Will machine felting felt parts of my piece together?

[forestergirl]

I made myself a beanie that I want to felt and I'm working on designing a pair of boxers for DH that will be felted. I know that felting can felt the sides of my hat together or the front and back of the boxers, but if I use the washer is it likely to be an issue? I was planning on doing them by hand, but I attempted the hat today and it is just going to take too much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[tonyal]

I use the washer for felting. When I check the progress I make sure that stuff is not sticking together,ex. purse pockets if it starts to felt I just seperate them by sliding my hand in and it seperates very quickly. As long as your checking there shouldn't be a problem.

[forestergirl]

So how often would you recommend checking? My only previous experience with felting is my mom using roving rolled into balls and stuffed into old nylons to make "felt balls" - they're a lot more forgiving.

[tonyal]

It depends on what yarn you are useing. with 100% wool I check every 8-10 minutes, with the sws yarn i check every 5-8 minutes.

[forestergirl]

Thanks! The hat is Wool/Alpaca (Knitpicks Cadena) and the boxers will be wool (Knitpicks Telemark)