Felt Care

 Given a small amount of care your felt item will stay looking fresh and new for years to come.

Do’s

If your felt develops pills you can pluck or shave them off, just like with your favorite sweater.

Soiling can be removed by wiping with a damp cloth or rinsing gently in cold water. Light soap is ok but be sure to rinse it out.  For large items use your garden hose.

All felt, especially rugs and bags, needs to be freshened and tightened by rolling now and then.  I will do this for a small fee or you can do it yourself. Wet the felt with plain water.  Squeeze out excess water then roll up tightly in a towel.  Use your foot or hands to roll the bundle back and forth several times.  Then unroll and turn in the opposite direction and do the same. Try to roll from all 4 sides, then turn the piece over and do the same.  This process may shrink the item slightly, but will tighten and smooth the felt as well as remove dirt.  Reshape the felt into the desired shape and leave until dry. 

Hats

Most hats have been shaped wet and dried in that shape.  Store your hat in a rigid box so that it does not get squished in transport.  Should it become wet with rain or need to be rinsed due to soil or sweat, simply mold back into shape and leave out to dry.

Hats with flat tops and other non-head shapes may need to be put back on a form to be reshaped.  Most other hats can be reshaped on your head.  You may also add some laundry starch while the hat is wet for extra stiffness.

Don’ts

Never put felt in the washer or dryer.  This will cause the item to continue to felt (shrink) but in an irregular way.

Do not leave colored felt in the direct sun for days and days.  Some colors have been known to fade.