|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 7, 2023 16:58:08 GMT
Can I ask you ladies who have been making these for some time for a bit of advice please? ๐
First: Has anyone tried tying unfelted dryer balls inside cotton fabric instead of tights/panty hose? I'm wondering if this might solve the problem of having to peel the balls out of the tights after they've been in the washing machine (or in Ann's case washer dryer).
Secondly, since I don't have a washer dryer, just a front loading washing machine and a separate dryer, how long a wash do you use and do they have to be tried before you start peeling them out of the tights?
Also, re the dryer balls, could I have some sort of explanation on what they do in the dryer, that is, what are they for? I think I was told earlier in a response to a post, but I can't remember and, if I make any of these to sell, I'm going to need to tell potential customers as I don't think they are used much in the UK, certainly not near me in Dorset. It would be nice to be able to add labels to the dryer balls if I'm going to sell them.
Oh yes, and how big are they, and how many do you use at a time?
Now, felted soaps. I've seen several posts in the Studio blogs regarding making these and I'd like to have a go to sell at Christmas (sorry) craft fairs.
1. Is there any way of making more than one of these at a time? I was going to say like the dryer balls in the washing machine, but I suspect that that might not be a good idea if the soaps would wash away too much. I'd like to be able to full several at once in order to save time.
2. As with the dryer balls, I've never used a felted soap so I'm not really sure what to do with it. Do you just rub it on your face/body and then wash off the suds? How do you get it dry after use? (I remember Jan's posts regarding her soapy hedgehog and that she needled a string loop onto the end so it could be hung up - but what if you've no hook?) I think I also read somewhere that the wool covering made the felted soaps exfoliants. Does that really work? Would it be something to add to the label the soaps would need do you think?
I'm sorry to be asking all these questions, especially as I'm picking your brains for my own advantage. I've been offered stalls at 2 or 3 Christmas (sorry) Craft Fairs, as well as having my spot in the 1855 Artisans' Community Store, and I need to get a move on to make these if I can. I have also to make some winter scarves to sell too, so I need to get some stock items up and ready to go ASAP. Apart from anything else it will help me to reduce my stash, and I suppose stock up on things to give away if I can't sell them.
Thank you in advance.
|
|
|
Post by charley on Sept 7, 2023 17:34:09 GMT
Hi Ann, I can answer about felted soap! I don't make it, but I have been given a few bars over the years. Really nice to use too. I use in the bath/shower. I don't need any other washing things, i.e sponge, plastic scrunch thing or otherwise. The felt stays intact, does not become loose etc, and is an efficient exfoliator. I think the felt shrinks as you use the soap, so at the end you are left with a tiny bit of wool and the soap is all gone. Really nice presents I think too, and lovely to do with good soap. There is no slimey soap trail in the soap dish either. I really think good soap is the key.
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Sept 7, 2023 22:19:55 GMT
Hello Ann - I've always made my soaps one at a time - if there is a quicker way I hope someone lets us know! It's easier to make felted soaps if you don't have 'corners' because it's tricky to get the fibres to cover them. If your bars of soap are rectangular, use a potato peeler to round the corners off. A lot of people don't know about felted soaps, so if you are going to sell them perhaps make up a sign with information about them? This is my method but I'm sure there are plenty of others rosiepink.typepad.co.uk/rosiepink/how-to-make-felted-soaps-and-pebbles.html
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 8, 2023 8:04:59 GMT
Thanks Charley & Lyn. I'll check yours out Lyn thanks again
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Sept 8, 2023 15:27:31 GMT
I don't make dryer balls but I used to make cat toys and they always sold really well. I made them in panty hose, tied in between, threw them in with a regular load of wash (usually towels) and then peeled them out of the hose. I don't know if any other form of fabric would work and I think you would have to peel out the balls no matter the fabric.
My cat toys were made around a plastic whiffle golf ball with a small plastic bead inside. I sold them at $3.00 each or 4 for $10.00. They sold really well. I used plain bright colors. I think there are several old posts about making cat balls.
You can tie the felted soap into panty hose and work them all together but essentially, they are done one at a time. I would not suggest putting them in the washer.
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 8, 2023 20:47:06 GMT
Thanks Ruth, all this advice is "grist to the mill". At the moment it is so hot here that I can't do much more than look back through Studio posts whilst cuddling a freezer Ice Brick to my bosom! ๐คจ I have managed to pull up some posts on both felted soap and dryer balls, so hopefully I will be able to get on with things soon. Price was another question I was going to ask, so thanks for that too.
|
|
|
Post by flights on Sept 11, 2023 6:35:42 GMT
I used to make dryer balls - found the ones in lighter colours were best so there was never any chance of them bleeding colour. Can you imagine your unpopularity?! Mine turned out usually a little smaller than tennis ball size, and I always sold them with a sign about how to use them. I always put them in with a normal wash, in tights. Guess you could use those nylon bags for washing lingerie? Not tried that. As to soaps - I always make them individually. Not sure they are really worth the trouble, but people do seem to like them for small gifts. Again, I have a notice explaining their virtues!
