Thoughts on 10.3 – Fulling in the Washing Machine

[Ginette]

Let us know your thoughts on 10.3 – Fulling in the Washing Machine.

[Barbara]

Do you sell any of your mohair blankets online?

[Jane]

Hi Barbara, we don’t sell our mohair blankets online… yet! 🙂 Cheers, Jane.

[Annie]

I have a front loading washing machine – any recommendations for dealing with it? Annie

[Jane]

Hi Annie,
I have almost no experience with front loaders. I did mention in the video that I had used my friends to do that one sample I showed and it turned out perfectly. I was able to open the door and check it. I wasn’t able to do it immediately, I had to wait for a minute until the water settled and then I could open the door. It took around 5 minutes. Hope this helps,
Jane

[Betty.allen]

I have a Schacht standard loom. If I understand correctly my shed will not be as open. Can I weave mohair and if so will it be more problematic? Your video was fascinating to watch the process.

[Ginette]

Hi Betty,
Jane wove the mohair scarf in Episode 9.1 on a Schacht Wolf Pup so you should be ok on their standard loom.

[Leslie]

Should I brush a non-mohair blanket — say one made from Harrisville Shetland?

[Ginette]

Hi Leslie, I’ve brushed a Harrisville blanket with the same technique as Jane demonstrates and it worked out great. Try brushing a corner and see if you like how it looks and feel.

[madrod1]

Was this blanket all mohair?

[Ginette]

Hi madrod1, yes, the blanket that Jane washed in this episode is all mohair.

[cdewitte]

How do you wash a mohair blanket after using it for some time?

[Ginette]

Hi cdewitte, you could get it dry cleaned, might be a good way to go. If you did wash it at home, I would do it in a tub of cold water with the tiniest bit of soap, just soak it for a bit and then rinse it, then brush it again.

[Sandra]

I would just add – if you have a laundry tub next to your washing machine, I sometimes wash “gentles” there and then spin them out a bit (no agitation) in my washing machine. It helps to get the water out before you hang to dry or brush again.

[dena.hirchak]

Hi, This is such great information about finishing mohair and silk handwovens. Thank you!
I’m curious how you wet finish all the cotton samples and tea towels we’ll be making in Season 2. Do you just throw them in the washing machine with the other laundry (warm water) and line dry or dryer on low?

[Ginette]

Hi Dena,
If your samples are all cotton (warp & weft), yes you can throw them in the washing machine, line dry or dryer. If you use some silk for your weft on the samples, then wash them by hand and hang to dry.

[dena.hirchak]

Thank you!

[Gale Larsen]

Would most of the rules apply for an alpaca blanket?

[Sandra]

Yes they would, Gale 🙂

[Rosanna Lovecchio]

Are you air drying your mohair scarves and blankets flat?

[Ginette]

Hi Rosanna,

Jane will hang them on the cloth-line to dry outside the studio. I do that as well. It takes no time for them to dry once you’ve brushed them.

[nancy carol]

Fascinating to watch the transformation! I have never worked with mohair, but anxious to try it and use this method of fulling it. Question–do you ever use a no-rinse soap agent, like Eucalan? Or would it not work for this?

Thank you!

[Sandra]

Hi Nancy, Jane uses a gentle liquid dish detergent that adds suds and slipperiness to the water and helps full the mohair.  A gentle liquid laundry detergent would do the same in the washing machine.  Have fun!

[Pauline Bellecci]

Is there a particular type of bristle on the hairbrushes Jane uses? Do Natural Bristle vs synthetic/nylon work equally well?

[Sandra]

Good morning, Pauline.  You can find more about the brush Jane uses as well as how she finishes Mohair on the JST Knowledge Base.  There is a wealth of weaving information there to discover 😉

[Kellie Stapleton]

I have a front loader, only a few years old. I read the comment above……. you’d recommend still using a machine (front load) vs. a wash tub and doing a blanket by hand?

