Knitting and felting a piddle pad/mattress protector. Anyone done this? Yarn suggestions?

[tempestjewel]

We are looking at getting an all-natural chemical free mattress for my daughters room- probably a full size so they can eventually share a bed. However, the mattress is $$$ so I'm trying to find ways to top the bed naturally for as inexpensive as possible. I've looked online at natural wool piddle pads but they are also $$$.

So I was thinking I could knit something shaped like this: http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/...tegoryId=86233 out of a good, natural wool and felt it and lanolize it to make it more "accident" friendly. I don't think I really need something to cover the whole bed, just to lay underneath in case the youngest has a leaky diaper (which has happened when I didn't manage to get all of a diaper under a cover ) or the oldest has the stomach flu (both of which I've had happen in bed before!)

Has anyone tried this?

Or better yet, does anyone know of a good, natural wool yarn that would felt nicely and not be super expensive? I'm not worried about organic, but I do want to use something not treated by chemicals.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I'd suggest heading to your closest army/navy surplus and buying one of the army green wool blankets. Felt it down and you've got the perfect matress cover. That's what I've done for all of our beds - got the blankets for about $10 each I think (way less than you'd spend on the yarn!) and two cycles through my washer and dryer and they're perfect. The standard blanket felts down to just about perfect twin size

[Beth-TX]

:

Save your knitting time/money for pretty things that won't get peed on.

peace, Beth

[tempestjewel]

Originally Posted by Knittin' in the Shade

I'd suggest heading to your closest army/navy surplus and buying one of the army green wool blankets. Felt it down and you've got the perfect matress cover. That's what I've done for all of our beds - got the blankets for about $10 each I think (way less than you'd spend on the yarn!) and two cycles through my washer and dryer and they're perfect. The standard blanket felts down to just about perfect twin size

Are they decently soft? I was worried about using the army blankets for what they might treat the wool with, but I suppose if I felt it it wouldn't matter?

[mzfern]

What an AWESOME idea! The blanket might be a bit scratchy, but you'd have sheets over it, right? I would think that any chemicals that might be on it would wash out. Give it a good airing outside, too.

[Knittin' in the Shade]

I got mine ages ago back in Maine, they're decently soft, but I always have sheets over them so it hasn't been a primary concern. They've been washed often on hot, so I think whatever chemicals might have been in are long gone (plus, they are 100% wool, not superwashed so I don't think there were tons of chemica treatments to begin with) If you're concerned about softness, you could always soak the blanket in some hair conditioner after it's felted - wool is just sheep hair, really It works quite well to soften up scratchy wool!

[tempestjewel]

Since my DH has been in the army usually anything having to do with their equipment sends me running the other way, but perhaps with 100% wool over time it wouldn't be too bad. Yes, I would have sheets over it so I guess the softness wouldn't matter too much.

Thanks Knittin' In the Shade for the hair conditioner tip. I'll definitely try that!