Felted Wool and the Women Who Love It

I accidentally hijacked Kathy's blog post Thursday in a discussion about what we simply can't have too many of. Things like batteries, tissues, big pots and pans, canning jars etc. But the one thing that I simply can't have enough of is felted wool mittens. Last winter, everyone in the house had at least 2 pairs along with matching hats; all made from felted wool.

There are so many great reasons to work with felted wool:

First, it can be found pretty cheaply. All those old wool sweaters you see at the Goodwill and yard sales are perfect for felting. Just buy them cheap, run them through the washer and dryer on high/hot settings and you're ready. The sweaters will come out of the dryer very fluffy and soft, and not at all itchy. They'll also have shrunk to about 1/2 the size so plan accordingly.

Second, felted wool doesn't ravel, which means there's very little hemming to be done. You can put a pretty edge on it if you want, or use the waistband of a sweater for pretty mitten cuffs, but in general it's not necessary.

Third, it's amazing how warm felted wool is and the way it turns water. I made the kids and myself several pairs of mittens and wore them outside to play in the snow and ice this past winter. We came in with red, rosy hands that were actually warm to the touch. The snow never soaked through the mittens so they had perfectly dry, warm little fingers.

Fourth, it's so easy to work with. Wool is not one of those fussy materials that have to be cut just so, washed just so, handled just so. It's a wash and wear, no-fuss no-muss type of fabric.

So, drag those old scratchy sweaters out of your closet and put them to good use! Felted wool sweaters can be made into slippers, hot pads for the kitchen table or even coasters for end tables. You can make Christmas stockings, tree skirts, ornaments and stuffed animals. It also makes great lap throws to keep in the car during wintertime. So many uses, so little expense!