Felting your own upcycled wool inserts

Up-cycling old sweaters into new felted wool inserts:
Felted wool inserts for cloth diapers


Tutorial Notes:
Average regular sized insert is 13” x 5”.

Supplies:
Requirements:
100% wool sweater, must be felt-able, no super wash. Other felt-able wool items such as scarves, blankets, throws and even pants are usable.

Notions:
Darning needle
Pillow case or 2 lingerie bags for felting

Instructions:
First you need to take your wool item and felt it.

Felting:
If you have never felted before, I suggest watching or reading a tutorial to familiarize yourself with the process. I include everything you need to know for this project. **Note: Although a top-loader wash- ing machine is recommended, HE and Front-Loader (lower agitation, can’t always control the whole cycle) can work, but it is less predictable and may take a longer amount of time.**

Step 1: Throw your item into a pillowcase and tie it up or a lingerie bag inside of a second lingerie bag (or if you have a zipper pillowcase, even better!)

Step 2: Felting is accomplished by the combination of hot water and agitation. Turn your washing machine on to the hottest setting and lowest fill level (if this is an option) and let it fill with water. I usually put in a touch of detergent, about ¼ of what I would use for washing clothes. Throw in your pillowcase with items. I also like to throw in some old tennis balls and shoes- this will help with agitation.

Step 3: You will want to check your work often, especially the first time you make the inserts. I would recommend checking your item every five minutes (at least until you know how fast your machine/knitting felts). **Note: you may need to reset your machine to the beginning of the agitation cycle; you do not want them to go through spin or rinse.**


Step 4: Continue checking your work every 5 minutes. Check your item for desired fabric quality, you do not want to see any large holes in the fabric, you want all the individual stitches to disappear and for the fabric to look like a solid piece. When fabric looks right, take item out and rinse them with cold water. Set it aside to dry (this might take a couple days).

Cutting:
Using an existing insert of any fabric content make yourself a pattern from an old paper grocery sack. Cut out and lay on felted wool item. Cut out as many pieces as you can get from the fabric.

Tip:
For single layer inserts cut out inserts and blanket stitch as is.


For double layer inserts you will want to cut out two identical then with wrong sides facing blanket stitch them together.


Seaming:
You will want to choose a seaming method you like that does not produce a bulky or ugly seam. I suggest blanket stitch to seam the pieces together and create a finished edge. Using tapestry needle, seam together so there are no huge gaps between the pieces.


Take your two identical inserts, place wrong sides together and stitch.

How to blanket stitch:
http://www.french-knots.com/blanket-stitch-embroidery-how-to/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXkSE2TTF4s