen others like it.
Felting is super easy and fun! Fisherman’s Wool* (Lion Brand) always felts well, but nearly any 100% nonsuperwash animal fiber product will do great. The key thing is never to crochet tightly (use a hook size above - for a basic worsted I use an I hook) because its the action of the yarn frictioning with itself that felts, so the yarn has to be able to move. Fabric made with normal hook+ crochet combos won’t felt well.
ALWAYS make a swatch and felt it for fitted items. They say items shrink “40%” but that’s a generalization and each yarn can be different and won’t necessarily shrink equally in each direction (height and width). Its tragic if it shrinks differently than you expect and your slippers don’t fit.
It may take more than one trip through the washer for your item to felt completely. As long as you can still see any level of stitch definition, it can felt more (and will shrink more). The pattern’s suggestion to wash it with heavyweight/abrasive items is spot on.
Doooooo itttttt
*don’t like the colors? Overdye with Kool-Aid! It’s permanent, nontoxic and addictive. All you need is a microwave safe dish, Koll-aid packets in whatever color, and a microwave! now you’re really down the rabbit hole!
I’m a knitter, not a crocheter, but I’ve never felted. I find the texture of felted wool really, really unpleasant to the touch. I’ve seen some beautiful results, especially cute bags or clutches, but I just…can’t…touch…without shuddering and making faces.