 

[Ginette]

Hi Kellie,

A blanket can be done by hand but it takes much longer opposed to a washing machine. The washer will also help full evenly easier than by hand. That said, I’m sure there are lots of tips for hand fulling. Jane did full a piece in the front loader that she talks about on the lesson. Also, my mother in law fulls all her mohair or wool blankets in her front loader. Not sure if she’s able to stop her machine. Are you able to do that with yours?

[Kellie Stapleton]

I’ve watched the full video. Jane only slightly comments about a front loader and the only point mentioned is waiting for the water to settle before one opens the door. What lesson do you mean? Yes, I can stop the washer, but it would be impossible to check the rinsing as Jane does with the door open. Any other references available?

 

[Sandra]

Hi Kellie, there is an item on the Knowledge Base that is a discussion that took place on Ravelry on using front-loading washing machines.  I hope this helps.

[Kellie Stapleton]

If one were to complete the fulling by hand in a washing tub. How long of manual agitation (smooshing) might it take?  Basically, it was about 4 min. in a machine.

[Sandra]

I can’t answer your question, Kellie – there are too many “it depends” involved 😉  It depends on your water temperature, the soap you use, the size of your project, the yarns you use, etc.  The best thing you can do is to watch Jane fulling at the sink .

[Audrey Clark]

I’m planning on copying Jane and buying a hand carder to brush blankets with the cloth stapled on backwards.  What’s the best TPI for brushing wool?  Thank you.

[Sandra]

Have you seen Jane’s piece in the Knowledge Base on brushing mohair and the brush she uses?

Brushing Mohair

[Audrey Clark]

I did, thank you.  I’m still interested in the hand carder.  There are lots of options for TPI, ranging from ~70-190.  Typically wool is carded at <120, but I wouldn’t be carding fleece, I’d be brushing woven wool.  Any thoughts on the density of the tines?  Thank you.

[Sandra]

Well – you’ve got me there 😏 I have hand cards in the basement but I haven’t used them for many years since I decided I really couldn’t do it all in one lifetime.  I imagine that hand cards have improved since I acquired mine! Hopefully someone else will be able to help.

[Bettie Shea]

Very first Harrisville Shetland blanket! Not perfect, but I am PROUD. My machine couldn’t accommodate me, so I filled it in the kitchen sink, so that was hard, but so worth it! What a difference that water made. I was afraid I had made burlap! 😜

[Bettie Shea]

Thanks Sandra. Perfect. There really is magic in the water! 😁

[Trish]

Is

Is there a place where Jane talks about finishing towels?  I’ve done blankets before but am curious how long the pieces are that go into the machine, whether she cuts them all apart or have long lengths eg 6 yards – and if not, why not…questions like that 🙂 thanks

[Ginette]

Hi Trish,

There’s this video that you might find helpful on this lesson, once you click here, go to the last video

10.8 Bonus Hemming

Episode 10 – Finishing up our first year with FINISHING!

[Amie Ritchie]

I have felted a lot of knit items in the dryer (front load washer/dryer, just got new ones- so haven’t checked- I think I can stop the new one easier than the old washer)…  but would that technique work for weaving as well (wet, soapy and in with a wet towel in the dryer)

[Sandra]

Maybe someone else can advise you 😉 I’m still a “by-hand” person after seeing the results of me not paying enough attention when things turned fast in the machine.  Here’s an article from the Knowledge Base about one weaver’s method with a front loading machine.

[Trish]

Does Jane talk about finishing tea towels anywhere – I haven’t seen it – I’d like to know if she cuts them all apart before going into the washer- or in sections and if not why?  I’ve tried many ways but none are 100% satisfying 🙂  look forward to hear back!
thanks

[Jane]

It is all in Season 1 Epiosde 10.8  The last video I hem tea towels and explain my approach.

[Diane – Boston]

Do you use the same fulling/brushing process with a Shetland warp and Mohair weft?

[Sandra]

Here’s an article from the Knowledge Base where Jane talks about a Shetland warp and mohair weft.

[Jocelyn Peeling]

thank you so much for all the information and the good humour. After this I want it all! to weave the mohair blanket, to buy a treadle loom… i know why wools shrink now and even what spinning looks like. I am really grateful and i can’t wait for season 2. You make it look so easy and possible!

[Author]

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