Another thrift store wool question
 

I see a lot of you purchase wool clothing from thrift stores for your projects. I do find wool clothing at my stores, but there are holes in them from the bugs. But I started thinking that if you wash it and shrink it, not only does it kill the eggs, but it also closes up the holes. Right? Wrong? Do you buy or stay away from the "hole-y" wools?

I don't use any piece of wool that has holes, I would worry it would unravel over time. Just cut around them and use other parts of the wool item.

I agree with Jeanne. I just crocheted some wool and am felting it now.
please show us what you do with it. good luck. I'm looking for some cream
and/or pink wool to felt.

Buy the 100% wool clothing for ( upcycling) , take it home, straight to the washing machine.... Wash in hot water, with detergent, cold rinse, into hot dryer. When it comes out deconstruct the item and cut into usable pieces of fabric, cutting out any holes, damaged, very worn areas.

Thanks for the tips ckcowl -- I want to start picking up some pieces for my granddaughter to work with.

Many years ago I bought all of the wool clothing that I could find - much easier then, than now, at our local Goodwill - now gone. My mother-in-law showed me how to make a hooked rug out of the wool. I just cut it up into strips and "hooked" it into a burlap, canvas type of material. Just cut around the bad places. Did not think to wash the garments first back then. She was the "queen" of recycling - making many hooked rugs out of her family's old wool suits, coats. Mostly dark and drab colors. Wish that I still had the one that I made but had it out in the garage in a storage room and the mice used it for a nest.

I have two sweaters that I purchased at a thrift store and have felted them. Has anyone made a purse with the felted fabric or are the purses knitted or crocheted before felting? I think the felted purses are cute and would like to have one. Any suggestions or a pattern suggestion would be appreciated.

Karen

I heard somewhere that putting fabric that is buggy in the freezer is a way to kill the bugs without washing. anyone else hear of this?