Date: Fri, 26 Jan 1996 08:23:20 -0600 From: JLHAMER@aol.com To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: KNIT: Fulled socks from Joan - I'm being overrun! Hi Guys, Good heavens! When I downloaded my mail this morning, it took forever! Since so many people seem to be interested in the fulled socks, I'm posting it to the list. It took me an hour just to send and answer questions! I don't mind at all, but I have to get some actual work done today for a change so this may help. HAMER'S HUMDINGERS These are house socks that are very thick and very warm. If you've made the original Joan's Socks, these will go even faster because it takes less rows per inch. Before fulling, these socks will look enormous! Trust me that they will be perfect in the end. The felting technique comes from Robin Hanson's various writings on the subject, to whom I've forever grateful. Materials: 2 balls Lopi, Icelandic Samband or Brown Sheep Bulky wool or any single ply pure wool. Should be a color because white often doesn't full very well. Size 10-1/2 US (6-1/2mm) & 11 US (8mm) dpn's Fulling Materials: Murphy's Oil Soap (helps retain oils), table salt (speeds fulling process), rubber gloves, ice cubes (to keep water very cold) , washboard, or cookie cooling racks, hair conditioner, old toothbrush. OK, so this might require some shopping, but you'll probably make more than one pair! This is a variation of the Joan's Socks pattern. You will need the instructions for those socks to do these. See the FAQ for places to find it. [Editor's note: it's available in the patterns section of the Online Knitting Magazine.] Use the same basic pattern with these changes: No ribbing at top. Cast on with 10-1/2 needles. Work in stockinette stitch and let the top roll down. Work leg for 5 inches using the smaller needles. On last round of leg, change to size 11 needles. Work foot to at least 2 to 2-1/2" longer than you normally would. Remember it will shrink much more in length than it will in width. You will be able to control the fulling and stop when they are the size you want. Fulling: Machine fulling will not produce as dense a fabric and this "hands-on" method. Using 2 dishpans (or double kitchen sink) run hot water into first adding Murphy's Oil Soap. I boiled additional water to keep it very hot. Be sure and wear rubber gloves so you don't burn your hands. Into the 2nd sink run very cold water with a tray or two of ice cubes and about 1/4 cup of salt. 1. Put the socks into hot water, letting them soak for about 10 minutes. Rub more soap into them and scrub them vigorously on the washboard, dipping them into the hot water to keep them hot and making sure your scrub all sections of the sock. Good for the frustrations of everyday life! Primal scream is optional. 2. Wring out excess water and immediately plunge them into the cold water. Squeeze water through and let rest a few minutes. Take out and wring out excess water. Repeat Steps 1 & 2 until they have fulled to the size you want. It will take 3 or 4 of these actions before you notice a drastic difference. Keep looking at them and stop when they are the size you want. Try them on wet if you must. These are thick and the outside measurements might be deceiving. When you have them the way you want them, run a pan of warm clear water, adding a bit of hair conditioner. Rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water by rolling in a towel. Push and pull the sock into shape and then brush them with the toothbrush from top to toe on both sides. Throw them in the dryer until nearly dry. Don't overdry. Roll top into shape and let air dry. --- This pattern downloaded from Wool Works: the online knitting compendium http://www.woolworks.org/