Fulling Cashmere

I have a woven cashmere shirt. I routinely put it through the washer (top-loader) and dryer. In the 10 years I've had it I've washed it about 30 times - I use it like a sweater or light jacket - and it has lost about an inch in length and somewhat less in width.

Maybe you can use the sweater fabric to make cut-sew footies using a "fleece" pattern.

Do it the old way - tread the items in a tub full of urine.

Mary

Take a trip to your friendly neighborhood laundromat and use their top-loaders!!

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

From what I've read/heard, you really need a top loader washer. When I needed to replace my washer recently, I bought a top loader because I still wanted to be able to full/felt stuff.

If the fibres were bleached before dyeing, then it's unlikely they'll shrink very well.

Shelagh

Now, Mary,

Where am I going to get that much pee?

I hope you're kidding!

Hesira

I've thought about that. I've been experimenting today and some of the old sweaters (cashmere) full more readily than others. I'm going to put them all through a cycle and see which ones need to take a trip to the laundry mat.

Hesira

I have several wool and several cashmere (bought at a salvage store) sweaters that have moth holes and other problems. I've sent several through the wash today, and am having varied luck. Regardless of how the fulling turns out, I can find a way to use the final product.

Hesira

I was flipping through a book at BAM the other day that had really beautiful felt/fulling projects. I was interested in the ones that were pictorial, with applique (SP?). I thought about slippers, small purses, etc. I just hate the idea of that good fiber wasting away.

I can't recall the name of the book, but I think I'm heading back for a second look or a purchase.

Hesira

In the interest of ecology and economy, could I put a bunch of different colored, different fibered sweaters in the same washer. Would I have to separate them by like colors and put each group in a zippered bag? That would probably be the best way to avoid lint tranferring from dark/light & opposing colors.

Hesira

A few months ago I found (and bought) a gorgeous red cashmere sweater at Value Village with the intent of using it in a felting project. Nah..... love that sweater the way it is and I wear it as a big tunic in the winter - cuz it was some guy's L or XL.... (laugh)

Shelagh

Here's my advise... spill red wine on your white cashmere sweater. Use various methods to take out stain... finally bleach. Now you have natural coloured spots on white. Decide to dye sweater... use wrong dye specifying boiling water on stove with agitation.

Presto.. one tiny fulled sweater with various degress of dye uptake.

Louise

Sounds like you've had personal experience with this technique.

Hesira

I have worn and loved all mine as well, but they are at the end of their sweater lives.

We don't have Value Villages, but there's a place called Hudson's that buys out damaged & going out of business stock. I've found several cashmere sweaters for around $10 US. Also, lots of wool, cotton, and other fibers. It used to drive me crazy to find the rips and moth holes, but that was before I wanted to full the fiber.

Hesira

Oh, you do as people used to when it was valuable stuff. Put a large jar outside your house and people will fill it for you. Apparently it's better when it's older and more ammoniacal.

Well, it's an efficient way and green to boot :-)

I know some authentic felters and dyers who still use urine but it's only on a small scale.

:-)

Mary

I tend to wash reds together in case the color runs, and when I have a lot of sweaters to work on I do a dark load and a light load, but otherwise they all get piled in together. I have not had a problem with linting. You could always test for color fastness at home, either in the sink or in your front loader, before you go to the laundromat.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Another option: cut/sew quilt patches for a baby blanket. I've been saving old silk clothing for several years with the intent of making a crazy quilt comforter top. One of these days I ought to sit down with all the rags and start cutting squares...