nuno felt and washing machine

[halay]

I was told that if you dry your nuno felt project after felting it and put it in washng machine for 20 minutes (short cycle for delicate wash) it will  shrink evenly. As I was making a jacket for my granddaughter I gave it a test. To my surprise it all shrank fine and evenly and to the measurements I wanted. I am interested now whether I still need to roll it and do some fulling. Do you use washing machine too? What is your experience?   

[ncquilter]

Thank you for the report.....I've never using the washing machine.....and am interested in hearing results from others who have....sounds like a time saver to me!

[Teri Berry]

Wow Nada, you are a very brave woman! Not sure I would have risked putting a whole jacket through a cycle expecting it to shrink to the correct size, I am in awe!

My washing machine (front loader) appears to have 3 settings where felt is concerned:
- standard wash (about 2h) - will make felt shrink by AT LEAST 50%, only really useful to get very firmly fulled items over a 3D last
- 30 min "quick" cycle, this has less vicious effect on shrinking the felt but still fulls it. I am very wary of it though as I don't feel I have any control over the finished size, shape , texture etc....
- wool wash for delicates, don't tell anyone, but this is how I wash my finished nuno garments each week, this cycle appears to have very little effect on the felt.

[Frances]

Jan 18, 2015 17:01:43 GMT halay said:

I was told that if you dry your nuno felt project after felting it and put it in washng machine for 20 minutes (short cycle for delicate wash) it will  shrink evenly. As I was making a jacket for my granddaughter I gave it a test. To my surprise it all shrank fine and evenly and to the measurements I wanted. I am interested now whether I still need to roll it and do some fulling. Do you use washing machine too? What is your experience?   

Did you use a front loading or top loading machine - I have a front loading at the beach and top loading here in Georgia. I used the front loading machine to finish felting a wall hanging/curtain (put it in wet - rolled in bubble wrap and secured in a bag) and it shrunk and I did not full it afterwards - just layed it flat to dry. I had tried a piece in the top loading washing machine rolled in the shelf liner that is perforated (kind of rubbery texture with holes) and that was a mess - the wool felted to the liner. I think some people use it as a resist but after that experience I have been hesitant to use it.

I like a top loading machine because I can take the piece out and check it - with the front loader once the cycle has started you cannot open the machine door.

[Pandagirl]

Nada, I've only used the machine for things like balls and a scarf I wanted shrunk further. Did you put the jacket in by itself? I would imagine you may get more even shrinkage if you did rather than throw it in with a load of laundry where the garmet is being pulled and pushed by other garmets. Just a thought. I'm glad the jacket came out the way you wanted it to. You were brave indeed!

[Frances]

After reading your post I put a small sample of felt that had dried in a lingerie bag with some towels I was washing on a regular cycle warm wash - cold rinse - The black lines show the size before I put it through the wash - I had not spent anytime fulling the piece to try and shrink it - I now know how much it would shrink if "fulled" in the wahing machine.

Did you use all cold water or warm and then cold?

[halay]

Frances, I have a front loading machine. I put the jacket in by itself (mind you, it needs to be dried!) , adding a towel (this is what I was told) to increase friction, I also added washing powder for delicate fabrics. As I said I was pleased with the outcome. The shrinkage factor I took was 1.4. However, there was a problem later. First, I made the sleeves: As a base I used thin cotton fabric and two layers of 18 mic merino wool. I put the sleeves in the machine and everything was fine. I was encouraged and I proceeded laying wool for the back and the front of the jacket (it was to be made as a seamless piece) I realised I was running short of merino. The only wool of the same colour I had at hand was white shetland. Shetland in my experience is a nice and shiny wool so I thought it should make an interesting felt in combination with merino. When I pulled out this piece from the machine I noticed that the shrinkage was Ok however, the fibres from the shetland started coming out so heavily that I realised that I can only throw the piece into a bin. Now I am desparately looking for white merino to repeat the expercise and finish the jacket. The lesson I've learned: shetland and merino do not work well together.

[jwugg]

I have used the 'quick wash cycle' only for slippers, & it worked fine; they needed heavy fulling as they were 8 layers each side & I needed a lot of shrinkage for strength. I timed it right (accidentally really) so that they fulled & shrank a lot, but still had a little to go so I could mould them around my feet.

For a delicate nuno project, you'd need to do plenty of initial gentle rubbing so as to integrate the fibres with the silk, before going in the washing machine. So yes, it does replace a lot of rolling but without having control. & yes, higher risk of disaster!
I might be brave enough to try with a nuno silk & merino scarf I was about to start on. Will let you know!

[zed]

It doesn't sound very 'scientific', more luck or coincidence than anything. If you have an odd number of wool layers, you'll never get 'even' shrinkage whichever method you use.

I'd risk a nuno jacket in the washer more than a scarf, though.

[Pandagirl]

Good luck Nada getting the wool for your project and finishing it. Thanks for letting us know about the Shetland. Please post pics when you're finished.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

You are all a lot braver than me! I have never used the wash machine or dryer for felting anything except wool dryer balls. Not a big risk taker.

Nada, I have never liked the felting properties of Shetland fibers but have had success in felting it with other coarse fibers. I do not intend to purchase it again because it is not really a good felter--at least not the Shetland wool I used.

[halay]

I am stubborn and perhaps crazy too. I like learning through experience and this afternoon, having obtained white merino from my felter friend, I made another jacket (just the front and the back part). It is drying now and goes into the washing machine tomorrow. I'l report about the outcome.

[Pandagirl]

A real maverick Nada! I can't wait to hear the and see the results!

[jwugg]

 I tried it! Nada I'm with you, I learn by doing.

I'll add a pic later today. Pongee silk, ladder scarf, I did an initial small amount of rubbing with my usual olive oil soap mix. No rolling.

I wrapped it - bubble-wrap under, builders' plastic over, rolled around a towel & into the washing machine on a short, gentle cycle, with a towel & a pair of jeans.

yes it worked. yes it fulled completely, more than I would do by hand for a scarf. So I've got loads of rouching.

BUT it wasn't even. I did stop the machine after the wash cycle & turn the scarf around in its roll, but still 1 end has fulled harder than the other. I've pulled & stretched it out, it may be OK.

My conclusion - it's so tempting, but I don't think it's for me, unless I know I want maximum fulling & am not too concerned about keeping control of the shrinkage. Maybe if I had a bad back but was determined to make felt I might be inclined to try again!

[zed]

Maybe I'm a bit weird, but I always feel like I should defend wool when anyone says it's rubbish or won't felt etc. It might not felt the way you want, or be the right one for what you've tried it for, but that doesn't mean it has no merits or is useless for felting.