An Interesting Experiment (Not for the Faint of Heart!)

[KD Burke]

Saturday, I took about two and a half-yards of heavy-weight, custom-woven, wool tartan cloth and put it into the washing machine. I carefully added a bit of detergent, and adjusted the cycle from "Cold" "Hot.
Then I set the machine for a long, "Heavy Soil" wash cycle.....and I turned it on.

I hadn't taken leave of my senses, nor had I forgotten everything I ever learned about washing wool.

A year or so ago, through circumstances that are quite impossible to explain without embarrassing people who don't deserve it, I found myself in possession of a length of tartan that was NOT QUITE what I had ordered. Since I had it at a good price (and because it wasn't what I really wanted) I felt justified in using a bit of it for experimenting with so-called "boiled wool".

The hot water and agitation of the washing machine shrunk an partially felted the wool, causing a change in density and texture. The result is denser, slightly coarser, and springier (greater "loft"?) than the fabric which went into the washer. It will make a lovely, warm and wind-proof blanket for future chilly days!

[sydnie7]

"Fulling" is the proper term, I'm told. Felting is done with non-woven fibers, and you end up with what we commonly call "felt" material.

Semantics aside, you are a brave man! Did you happen to take any before-and-after shots, especially close-up of the weave?

[StevieR]

How much did the cloth shrink by? Might there be any chance (if you had enough tartan and you so desired) to make a super heavy weight kilt - 20+ ounces like an old military weight tartan?

[KD Burke]

Okay...the left of the frame is the original cloth. The right is the washed/shrunk stuff. The color change? Did I not mention the dye?



Over 54 inches the shrinkage was about 4", or less than 10%.

A remarkable difference in the hand, though.

[tundramanq]

Fascinating!
The black dye really spread around and muted the rest of the tartan from the hot water.
The fuzzing from the beating blurred the pattern a lot.

[figheadair]

In the image I see it is rotated by 90 degrees and shows the original cloth at the top. Whilst cloth will shrink when abused in the way described I'm surprised by the description of it being coarser. My experience is that the reverse is true and that the washed cloth, whilst denser, will have a raised knap and softer feel whilst at the same time having a stiffer handle.

[KD Burke]

I suppose that's what comes of a novice treading into expert territory! "Coarse" may not have been the best choice of words. You've described the result exactly!

I'm very pleased win the way my little project turned out, actually. I intended this to be a sort of hard use car blanket, of the sort used for spreading picnics, etc. It would certainly serve that purpose, but it is also very warm, wind resistant, and pleasant to the touch.

Aside from the issue of expense, I could see fabric of this sort being used for a variety of purposes.