clueless about wool

[CarrieMF]

I want to make myself some wool backed cloth pads. I have some 97% interlock coming and I saw that the fabric store here has melton wool. To felt it I just wash it & dry it on hot right? Which fabric would be better? Do I have to lanolize it? Can I wash/dry it in the machines?

On a related question. I have a wool/cashmere/poly jacket that is cream. It is in desparate need of cleaning thanks to my black scarf & black gloves. It says it needs to be drycleaned. The fuzz from the scarf I know I could get off, but the suede gloves rubbed against the cuffs and have left black on there. Can I handwash this instead of spending the $$$$$ on drycleaning?

[boscopup]

As I unfortunately learned... It's AGITATION in soapy water that really felts the wool. Mine was super felted before even hitting the dryer. I have wool jersey that is as thick as two layers of wool flannel in a Sugarpeas cover. Btw, it's listed on the TP if anyone wants it - I hate making 1 layer covers.

Anyway... I did 2 long, hot washes with Sportswash, and it felted that sucker right up. If it's felted enough, I would think you wouldn't need to lanolize or hand wash the wool on a mama pad. I think my wool jersey is in that condition - need any purple heather wool jersey?

[CarrieMF]

I've overbought on coops lately and can't stop in the stores, more fabric is not what i need now.lol

Thanks, I'll try felting it that way.

[our3boys]

I have thought about using wool as a backing for mine. But the thing that stops me is....how do I wash it later after use? I'd want to use a regular detergent to get the non-wool fabric cleaned, but would that strip the lanolin from the wool so that it would not work anymore? (And if so, after how many washes?)

I only like AIO's since they do not cause chafing for me. Made pocket style, it would be the same washing issue. So I cannot come up with a way to do it. Any ideas?

[boscopup]

I haven't tried a wool backed pad, but I've heard that if it's felted all the way, you don't need lanolin, and thus you can wash it regularly like any other pad.

The only thing that worries me about that is the thickness. The wool jersey I felted is almost as thick as my whole PUL-backed mama pad! And I don't think you get any thinner than wool jersey, right?

[mother culture]

I havn't tried it but I love the pocket pad Idea!

[CarrieMF]

I've heard that if it's felted all the way, you don't need lanolin, and thus you can wash it regularly like any other pad.

I've heard this too which is why I wanted to try it. I have no idea how thick wool gets, the melton I saw in the store wasn't any thicker than a thin(but not micro) fleece. I know there are AIO wool pads out there.

I have heard that the interlock felts thinner than the jersey