Recently, in the post about May Faire, I told you that I would share how to make a felted wool vest like the one Bracken was wearing in the pictures that day. So here it is, a few weeks belated.
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Some of you might remember that I’ve shared how to make a felted wool vest here before (in this post from November 2012, with links to pictures of other felted wool vests that I’ve finished, if you’d fancy some more inspiration.) I wanted to write a new post because I wanted to share more pictures of the process this time. (Even though it’s a very simple process, pictures are always nice, aren’t they? I’m a visual person so I always appreciate them.) At Holiday Market sometime in November, our friend brought us a merino wool sweater that he had accidentally shrunk. He held it up to me and asked “would you make something with this?” Yes!! So grateful for the gift, I took it home and put it in the washing machine a second time to shrink it some more because I wanted it to be small enough to fit Bracken. This time I took pictures of the process.
how to make a felted wool vest
How To Make A Felted Wool Vest
1) Pick your sweater & felt it. (See when I started this project? Back in the winter when we had snow!) We like to get wool sweaters at the local thrift store (especially when they are having their 50% off all clothing sale, which they have periodically.) Check the tag. You’ll need 100% wool or other natural fibers for it to shrink. The man-made stuff doesn’t work. This project is a fun way to give an old, discarded sweater a new life. Find a moth hole in the sleeve? No problem, we can turn that sweater into something useful and beautiful. Shrinking your sweater is simple, just stick it in the washing machine with natural soap. Wash it on hot. The agitation, soap, and hot water will shrink that sweater right up. (A tip someone shared with me: if you don’t want to get wool fuzzies all over your washing machine, you can put the sweater in a pillowcase and tie it closed. The sweater will shrink in there without get little wool wads all over the place.)
2) Cut the sleeves off and cut down the front. When cutting the sleeves off, I always follow the seam of where the body of the sweater meets the sleeves. It will leave you with a nice curved opening that is comfortable to wear and how the armholes would naturally be. Then cut right down the middle, on the front side. The wool is felted so you don’t have to worry about anything fraying or coming undone, you just cut it, no sewing necessary. (I told you this was easy!) What to do with those sleeves? They make the perfect legwarmers for little ones! Bracken has a pair of felted-sweater-sleeves-turned-legwarmers that he wears all the time. I’ve also used the sleeves to make wool pants before.
3) Stick it back in the washing machine and felt it again. This step is optional. If you are happy with the size after the first felting, you can leave it be. I usually like to felt it a second time, after I’ve done the cutting because I always seem to want a smaller size vest and because I like how it makes the edges, where I have done the cutting, all soft and wooly. It gives them a softer edge look that I like. You can see in the pictures above what I mean. This particular vest was actually felted three times (first by our friend and the second two times by me.) They turn out (and shrink) differently every time, which makes it a fun surprise.
4) Sew on your buttons and button loops. (Picture shows when I actually got the vest finished: springtime! The May Faire gave me some good incentive to finally get it finished. It really was the perfect spring green color for the festival. Don’t let my delay of finishing this project deceive you- beginning it in November and finishing it in May- it’s actually a very quick and easy project. I just happened to set it in a place during our busy holiday season where I forgot about it. Spring cleaning brought it back to mind.) For these vests, I prefer toggle buttons. And of course my very favorite toggle buttons are the ones Jeff makes. (Before I was knitting many projects requiring buttons, I was really happy to have these easy felted wool vests to use Wooly Moss Roots Buttons on.) Space your buttons evenly along one side and your button loops directly across from them. For some reason, mine never seem to line up when I’m finished, but no worries: the vest will still look good. Handmade character makes it special. For the loops and for attaching the buttons, I used wool yarn. Maybe you’ll get a bit fancier, but the yarn loops have worked great for me. I just tie a large knot on the backside and that’s it. Simple, but it works.
5) Find a little somebody who could use something warm, wooly, and cozy, and wrap them up in some handmade love. I’m often asked if these can be made for adults. Yes, they could be. However, once the sweaters are felted they are usually too small for an adult to wear. But if you started with a pretty large sweater, than it would work. The fun thing about the felting is that you can usually just keep shrinking the sweaters until you get the size you want (if the size you’re wanting is smaller, that is.) I’ve made them for toddlers and small children and sold a few at the market. This is the second one that I’ve made for Bracken and it’s a bit big on him so it will last for a long time. One thing that is so great about the vests is that even as children’s arms grow longer, the vests still fit. You know how quickly children grow and how fast they outgrow their clothes. These felted wool vests can be worn for many, many years, getting far more use than other clothing items ever would. I also like that they keep the center of the body warm, but don’t tend to get the whole body too hot. Being sleeveless, they can also be worn for more seasons throughout the year.
{Waiting in the rocking chair last week, for a few minutes before Rainbow Bridge started.}
Bracken is so delighted every time I make something for him and these felted wool vests are surely a favorite! I know other parents who want to dress their children in wool, but find it cost prohibitive. These vests are so incredibly affordable and useful. Plus, even people who don’t consider themselves very “crafty” can certainly make these vests since they only require a bit of hand sewing to attach the buttons and make the loops. I’d like to see these vests well loved by many, to spot smiling children all over the place in their beautiful felted wool vests keeping them cozy. See what I mean about this project being so easy? Everywhere Bracken wears his vests, I’m asked about them. When I tell people how incredibly easy they are to make, they are amazed. If you get inspired and start making felted wool vests, please share links to pictures in the comments below for the rest of us to enjoy. What are your favorite projects to make with felted sweaters?
Let’s inspire each other and we can give discarded sweaters everywhere, a new life!
Norma Mclane says
Looking for a pattern to knit and felt an adult vest. Any suggestions?
Sarah says
I love this. I have been making baby bags out of old jumpers and then later turning them into dungarees. This vest idea is great for the next stages. You can buy beautiful merino wool jumpers second hand really cheap and the baby can wear luxury labels. It’s true too that wool works really well in all weathers, it’s very hard wearing and forgiving of stains and dirt. These items have been the cheapest, most practical and most long lasting of all our baby clothes so far. Whether it looks nice is another matter! But with a bit of practice all sorts of cute things can be invented to embellish and if you start off with a really good jumper it can look beautiful.