I have a new addiction and it's called FELT ("I felt it in my fingers, I felt it in my toes ..... tralalalalalaaaalaaaa")! Since I discovered this medium I've been visiting the local thrift store as often as I pass by (which is pretty much daily) and this is the scary part: every time I enter I get the feeling of a gold rush and throw myself at the hangers like a hungry vulture at his prey. Uhmmm ....  ok, I don't know if this description is flattering, but in any case just imagine a woman in her long, shapeless down jacket and a white furry "chicken" hat (as London calls it) rummaging through the racks with a huge grin on her face .. MOI!

If you've never shrunk a sweater (only by mistake) do not be intimidated! It's an easy-peasy process. But before I start .. here some tricks of the trade I've learnt from my collection of shrunken sweaters and scarfs:

1. Men's sweaters are always a better buy at the charity store! First of, they are larger in size, so you get more for your money. Second, they ALWAYS cost less! (Yes, ladies! It's not only your haircut that's more expensive and bathroom line that's always longer .. now here come the sweaters!)

2. Buy 100% wool or at least 80%! Maybe 75% ... but nothing else!

3. I cut the sweaters apart before washing them. (Not sure what the felting gurus rules say, but I did ..) Some frilled in the wash, but put a damp hankie on it, iron and it's back to status quo! I didn't unravel the sewing .. I figured that half an inch won't really add so much value as much time I would have had to spend on it. I simply cut up the sweaters and discarded the sewing line.

4. By now you must sense that I am not the most patient of crafters and cut corners right and left :) UHmmm ... if that's what you are thinking you are correct! I tossed the cut up sweater to the laundry with my pink flip flop and a bit of detergent, warm water and a short wash ... The washing machine was full of fluff afterwards, but for me it seems easier to clean up than a pillow case that many are using to contain the fluff. I cleaned the machine out afterwards with a few wipes and it worked.

5. I used the drier. Always! Though watch out, because a really warm sweater can shrink to a miniature for your toddler's doll's wardrobe. (Don't ask how I came across this information). Ok, so you may not want to tumble dry it if you already have a size and thickness that you'll like.

6. The thickness of your felt (if not the same) has to be approximately the same.

7. I am not an expert and everything above may be a subject to change depending on factors I wouldn't know about. Experiment it out yourself!

Ok, so now that you have gone through your family's closet for sweaters to shrink and visited the charity store, found your flip flops to be washed and have a nice piece of felt, this is what you can make out of it ...

       
Lola's dress is made from my H&M scarf (stripes) and a 6 USD second hand men's sweater.
I got the dress pattern from Betz White's book "Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects", but you can easily make your own pattern.  Just draw around an existing apron dress, cut out the pattern and cut it into different squares  .. see the photo collage below


Use zig zag stitch to sew the pieces together ... Cut away uneven ends ...
You may or may not line the dress. I did and I don't think it's necessary at all (though it looks far more professional). The book has a pattern for a tea cup pocket, but I wanted to make Lola's dress different, so I found a heart nurse in a flying saucer on one of the old Ikea fabrics I had and made an applique out of it (two sided stabilizer) ...  The result ...