How to Make Felted Wool Dryer Balls

Felted wool dryer balls make a great green alternative to both fabric softener and dryer sheets. They decrease static cling, soften fabrics and shorten drying time. All this and no harmful chemicals! Use three or four balls in a large load of laundry.

What You'll Need

wool yarn
crochet hook
knee high pantyhose
washing machine and clothes dryer
mild laundry detergent

Step One

Begin rolling the yarn into a ball. Start by winding it around two or three fingers on one hand until you have a solid core. Then remove your fingers and continue winding the yarn into a ball.

Step Two

When the ball of yarn is a little bigger than a golf ball, cut the yarn close to the ball and use a crochet hook to pull the loose end under some other strands of the yarn to hold it secure.

Step Three

Place the ball of yarn in the toe of a knee high pantyhose stocking. Pull the stocking taut around the ball, then knot the stocking so that the ball is held firmly inside and cannot move around inside the stocking. Cut off the excess stocking with scissors.

Step Four

Put the ball of yarn into the washing machine with a few towels. Wash in hot water, then dry in the dryer.

Step Five

The ball should now be felted. You should be able to see individual strands of yarn but they should all be stuck together. If it's not felted enough, run it through the washer and dryer a second time.

Step Six

Continue wrapping yarn around the ball until your dryer ball is about the size of a tennis ball. Then use the crochet hook to tuck the end under some of the other strands of yarn, as you did before.

Step Seven

Put the dryer ball in pantyhose and felt it again by running it through the washer and dryer a time or two.

Tips

You can use the rest of the knee high pantyhose to enclose your dryer balls, not just the toes. When you've cut off the toe and are left with a long tube open on both ends, tie a knot in one end, put the dryer ball in, and then knot it again right after the ball and cut off the excess.

You do not have to purchase new pantyhose to felt wool dryer balls in. You can use pantyhose that you've worn, maybe a pair that has developed runs. Just wash and dry the pantyhose first.

Do not try to felt your wool dryer balls without putting them inside pantyhose. The yarn will not stay in a neat ball and you'll end up with something resembling a felted bird's nest.