Failure to felt?

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

This is my first time posting in Arts and Crafts! Woohoo!

I bought used wool sweater to felt and make wool diaper covers. (but I'm posting in the general forum because felting isn't just for diapers)

The tag says "Shetland Wool 100%." When I bought it, it was definitely shrunken-looking, but not felted (i.e., I could still clearly see the knit and, if I stretch it apart, I can see holes). I washed it in hot water (with some sheets and detergent) and then dried it on Hot until it was completely dry. Still looked basically the same (visible knits, holes visible when stretched)

Then I boiled it for 20 minutes. Same result.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need to just keep washing/drying until it gradually shrinks enough?

TIA for any advice!!

[mamapixie]

That actually sounds right. you don't NEED to felt sweaters for diaper covers, it just makes them bulletproof when you do. And depending on how tightly the sweater was knit, you may always be able to see the spaces in the knit.

[SleeplessMommy]

Originally Posted by MaterPrimaePuellae

When I bought it, it was definitely shrunken-looking...

I think it was fully felted when you got it

[Ellien C]

yep - everything felts differently. That's all it's going to do. Was it white? There is a process that wool can go through to bleach it that can prevent felting. It may be that the wool was bleached and then dyed or it may just be fully felted.

I had the opposite happen with a sweater of mine that I accidentally started to full. When I got pregnant, I thought what the heck and threw it in washer AND dryers. It is at least 1/4 inch tick and could well be too small to make a cover!