Felting Tips
Troubleshooting Chart - excerpted from Felt It!
| Problem: |
Woven end comes undone in washing
machine, creating a hole |
| Solution: |
If you catch the hole before the
piece is totally felted, it's fixable. Just sew up the hole using a
yarn needle and matching yarn. Even if the repair job looks ugly,
throw it back in the washer. If you've caught the hole soon enough,
the new stitches should disappear into the fabric. |
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|
| Problem: |
Hat is too small due to
overfelting |
| Solution: |
If the hat isn't wet, get it wet.
Stretch the fabric aggressively. Find a bowl or headform that's
large enough and pull the fabric over it. Don't worry about how far
you stretch the material: Your goal is to break down the fibers
enough so that you can reform the hat. Let the hat dry completely
before removing |
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|
| Problem: |
Bag is disproportionate due to
overfelting |
| Solution: |
Use the same process you used for
an overfelted hat. The trick here is finding the right mold for the
purse. I've cut and taped cardboard boxes into the right shapes to
make a structure over which I can stretch the piece. |
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|
| Problem: |
I-cord handle tangled |
| Solution: |
Lay the wet I-cord on a flat
surface and finger-press it flat. Try to make the entire handle the
same width to get rid of the thick-and-thin look. Put it back in the
washer and felt it some more, making sure it doesn't tangle again. |
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|
| Problem: |
Piece went through the spin cycle
and has become too small and misshapen |
| Solution: |
Get it wet. Stretch and pull it
until it is the shape you want. Be as aggressive in stretching as
possible. Don't worry about damaging the fabric. If it's a hat or a
purse, stretch it over a mold; if it's a flat item, pin it on an
ironing board or other flat surface so it stays in place. Let it dry
completely before moving it and it should hold its shape. |
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|
| Problem: |
Too fuzzy |
| Solution: |
Shave it or trim it with scissors |
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|
| Problem: |
An older piece is looking
shop-worn |
| Solution: |
Felted items can ball up over
time, especially purses you use often. You can either trim or shave
the surface or you can give it a bath. Throw it in the washer for a
minute or two, and then reshape it using a mold or pinning it down.
The item will look like new. |
For troubleshooting on specific projects, check out these links:
For everything you ever wanted to know about felting, we have a complete online tutorial.
Overall, let your creativity and intuition guide you. And feel free to
contact us with any questions or worries (customerservice@pickupsticksonline.com).
Enjoy!
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