Really smooth woolies! Hints and tips?

[PureUnDilutedEvil]

I haven't been on here in soo long!!! Or near my computer for that matter....
Been too busy playing with toys! (I have a 1 year old, I'm not a loon )


Basically I'm getting twitchy hands and they need something to do.
I've never made wool roving dreads, just synth. It was getting a pain in the ass getting all my stuff out and hiding it away again before curious hands found it!
I found it quite time consuming but I would change the way I did it because I'm quite particular and I liked they way they would turn out.


What do you thinks takes more time?
Would it be a bigger pain in the ass to hide all the stuff away?
What do you use for woolies?....i.e, soaps, basins, skooshy bottles, bamboo mat, towel.

If I'm gonna get a set made I need to get a move on. My aim would be to have them made, be happy with them and get them in by the beginning of June.
The dead line being Baby #2!

Any help would be graciously received!

[LittlePinkFaery]

There are tutorials on the tutorial section on using hot water and soap and felting smooth, or a washing machine and re felting to get them smooth- personally I like mine wiggly so I on,y use the washing machine these days.

It is easier than synth dreads, but that is my opinion, some would obviously disagree... Certainly you will get prune like hands from all the water if you use the hot water method!

[PureUnDilutedEvil]

I've nosied at many, many a tutorial

Some personal experiences is what I'm after
I've seen people skooshing and not soaking....not sure how well that'd work.
I think my washing machine would pack up and leave if I gave more work!!

I do like synth but the wool just looks nice and soft


If I were to go for slightly thicker than pencil, how many times would you recommend splitting?


There's no fear for pruney hands here! This boy would live in a bath!

[MrsEss]

I used to use gloves for handfelting as I used water that was freshly boiled, or if time ids an issue palm roll, machine wash & palm roll again - I've made smooth ones this way before.

I second Andrea though - tutorials section

[LittlePinkFaery]

Split 3 times if you want just thick than a pencil. Generally you find your own way. I used to dip the whole dread in the water then pull it out a little and squeeze and fought roll until all the dream wasa out and then work on rolling, pulling apart any lines and rolling again. If I got an big lines I would re dip.

I made for falls mainly so one round if hot water and felting was enough. If you like them harder then you would need to put them in water twice most likely.

Personally I prefer using the machine, as said

I nevere thought about using gloves - how did I not honk if that!?!?

[PureUnDilutedEvil]

The gloves would certainly save you the pruney hands!
Think I'll definitely be using gloves and getting some nice scalding water on the go!