Do I need to felt wool sweaters before making soakers?

Hi there,

I'm confused about upcycling wool jumpers into wool soakers. I have some old wool jumpers that are 100% wool (new wool, lambswool, merino..) and I want to make them into soakers. However, all the tutorials seem to want you to felt them in a machine first.

Why?

Is it just so that they can be machine washed?
Or is it because they might not be a tight enough knit?
Can I just make the soakers out of the jumpers as they are, lanolise them and handwash them when I need to wash to prevent shrinking??

Any advice or experiences much appreciated.

Thanks x

I think they might be ok if you just used them as they are. If it was me though, I may be tempted to add a second layer around the wetzone like in the fleece soakers.

You could always chuck them in the washing machine to felt slightly and then handwash to prevent further felting. Best of both worlds.

I think if you felt them before hand they are more likely to be bomb proof, I'd say leaving them as they are they woulnd't be 'tight' enough and leak. i think they would be too thin.

But I am no expert

[clothmama]

I got into wool through using 'bum sweaters' and loved them as they were so so bomb proof . The idea of felting them first is to thcken and 'felt' the wool to give that really fantastic reliability. Also the arms will be too big as they are but when you felt them they kind of felt down to baby size in a lot of cases so you can use the arms as legs and wrist cuffs as leg cuffs if you are really lucky! I agree a normal woolen jumper probably wouldn't be thick or tight enough! So basically yes you do

HTHs @Rosavitch

I've been wondering the same thing actually so this is really interesting. Primarily I don't currently have a tumble dryer (or access to any laundrette) so always get confused from the off set where all of the instructions to felt say to machine wash them then tumble dry them!

Ox

@Olivette

The agitation of the washing machine helped by using hot water will felt wool so you don't *need* a dryer as such.

You can felt by hand in a basin of hot water by rubbing and agitating the wool by hand.

HTH!

Thanks for all your help!

The pattern I have has an exra wetzone layer so that's sorted, thanks.
I think I will use the thinker sweater as is, and lightly felt the others to make them 'bomb proof' as suggested.

Only further question now is:
If my sweater has been felted before use, can it then go through the machine or would I still want to hand was with my knitted soakers?
And if it goes in the machine - should it go in with nappies, or in a delicate/wool wash?

Again, thank you!

I would handwash or wool wash in the machine not put it in with the nappies as it could continue to felt further and end up being too small.

Sorry to hijack there Rosavitch!

Thank you Sim for your reply. That helps loads! I shall definitely try washing them on a hot wash. That should do the trick enough for what I need I think. Failing that I shall definitely give felting them a go by hand!

Ox