Guys and their help.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ramis on August 4, 2009 at 7:55am

My husband knitted some squares to felt, and he cut a cardboard template of an 8 by 8 inch square to use as a guide. He covered it in sticky back plastic to make it tougher too.

Are you (or your son) used to felting?

Permalink Reply by Sue Gillman on August 5, 2009 at 4:32pm

Many thanks for this help. Not experienced just reading about it.

Permalink Reply by Ramis on August 6, 2009 at 3:00am

I have done a bit of felting, and I'll help if I can.

It is important to use animal fibres, preferably pure wool, or a very high wool content blend, because man made fibres will not respond to the process in the same way. Any wool that needs a gentle hand wash. There is no way that I know of to control the amount of shrinkage that will happen, no matter what felting method is used. With the cardboard square, you can just give an old wool jumper a nice rough wash in the machine, allow the shrivelled mess to dry, and then cut it into squares from the template. It is a bit scary at first, but after a few practice runs, you/he will start to trust the process.

Permalink Reply by Sue Gillman on August 6, 2009 at 8:48am

Thank you so much for this we are thinking of using old wool jerseys and blankets. A question- Do the felted squares come out soft and pliable for the blankets?

Permalink Reply by Ramis on August 7, 2009 at 5:33am

Felt will not usually be as soft and fluffy as a knitted fabric, but it is warmer in cold winds. I am thinking that some of the bigger boys who want a blanket will not mind a rougher fabric if it provides reliable protection from chilly winds. Also, wool is warm even when it is a bit dirty or damp, and it lasts and lasts, which I think is exactly what some of the children need from their blanket.

If you are worried about the squares being too thick to sew together, in the UK, a metal tool is used to pierce holes around the side of the felt square, then thick yarn is threaded through the holes, and then they are sewn or crocheted to each other. I am assuming they are using a similar technique in SA, because I have seen photos in the KAS newsletters and it looks the same. There is one in Issue 12 of the newsletter.

Used wool clothes and blankets are a great thing to use, ones with patterns on can make really interesting squares. If you can buy dyes for fabric in your part of the world, then you can felt and dye in one wash cycle too. I have done this in the past, it is great fun.

Permalink Reply by Sue Gillman on August 7, 2009 at 10:34am

Many many thanks This is great. Older boys is a good thought. We will do some second hand shopping and see how we go. Thanks to all of you.
Sue

Permalink Reply by Kalai McDonald on August 5, 2009 at 5:20pm

I love it when the boys/men get involved! Go your boys Sue and your lovely husband MrsRCM!

Permalink Reply by Ramis on August 6, 2009 at 3:20am

Thanks Kalai, he was excited to hear that some other guy out there is at it too.

Permalink Reply by Kalai McDonald on August 6, 2009 at 12:13pm

We've got a couple now. Tom from the UK and Roger from South Africa. Plus a few of our male friends have knitted a square each. The more men the merrier I think!

Permalink Reply by Andrea Palmatier on August 8, 2009 at 8:55am

I've been trying to convince my husband that I should teach him crochet but he's afraid that'll mean I get to buy more yarn! :o)

Permalink Reply by Ramis on August 9, 2009 at 4:08am

Oh Andrea :o), is your yarn stash taking over his home?

Permalink Reply by Andrea Palmatier on August 10, 2009 at 4:45am

He feels it is! I came home the other day with another ball of yarn that I bought with my Michael's coupon and he said, "More yarn? Am I going to be on a TV show about hoarders because our house will be filled with yarn?"

I tried to explain that it was for the baby blanket challenge but he just rolled his eyes, sighed and sauntered away! :o)

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