Felted Wool Slippers

[punk-a-doodle]

Trying felting/fulling old thrift store wool sweaters to sew together some slippers for my husband. I've never done this before, and with every spin of the washer, I'm freaking out a little bit more. Don't want to give him something that looks like the cat puked it up. X) Has anyone made these before? I'd love photos/tips/suggestions, etc. Anything to not think about the wool going though a hot wash cycle like one is never supposed to do with a good sweater.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Ahaha, this is the best thing ever! One sweater was already slightly felted and went in an XL...and came out child sized. It's like a giant shrink-a-dink.

 

[eenie114]

Isn't felting cool?!

My only tip is to not automatically pass over ugly sweaters. One time I felted The World's Most Hideous Sweater (I probably could have been given a medal for destroying it!) and it came out really pretty! Weird how that works. And if you don't want to use it in the slippers, try making a crazy quilt out of them.

Good luck, and be sure to show us pictures when you're done!

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

How did you make slippers? Did you find a pattern somewhere?

 

[peepacheep]

Ravelry might have some info on felting slippers. Yarn Harlot's blog has had some very funny stories about felting slippers. It was a while back back but it's easy to do a search on her blog. Some of the wool sweaters I have bought at thrift stores turned out to be wool blend. Makes for very odd felting. Let us know how they turn out!

 

[MNShepherdess]

I've got a few sweaters I got on sale that I felted and now are awaiting my final judgement on how they will be used...it really is fun, isn't it? Please post some photos!!

 

[franklinstreetwest]

This sounds SOOO COol! I have seen hand crafted felt crocs, but I never considered trying it myself!! I can't wait to see how your project turns out.

Leather cut from a Goodwill coat and whip stitched to the bottom might be a cool addition.

 

[zzGypsy]

you're making valenki? actually probably choony...

http://www.squidoo.com/valenki fun videos
http://www.rusvalenki.ru/indexe.html beautiful photos of felted boots! Check the "products"

I want to see photos!

 

[punk-a-doodle]

Eenie, it is so much fun! I just died when I saw the little shrunken sweater when it came out of the wash. I didn't realize it would shrink that much. XD Oh gosh, that is so great about finding a use for tacky sweaters. Maybe if I get a reindeer one this year...

Frogdog, there are TONS of styles/methods out there (you can even felt your own wool with no knitting), but I am probably going to use these instructions:
http://www.homemade-holiday-gifts.com/felted-slippers.html

Peep, ugh, it took forever to find sweaters tagged as being wool, and when I did, there were only two of them!

MN, haha, I will, but I think they are going to end up looking like something a first grader made. D:

Franklin, I wanted to do that so much, but the only leather-y things they had were coats for 2o-25 (!!) dollars and one too small purse. And I just died when I saw how much craft store squares of 'decorative leather' cost. I went with...you know, I'm not even sure what it is. XD Some sort of black weave.

Gypsy, I am sure we'll all have a good laugh at my photos when I have some. XD Oooh my gosh, those ones in the links are awesome!

 

[ChickiKat]

Those are just too stinkin' cute, I am going to have to hit the Goodwill store soon...