More dryer ball questions

hoping4more

I didn't want to hijack previous post...

The ladies at a local-ish store told me the more dryer balls the better. she recommended starting with 3 and getting up to 9, that seems a little excessive to me. I noticed in the post below the average is 2-4. 

I also noticed that you can make dryer balls?! I'm guessing this would be more economic then $13/per ball? How do I make them? (I'm really dumb so please spell it out, do I use something for the center? What kind of wool do I get? Is it available at walmart/michaels?) 

shanbrite2

Google "wool dryer ball tutorial" and the one from Goodmama should come up. You just need 100% wool to felt properly. I got mine at Joann, I imagine Michael's or Walmart would also have it. Nothing fancy, just not acrylic.

Dr.Loretta

I agree that 9 is a bit much. The most I've heard of is 6

There's a goodmama tutorial. In a nutshell, wind yarn (NOT superwash) into a ball the size of a baseball. Put in an old stocking and wash/dry on hot. Roll more yarn until ball is about the size of a tennis ball. Repeat the felting and you're good to go.

hoping4more

Thank you

spritzey

What they said.

Although you might want to buy felt yarn and not just 100% wool yarn. I got 100% wool and while it felts a bit, it doesn't last. I'm going to buy felt yarn (specifically for felting) and add a few layers so that my balls don't unravel...which is what mine do after about 4-6 months and so I have to re-felt them occasionally.

I need at least 4 to notice a time difference. I would prefer at least 6. 

BeckyD80

I've heard you need 8-10 to really see a good improvement in drying time. I personally use 8 but I made my own and they aren't huge by any means. I also used the goodmama tutorial.

 Good luck, it's really easy. 

happylady07

hoping4more:

I didn't want to hijack previous post...

The ladies at a local-ish store told me the more dryer balls the better. she recommended starting with 3 and getting up to 9, that seems a little excessive to me. I noticed in the post below the average is 2-4. 

I also noticed that you can make dryer balls?! I'm guessing this would be more economic then $13/per ball? How do I make them? (I'm really dumb so please spell it out, do I use something for the center? What kind of wool do I get? Is it available at walmart/michaels?) 

I bought mine for $20 for a set of 4 off etsy, search on there and she's one of the main sellers that pop up for wool dryer balls, the more you order the less it is per ball too.  I agree $13 each is pretty steep, but for that price I figured I'd give it a try before putting in some $$ and my time on felting wool