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 11, 2023 9:28:28 GMT
Aagh! ๐ฑ Thanks for that. I have had problems in the past with some fibres bleeding, the first time I only found out after I'd bought a mixed colour blend and started making a scarf with it! So I couldn't sell that in case the buyer wore it in the rain! I will check a bit before I use it. Thanks again.
|
|
huzzah
Junior Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by huzzah on Sept 11, 2023 14:10:32 GMT
Can I ask you ladies who have been making these for some time for a bit of advice please? ๐ First: Has anyone tried tying unfelted dryer balls inside cotton fabric instead of tights/panty hose? I'm wondering if this might solve the problem of having to peel the balls out of the tights after they've been in the washing machine (or in Ann's case washer dryer). Secondly, since I don't have a washer dryer, just a front loading washing machine and a separate dryer, how long a wash do you use and do they have to be tried before you start peeling them out of the tights? Also, re the dryer balls, could I have some sort of explanation on what they do in the dryer, that is, what are they for? I think I was told earlier in a response to a post, but I can't remember and, if I make any of these to sell, I'm going to need to tell potential customers as I don't think they are used much in the UK, certainly not near me in Dorset. It would be nice to be able to add labels to the dryer balls if I'm going to sell them. Oh yes, and how big are they, and how many do you use at a time? Now, felted soaps. I've seen several posts in the Studio blogs regarding making these and I'd like to have a go to sell at Christmas (sorry) craft fairs. 1. Is there any way of making more than one of these at a time? I was going to say like the dryer balls in the washing machine, but I suspect that that might not be a good idea if the soaps would wash away too much. I'd like to be able to full several at once in order to save time. 2. As with the dryer balls, I've never used a felted soap so I'm not really sure what to do with it. Do you just rub it on your face/body and then wash off the suds? How do you get it dry after use? (I remember Jan's posts regarding her soapy hedgehog and that she needled a string loop onto the end so it could be hung up - but what if you've no hook?) I think I also read somewhere that the wool covering made the felted soaps exfoliants. Does that really work? Would it be something to add to the label the soaps would need do you think? I'm sorry to be asking all these questions, especially as I'm picking your brains for my own advantage. I've been offered stalls at 2 or 3 Christmas (sorry) Craft Fairs, as well as having my spot in the 1855 Artisans' Community Store, and I need to get a move on to make these if I can. I have also to make some winter scarves to sell too, so I need to get some stock items up and ready to go ASAP. Apart from anything else it will help me to reduce my stash, and I suppose stock up on things to give away if I can't sell them. Thank you in advance.
|
|
huzzah
Junior Member
Posts: 10
|
Post by huzzah on Sept 11, 2023 14:14:18 GMT
To answer your question about dryer balls. They help lessen static and they fluff up clothing without any nasty smells or residues that fabric softeners leave.I've been using them for years. I don't really understand what the issue is with them sticking to panty hose. It doesn't seem to be a huge problem.
Felted soaps are popular, but I'm not sure I'd like to spend so much time making either of these items. Yes, they sell, but at such a low price point that you almost have to become a slave to making many, many of them.
In any case, there are numerous tutorials on making both of these items on youtube.
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 12, 2023 8:12:16 GMT
Many thanks for your advice. The point about them sticking to the tights is that they become fuzzy when you take them out and have to do them again. I am going to try a sample using non woven cotton cloth because I know the wool won't stick to that and they can probably be made in just one wash. The low price is why I'm looking for methods of "mass production". Thanks again
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Sept 12, 2023 17:05:43 GMT
I just saw this. Yes, you can use cotton socks. Several people do. It's something tubular you can tie knots in or elastic or however you want to keep the balls divided. I usually put them through twice. The first time they stick quite a bit but the second time they don't, so they get smooth the second time. I am putting them in with a regular load of laundry. I sell 4 for $ 25 cnd./14.77pounds UK
As for soap, I don'tknow af any faster way. I usually spend time getting 10-20 ready. I wrap them in wool and then use pieces of nylons to tie them into. It helps to deal with that initial growth of the wool when you first wet it. then I sit with a bowl of hot water and do them watching TV. I find them very boring to do but they do sell well, I sell them for $13 Canadian/7.68 pounds UK.
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 12, 2023 19:20:04 GMT
Thanks for this information Ann. I have had some success today using non-woven cotton cloths. My hairdresser uses these instead of towels and she saves them for me. They have all sorts of uses from drying your hands to making props! I have just confirmed that they help making dryer balls and also felted soaps. What I did was make up the dryer balls (using your idea of cutting up old felt into strips and winding it into a ball, topping off with fibres and then wrapping in some of this cotton cloth. I tie off the cloth and then trim the edges of the cloth down. Then I wrap in pop socks or tights and dunk in soapy water and squeeze to make sure it is all wet. Then move the tie from the cotton cloth onto the outside of the tights because the squeezing does actually make the ball slightly smaller. Then I put the balls in the tights in the washer with some towels and they worked first time. The fibres barely stuck to the cotton cloth at all. The balls were then put in the dryer with the towels to help them dry out.
I also made some felted soap and wrapped it tightly in the cotton towel, and then into tights. After dunking it in soapy water, and squeezing to get the air out make sure it was all wet I put that in the dryer too with the wet dryer balls and the towels. I had seen this tip in the comments to Leonor's post which she did back in September 2016. This is what somebody called Tuckamoor said: "They each get soaked in hot water and then put individually into a small freezer zip lock bag. Then all the little baggies go into a small pillow case or fabric bag of some sort that is tied shut. That goes into the dryer with a load of towels. It sounds about the same as drying sneakers and it only takes 10 minutes."
So now I know it works, I'll make up a batch or two ready to dunk and add to the washer and dryer next time I have some towels to wash and dry.
Thank heavens it's cooled off here sufficiently to let me get into the workshop and do some work.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Sept 14, 2023 10:30:26 GMT
That's an excellent idea for the soaps. I hate making them they are boring. I will have to give it a try. Well, with the baggies, not the cloths. I will have to keep an eye out for similar cloths.
|
|
|
Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Sept 14, 2023 13:12:48 GMT
I'll try to find out details of who makes them (non woven cotton cloths) and let you know then perhaps you might find them in Canada, or something similar.
|
|