Time to blow your minds
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 8:10 pm
Hey all, thought I'd pop in and let you in on one of my secrets when I make wool dreads .... I don't use hot water! Nor do I use soap!
I've been making wool dreads for a while now (years lols) and apart from the first few attempts I've never made dreads the 'traditional' way ... Yes, using hot water and using soap to felt dreads is the most common way to getting that pile 'o' wool to a pile 'o' dreads.
But I'm a lazy arse dread maker and I can't be doing with all that getting me wet, my clothes wet, the dogs wet .... you get the picture ... I also don't like the smell of the wool when it's wet either or the drip dry thing ... it all drives me crackers!!!! The 'trad' method also does nasty things to my hands,
So how do I do it, palm rolling against thigh, wrapping, palm rolling against thigh, wrap some more .... for me 99% of the felting process is done dry (cos I'm lazy) and I have installed dry felted dreads worn them for weeks and they have been absolutely fine
IF however I want sturdier (uber-felted) dreads then I usually bundle the dreads up and tightly pack them in a pillow case and shove them in the washing machine with my laundry ... a full cycle at 40 degrees ... when they are done I separate them if needs be and shake them from the middle to straighten em out ... leave to dry
I've been making wool dreads for a while now (years lols) and apart from the first few attempts I've never made dreads the 'traditional' way ... Yes, using hot water and using soap to felt dreads is the most common way to getting that pile 'o' wool to a pile 'o' dreads.
But I'm a lazy arse dread maker and I can't be doing with all that getting me wet, my clothes wet, the dogs wet .... you get the picture ... I also don't like the smell of the wool when it's wet either or the drip dry thing ... it all drives me crackers!!!! The 'trad' method also does nasty things to my hands,
So how do I do it, palm rolling against thigh, wrapping, palm rolling against thigh, wrap some more .... for me 99% of the felting process is done dry (cos I'm lazy) and I have installed dry felted dreads worn them for weeks and they have been absolutely fine
IF however I want sturdier (uber-felted) dreads then I usually bundle the dreads up and tightly pack them in a pillow case and shove them in the washing machine with my laundry ... a full cycle at 40 degrees ... when they are done I separate them if needs be and shake them from the middle to straighten em out ... leave to dry