How To: Has sweater successfully felted?

[Jyotsna]

Can someone tell me how to know for sure that my sweater has successfully felted BEFORE...I cut.

I BOILED a sweater, based on instructions for felting on the stove top, and while the sweater looks a little (tiny bit) smaller, it still pretty much looks like a sweater. The fiber still looks like knitting instead of felting.

It's also a Gap sweater, with a tag on it that says, 100% Lambs Wool, Made in Thailand.

Can I trust that it is wool? It surely felt like wool to me. Any test for felt worthyness?

Thanks!

[rere]

It should be considerably smaller and you will see a noticeable difference in the texture.I've never done it on the stove top though so I'm not sure if you just need to do it again or try something else.Sorry.

[Jyotsna]

Thanks Rere,

I'm going to wash it in the washer with hot water, then dry it. It should do the trick then. I don't have a washer and dryer, so I tried the boild wool recipe, but it just didn't do well. I have two sweaters that I boiled, with the very same effect, just slightly smaller.

J.

[Tilia]

Yeah, you shouldn't be able to see the knitting rows anymore. It should be thicker, slightly stretchy, and a good amount smaller.

I think the agitation of the washing machine really helps.