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DIY Wool Dryer Balls
Wool dryer balls are useful tools that can help cut down on electricity use and decrease the time your clothes spend in the dryer. You can purchase your own wool dryer balls, or make your own for less!
Today, I’m sharing a guest post from my friend, Michelle, on how to make your own wool dryer balls.
Do this project with your kids for even more fun!
How to Make Wool Dryer Balls
Supplies:
- Wool yarn
- Crochet hook or sewing needle
- Old pantyhose
- String
I recommend using 100% wool yarn such as Patons Classic Wool Roving Yarn
Make the Center of the Wool Ball
First make the center of the ball, which makes the finished ball firmer in the end. Begin by winding yarn around your index and middle finger 10 times.
Once you have wound the yarn, take it off your two fingers. Wrap the end of the yarn string around the center of your yarn ball. Fold the the yarn in half. This is the center of your ball.
Continue wrapping the yarn around the ball in various directions and forming a little ball until it is the size you want.
Most wool felt balls are between 2 1/2 and 5 inches across.
Once you have the size of wool ball that you want, cut the yarn and tuck the end under using a crochet hook or a sewing needle. This will keep it from coming loose as it is felted in the wash basin.
Felt the Ball
Place one wool ball into a leg of an old pair of pantyhose or socks. I like to use the cheap knee-highs, but if you have any pantyhose that have runs in them, this is a good way to recycle them.
After placing your ball into the pantyhose, tie the hose closed with a piece of string. This will keep the balls separated during felting. Repeat the process of adding one ball and tying it with string until all balls are added to the pantyhose leg. It will kind of look like a caterpillar when you are finished.
Wash the Wool Balls
Toss the pantyhose caterpillar into your washer. Set you washer to “hot” and run a regular wash cycle using soap. Wash the felt balls with your next load of laundry, the pop the caterpillar into the dryer with the rest of your clothes. Repeat this process four times, for a total of eight wash cycles and four dry cycles before removing the wool balls from the pantyhose.
The process of multiple washings will prevent the balls from unraveling in the dryer. Once the wool dryer balls are removed from the pantyhose, leave them in the dryer permanently.
We like to add drops of lavender or Purification essential oil on the dryer balls. It gives the load of clothes a nice fresh scent. No, the essential oil does not rub off on the clothes— it is absorbed into the wool dryer ball. Use around 3-5 balls in a load to help dry clothes faster.
About the Author:
My name is Michelle and one of my passions is creating handmade projects. Our family tries to be as eco-friendly as possible and create things that are centered around the home and children. Whether my daughters and I create new handmade projects, “experiment” with a different type of art mediums, or embark on learning activities, we are always creating…learning and sharing. What could be better? I share our creations over at Hi Mamma Designs. I also have a Himamma Etsy shop showcasing our handmade goods.