Friday, November 16, 2012

HOW TO MAKE FELTED WOOL DRYER BALLS

Want to save money, time, AND the planet?

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 16

There is an easy way to do this.  Make a set of Felted Wool Dryer Balls. 

Once you do, you will never have to buy over-scented dryer sheets or bulky bottles of fabric softener again.

Dryer balls will also reduce static cling and cut your clothes drying time significantly {25-50%}.

These nifty little felted wool dryer balls will do all of these things while happily bouncing around in your dryer.

Things You Will Need:
  • 100% Wool Yarn (mine had 223 yds.)
  • Panty Hose
  • Dental Floss 
  • Crochet Needle with blunt tip
  • Lavender Oil (optional)
Felted Wool Dryer Balls 1

Begin by wrapped several strands of yarn around your fingers 10-20 times.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 2

Pull the yarn off your fingers and pinch together in the center. 

Tightly wrap yarn around the middle.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 3

Start wrapping until the yarn takes on the shape of a ball.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 4

Continue wrapping the yarn around the small wool ball. 

Optional:  When it reaches about half the size of a tennis ball, sprinkle a 2-4 drops of lavender oil on the wool.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 5

Keep wrapping until your wool ball is about the size of a tennis ball.

Cut a short yarn tail and thread it through a crochet needle.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 6

Push the blunt end of the needle into the center of the wool ball and pull through.  Clip the yarn tail.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 10 
Repeat the above steps until you have 4-6 yarn balls.

My skein of yarn was 223 yards and it made 4 dryer balls.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 11 
Now, you are ready to begin the felting process.

Push the first wool ball down into the toe of the panty hose leg.  Tie a square knot using a piece of dental floss.

Note:  Do not use any of your left over wool yarn or it will felt during the washing process.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 12
Felted Wool Dryer Balls 13

To felt your wool balls, wash on your machine’s hottest setting.  If you have a front loader, add in some towels to help muffle the noise of the balls flinging around.

Once the wash cycle is complete, dry on the hottest dryer setting.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 14

 Notice the difference in size before and after.  The felting process took place in the washer.  The dryer balls did not continue to shrink after drying.

Felted Wool Dryer Balls 17 Felted Wool Dryer Balls 16
This set should last at least a year. Simple and economical ~ always a winner with me.


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22 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm so excited! Can't wait to try this. So much prettier to have these sitting out and smelling good than dryer sheets. I've never been a fan of liquid softeners.

Jen @ frazzled 5 said...

These are beautiful, I am not sure i would want the in the dryer. On the table looks great!

Unknown said...

What a great tutorial. I never knew you could do that. and they are so cute! Thanks so much for sharing on Super Sweet Saturday.
Steph
swtboutique.blogspot.com

Bobi Jensen said...

Seriously, they make a cute decoration! Love this idea!

I have a weekend party I'd love for you to share this on:

http://westernwarmth.blogspot.com

Thanks!

Bobi

Isobel Morrell said...

This felting business is a complete mystery to me, but this sounds as if even I could achieve it. Like the idea(s) too. Thanks for sharing. As a fellow guest on this blog hop, will be following to see what other ideas you come up with: hope you'll return the favour and visit me at www.ColdhamCuddliescalling.blogspot.com. We look forward to getting to know you! Isobel

I Gotta Try That said...

At first I thought these were a cute snowball decorations. Ha ha.But this is so cool. What a great idea! Glad you linked up at "I Gotta Try That" Have a great Thanksgiving!
Marcie

megan {homemade ginger} said...

I've been wanting to make some of these. Great tutorial! I would be honored if you shared this at my Ginger Jamboree Link Party!

Jen @ de Jong Dream House said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jen @ de Jong Dream House said...

I make my own wool dryer balls, too. I'm completely sold on them. Thanks for the tip on threading the end with a needle. I've just been tucking them under. I like your way better :-) I keep mine in a basket and dab a few drops of essential oil before each use. I can't decide what scent I like best: lavendar, lemon grass, sweet orange, spearmint, vanilla, or grapefruit!

http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/2012/11/wool-dryer-balls.html

Unknown said...

Found you from Mop it Up Mondays. What a great tutorial! I've been wanting to make these, but have been hesitant because of the noise. I think this is an awesome idea and you've encouraged me to give it a try! Love your blog - you have a new follower!

Jen @ Noting Grace
http://notinggrace.blogspot.com

Leah said...

I will definitely try this - during the winter, cutting down on drying time would really save money on our utilities bill!

Danni@SiloHillFarm said...

Very interesting! I love an idea that saves me money for sure! Thanks for sharing this. Saw you over at Sweet Boutique and happily following you via GFC and looking forward to more!

The Domesticated Princess said...

I love this! My husband likes using Downy, but I don't like using extra chemicals, so this looks like a great alternative. Plus, your great tutorial makes this look like a fun project to make. I better go out and buy some wool yarn. I'm now following you on GFC and hope you'll stop by at thedomesticatedprincess.com.

Jessi @ Practically Functional said...

Way cool, I never knew you could do this! I have a TON of yarn from my grandmother that's just waiting for me to find a use for it, and I know a bunch of it is 100% wool, so this is perfect. :-)

Thanks for sharing at The Fun In Functional!

Jenn Erickson said...

Wow! This is so brilliant! I'm so glad I decided to join the SundayFunday blog hop over at WTFab and saw your link. You have a beautiful blog and I'm delighted to pin your post and share it with my readers on Facebook as well!

Jenn/Rook No. 17

Chrissy said...

What a great idea! And awesome tutorial! Thank you for sharing! Found you through a linky party and I am excited to be a new follower! I hope you will stop by my site if you get a chance! http://www.thetaylor-house.com

Crystelle said...

I love this idea! I am always looking for ways to save money. Plus dryer sheets are so hard on sensitive skin.....

Thanks.. Your picture are great, so easy to follow...

hugs x
Crystelle

megan {homemade ginger} said...

Thanks for linking up at the Ginger Jamboree! I featured your project today...come on over and grab a featured button if you'd like!

Kristina @ ReMadeSimple said...

This is the first time I've ever heard of this. At first, I thought this was just a cute decoration (they look like fuzzy snowballs) but would love to try this in for drying clothes-sound simple to make too. Thanks for sharing :)

Jessi @ Practically Functional said...

Just wanted to let you know I featured this today on my blog! You can check it out and grab a Featured button here: http://practicallyfunctional.net/2012/11/the-fun-in-functional-link-party-27/

Allure Wool said...

Hi! They look great that's for sure. I would be very happy if more people start using wool dryer balls in their laundry :)

Anonymous said...

is there any problem with using coloured wool, i have leftovers of red, blue,green from making felted slippers. thanks for your fabulous (free) instructions. these are sold at the farmer's market up here (ontario, canada) for 3/$12.00.

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