Rank: Member
Joined: 2/4/2006(UTC) Posts: 4,878 Location: Brentwood, CA
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Ok, DH forced me to go to goodwill and I came home with three wool sweaters. Is there anything we do differently to felt these? |
As long as I'm breathin', there's no bad days.~ Alabama |
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Rank: Member
Joined: 3/19/2014(UTC) Posts: 1,294 Location: Methow Valley in Washington state
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Have a question for you wooley boogers. Do you store your stash of wool in plastic containers i.e., Sterilites, ArtBin, etc? I have put mine in them so I can put like sizes and/or colors for easy access. Last night I noticed a filmy look to the container I had opened and wiped a finger on the inside of the bin and it cleared up as if there was moisture in the container. Checked the others and it was pretty much the same thing. The one with the Pendleton Wool was not as obvious as the others.
I have put all my wool in containers and my stash consists of Pendleton Wool felted by me, wool from Montana felted by me, my Q-Bay score, and Etsy purchases. All of these wools sat in my sewing room for a couple weeks before being transferred to the plastic bins.
Any thoughts or suggestions? |
MargeP |
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Rank: Administration
Joined: 11/18/2002(UTC) Posts: 8,054 Location: Memphis!
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I know I've grabbed wool out of the dryer and thought it didn't feel 100% dry.. maybe 95% so I'd toss it back in. I think wool is a fabric that isn't always easy to tell when it's completely dry.
If you have this moisture.. My answer would be to smell it.. it might need to be washed again... and for sure it all needs more time in the dryer I think.
Chelle, they told me on sweaters, you felt it more than the average fabric.. so if you felt twice, then for a sweater you felt it 2-3 times until you think it feels usable. Maybe a better answer will come by.
gg |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 11/19/2002(UTC) Posts: 2,439 Location: Sewing Room
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Maybe just humidity in the air, wool might hold moisture? Wild guess from a woolie hopeful.
Dee
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC) Posts: 2,950 Location: Winthrop, WA
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Originally Posted by: Dee 
Maybe just humidity in the air, wool might hold moisture? Wild guess from a woolie hopeful.
Dee
I don't think so!!! Marge and I live in a VERY DRY AREA! Our average outside humidity is under 30% and in heated homes, it's usually less! Marge, you shouldn't have any humidity problems from our air. It had to be not completely dry coming out of the drier.
I've questioned the dryness of the wool directly out of the dryer, so I hang it separately on a drying rack for a day or so to be sure all the excess humidity is out of the wool. (IMHO, even stacking could keep excess humidity in the center of the pieces.) (I have a funky drier that uses a sensor to dry and you cannot use a heat cycle if the dryer thinks the fabric is "already dry". I want to kick this dryer at least once every week!!!!!)
I'm storing my wool in Plastic bins and have never had any sign of moisture in them.
I agree with GG...if you have any doubts, re-wash and dry thoroughly before storing. |
Donna B from North Central Washington State |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/17/2014(UTC) Posts: 3,959 Location: Florida
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I live in a part of the country where the temp and the humidity are oft times the same high number. I have mine stored in a plastic container and no problem. |
Bonita |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC) Posts: 2,950 Location: Winthrop, WA
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We're not too different today either Brenda...just on the low side of the scale!
Our temperature today is around 29-30 degrees F, the humidity is 19% inside and 32% outside....with it snowing heavily. |
Donna B from North Central Washington State |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 9/30/2013(UTC) Posts: 7,562 Location: north central Minnesota
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With LauraB's wool BOM/mystery going on now, I thought I'd bring this forward for any new woolie boogers. |
~On the banks of the Mississippi River in the Brainerd Lakes area~ |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 10/13/2015(UTC) Posts: 5,035 Location: AZ, USA
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Originally Posted by: Nancy_MN 
With LauraB's wool BOM/mystery going on now, I thought I'd bring this forward for any new woolie boogers.
Thanks. Am putting all my wool in plastic bins and will remember all of this (or refer to) when trying felting for the first time. |
Sharon Friendship is sewn with love and measured by kindness |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC) Posts: 3,236 Location: North Idaho
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HERE is a tutorial showing another way to mark the embroidery lines on your wool.
She gives the pattern for the mini rug too, I think I might reduce the size a bit and make a pincushion out of it.

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Jacy |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 10/13/2015(UTC) Posts: 5,035 Location: AZ, USA
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Thanks, Jackie. That's pretty clever. |
Sharon Friendship is sewn with love and measured by kindness |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 10/13/2015(UTC) Posts: 5,035 Location: AZ, USA
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Thanks, Jackie. Pretty clever. |
Sharon Friendship is sewn with love and measured by kindness |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 12/3/2007(UTC) Posts: 3,797 Location: FL, USA
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When felting the wool sweaters, do you use the one that have patterns knitted into them? I bought my first wool sweater that has a cable design knitted into the front, but the back is plain. Was not sure if you all used the patterned sweaters for a textured look or not. |
My sewing machine is calling me and today I hope to listen! Sally |
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC) Posts: 3,236 Location: North Idaho
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Sally, I use any part that seems like it will work. Sometimes I get nice textures from the rib knit at the bottom of the sleeves and sweater, sometimes those parts don't felt as much as I would like. So I'd just felt it and see what you get. Sweaters don't seem to be quite as predictable as woven wool but you can get some really cool textures and petterns from them so i still think they are worth playing with. |
Jacy |
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Rank: Member
Joined: 2/7/2014(UTC) Posts: 529 Location: New Hampshire
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Does anyone use Heat & Bond to place their wool items on? I am considering, but unsure since this is my first project in wool. It also uses some trapunto techniques, so I know I cannot do it those places. Any words of wisdom out there?
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/14/2014(UTC) Posts: 2,551 Location: NW suburbs of Philly
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I use Steam-a-Seam 2 for all my wool applique. I don't have experience with Heat and Bond. Sorry. |
My heart is fed with needle and thread. |
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Rank: Member
Joined: 12/27/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,386 Location: Wyoming
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I use a school glue stick, it works well for me and stays soft.
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Rank: GOLD STAR Quilter
Joined: 2/6/2014(UTC) Posts: 3,236 Location: North Idaho
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I use heat and bond lite, works well for me. |
Jacy |
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Rank: Member
Joined: 2/7/2014(UTC) Posts: 529 Location: New Hampshire
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Thank you for your experiences. Wish me luck, going to start tonight
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Rank: Administration
Joined: 11/18/2002(UTC) Posts: 8,054 Location: Memphis!
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Hope you find something that works well for ya! Do you have any spare wool to make a test or sample ?
hugs, gg |
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Rank: Member
Joined: 2/7/2014(UTC) Posts: 529 Location: New Hampshire
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Thanks GG. I do have plenty of wool scraps, but my initial project came okay anyway (at least for my use anyway lol).
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