Found some fine merino wool sweaters, have questions?

[dex_millie]

Ok, I am trying to make some wool covers for the first time. I have heard I have to felt them first before I start on making the covers. I hear some say you can get maybe 2 diapers out of a sweater and use the arms for pants, but I have enough pants. Is it possible to sew the scraps togeter to make more diapers(like cut some in squares and sew them to make a next diaper)?

I read I should wash them in hot water(do I use soap as normal or I just need the hot water?) and then dry them in a dryer and that is felthing, then make the diaper covers and then lanolize them? I might go out to do to buy the lanolin. But was thinking I could do the first two steps and worry about the 3rd last.

Is there any other tips I should now about?

P.S. I was just searching other post and I saw some didn't even felt theirs? or some just wash it in hot water and then line dry them? But I am thinking I should just do the hot wash and hot dry just incase?

[surfamy]

Hi there!

I have been making my own "butt sweaters" for a while now. They are super easy. Here are the steps:

Wash your sweater normally (I didn't use hot water, don't think it makes a difference), then dry it in the dryer. Drying it in the dryer makes it shrink and gives it a tight weave, helping it to be water proof.

After washing and drying, you can make your soaker using a pattern (there are lots online). I usually only make one soaker per sweater because I use the cuffs as the legs and I find that the rest of the sleeve does not work as well (i.e. if you try to hem it or what not).

After your soaker is sewn, you can lanolize it. Fill your sink with hot water from the tap. Take a big blob of lanolin and swish it in the water until it dissolves. This will create a sheen on the surface of the water. Submerge your soaker and bring it up through the sheen. The lanolin will stick to the wool. Turn it inside out and repeat. You may need to add more lanolin to get a nice coating.

Set it outside to dry! Make a drawstring for it if you like and put it on baby! You will eventually have to re-lanolize it as the lanolin will wear off. Especially if you have to wash the cover, you'll need to re-lanolize. Hope this helps!

[dex_millie]

Thanks it did help. Though I plan on making just covers not really soakers so I am guessing I could get more than one cover out of it, and wondering if I can sew the scraps together to make covers also. I am going to buy the lanolin today, I am assuming I can get it at any craft store?