January 02, 2006
Wool Quilts, part 2
Debra asked in the comments if fulled wool is the same as felted, and no, technically it isn't the same. The definitions have to do with technique, and I'm not sure about all the specifics. But the fabric I am using is a felt (noun) and most people probably think of it as felted wool. So yes, in that sense it is the same. I think of it as "felted wool" but referred to it yesterday as "fulled wool" because that is technically what it is. Clear as mud?
Anyway, the wool felt I use is made by washing wool/wool blend fabrics, knit and woven, in hot, soapy water in a washing machine until it felts. I remove any labels, buttons, zippers, etc, ( I felt mostly clothing, but yardage works as well), then I put the items into pillowcases and tie the ends closed. The pillowcases helps contain some of the lint that making felt generates, and it does generate quite a lot of lint. I also recommend a lint screen on the drain hose of your washing machine to prevent plumbing problems if you are going to do much of this. I wash several items at a time, lights and darks separated. I wash whites totally separately and have separate pillow cases just for whites, which keeps them from looking dingy when they pick up other colors of wool lint and it felts into the surface. I dry the pieces between washes in a hot dryer, again I want to caution anyone who tries this to be aware of the lint situation, keep your dryer cleaned out and an eye on your vent hose if you do much of this. Different wools felt at different rates, some will felt up nicely in a single 10-15 minute cycle, others can take 8-10 cycles. And some have defied my efforts and refused to felt at all.
Most of the felt in the blankets posted here today and yesterday came from sweaters. My favorites are Shetland and Icelandic wools, they quickly morph into dense, opulent, rather coarse felts. I also like Merino and mohair/angora blends, they almost instantly turn into incredibly soft, slightly fuzzy felts. Rag wool, which is only 85% wool, becomes a thick, beautiful, very coarse felt, but it takes patience and many cycles through the machine.
For me, the effort required to make the felt has been more than worth it. I like the idea of recycling, like the idea that I can produce beautiful fabric from discards at a very reasonable cost, but mostly I just like the felt!
Hope I provided the details you were looking for, Debra.
Here are pictures of a couple more "fulled wool quilts." I made both of these several years ago.
Wool side
Cotton side. This quilt is tied using buttons on the cotton side.
-----------------------------------------------
This is a twin-bed sized quilt, the light fabrics are all rag wool felts. Pieced cotton back. ¶ 11:06 PM
Anyway, the wool felt I use is made by washing wool/wool blend fabrics, knit and woven, in hot, soapy water in a washing machine until it felts. I remove any labels, buttons, zippers, etc, ( I felt mostly clothing, but yardage works as well), then I put the items into pillowcases and tie the ends closed. The pillowcases helps contain some of the lint that making felt generates, and it does generate quite a lot of lint. I also recommend a lint screen on the drain hose of your washing machine to prevent plumbing problems if you are going to do much of this. I wash several items at a time, lights and darks separated. I wash whites totally separately and have separate pillow cases just for whites, which keeps them from looking dingy when they pick up other colors of wool lint and it felts into the surface. I dry the pieces between washes in a hot dryer, again I want to caution anyone who tries this to be aware of the lint situation, keep your dryer cleaned out and an eye on your vent hose if you do much of this. Different wools felt at different rates, some will felt up nicely in a single 10-15 minute cycle, others can take 8-10 cycles. And some have defied my efforts and refused to felt at all.
Most of the felt in the blankets posted here today and yesterday came from sweaters. My favorites are Shetland and Icelandic wools, they quickly morph into dense, opulent, rather coarse felts. I also like Merino and mohair/angora blends, they almost instantly turn into incredibly soft, slightly fuzzy felts. Rag wool, which is only 85% wool, becomes a thick, beautiful, very coarse felt, but it takes patience and many cycles through the machine.
For me, the effort required to make the felt has been more than worth it. I like the idea of recycling, like the idea that I can produce beautiful fabric from discards at a very reasonable cost, but mostly I just like the felt!
Hope I provided the details you were looking for, Debra.
Here are pictures of a couple more "fulled wool quilts." I made both of these several years ago.
Wool side
Cotton side. This quilt is tied using buttons on the cotton side.
-----------------------------------------------
This is a twin-bed sized quilt, the light fabrics are all rag wool felts. Pieced cotton back. ¶ 11:06 PM
