Felted muff – before and after

In this DROPS video we show you how to make a muff, before and after felting. The piece can be felted either in the washing machine or the tumble dryer – read description below.
Remember: Subsequent washes are as for a normal wool garment.

BEFORE FELTING:
Yarn: 3 balls of DROPS Polaris, color ruby red (08) and 1 ball color medium grey (04). Cast on 32 stitches using needle size 12 MM = US 17 with color red Work garter stitch back and forth for 45 cm = 17¾", bind off. Cut the strand leaving enough length to sew the short sides together later. Finger-crochet (using 2 fingers) a cord of approx.180 cm = 70⅞" with color red. Cut strands of approx. 12 cm = 4¾" (both red and medium grey). Use a crochet hook to fasten them to the long sides and a few on the front of the muff. Cut the grey strands to approx. 10 cm = 4” and fasten to the whole of the wrong side. Sew the short sides together and sew the long cord to each side. Felt the piece as described below.

FELT IN WASHING MACHINE:
Washing machines will vary when felting. If the piece is not felted enough, it can be felted again. If it is felted too much, it can be stretched/shaped to the correct size while still wet.
DO THE FOLLOWING:
Lay the piece in the washing machine, using a programme of approx. 40 minutes (not a wool programme).
Wash at 40°C/104°F without pre-wash, detergent is optional. After washing, stretch/shape the piece while it is still wet.

FELT IN TUMBLE DRYER:
Felting in a tumble dryer gives good control over the degree of felting. The tumble dryer can be opened during drying to check the size of the piece. If it is not felted enough it can be thoroughly wetted and felted again. If it is felted too much it can be stretched/shaped to the correct size while still wet.
DO THE FOLLOWING:
Lay the piece in water so it becomes completely wet, then place it in the tumble dryer and begin the drying process. Dry to the desired size, checking regularly.