Felted Wool Dryer Balls

I love seeing Good Garbage (GG) through the eyes of others. Some folks visit the shop looking for something specific; others browse and wait for inspiration. Some are looking for things to make their work easier; for example teachers or parents, providing more/new materials for their students/children. Others are finding what they need to make their lives easier - inexpensive home improvement, a money saving life hack, or an idea for stretching their resources.

Last week, Amanda, a GG supporter, posted on our Facebook page about the felted wool dryer balls she made out of some of the fabulous wool yarn remnants donated to the shop. As devoted as I am to upcycling and recycling, this was a reminder there's always more to learn. How had I never heard of felted wool dryer balls?

These little gems are simple to make and replace the pricey, chemical-laced dryer sheets most of us rely on to keep our clothes static free. Even better, they reduce the amount of time it takes to dry a load of laundry, as the wool pulls the moisture out of your laundry and the movement of the balls helps separate your clothes, allowing more hot air to circulate.

If you Google "felted wool dryer balls" you'll find dozens of tutorials on how to make them, some more complicated than others. But here's the process, in a nutshell.

First, choose your yarn. Look for 100% wool (no "wool blends") and enough yarn to make a ball the size of a tennis ball. To avoid the risk of any color bleeding, go with white or cream or some incredibly pale color.

Next, create your yarn ball, leaving a rather long tail (1-2 feet), then use a blunt-tipped yarn needle to sew the tail through the ball of yarn several times. When you feel like the yarn is secure in all directions, cut the tail.

Then simply toss your wool balls into the washer the next time you wash a load on hot/cold, and dry it on the hottest dryer setting. Plan to repeat this step and send it through the laundry cycle several times to thoroughly felt it (you should see a difference after each load). The yarn ball is completely felted when the strands are no longer separate or at risk of unraveling.

That's it! To dry a regular-size load of laundry, you'll need 4-6 felted wool dryer balls; large loads need balls 6 or more.

If you miss the "fresh scent" your dryer sheets added to your laundry, you can add a few drops of an essential oil to each dryer ball, but be careful not to add too much so the oil doesn't spot your clothes.


It doesn't get much easier (or more earth-friendly) than this.



Good Garbage is Louisville's one and only creative reuse center, where you'll find all the components for this project and a gazillion others. Visit GoodGarbage.org for store hours, info on upcoming events, a link to our Etsy store and more!

I'm Bored... Tired of Hearing That?

The last couple of days here in Louisville have been a bit gloomy and some kids are on Fall break. They are always bored (even in the summer when it's beautiful out)! I have great idea on how to solve that!

TP Roll Vehicle

Catapult

Take a few minutes and look around the house. Check your recycle bin before it's picked up. Do you have lids? Rubber bands? Paper? Containers? Toilet paper or paper towel rolls? Glue? Masking tape? Then you have a great start on an "I'm Bored" kit!!! Find a good size box and now put all these things in it. Maybe have one for each child if you have more than one. Now every time they say they are bored, you bring out this box! Viola, hours of cheap (basically free) fun and imagination building for them. Keep all kinds of fun stuff in the box. Add buttons that fall off a shirt, plastic spoons & forks, popsicle sticks, strips or pieces of an old t-shirt, marbles, even those plastic produce bags that onions and citrus comes in. 

Fork, Yarn, Fabric

An additional twist that I have added to the various make and takes I do around the city is the stack of Imagination Cards. These allow for prompting creativity. There are simple general words on the cards to give a little push with the imagination when needed. Click here to download our Imagination Cards.

So go now and start your own "I'm Bored" box! It is a lot of fun, especially if you, the grown-up, use the box with your child! It's awesome for all ages! Try it! You'll like it!

You may also pick up I'm Bored starter kits at Good Garbage. These have even more cool stuff in them for added hours of fun. Visit our website www.GoodGarbage.org for our hours and happenings. Also be sure to sign up for this blog over on the right and for our emails HERE! . You may also find inspiration of creative reuse by following us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!

September was busy! A picture recap . . .

September has been one very busy month of volunteering and preparing for events. ZeroLandfill, the Louisville Mini Maker Faire, coordinating some awesome young volunteers and hosting a MOPS Mom's Night Out to planning upcoming October and November events...there hasn't been much time for creating. Although that has actually become normal, unless I am forced because of an impending event. So to close out September I thought I would just show you in pictures, a recap of what has been happening at Good Garbage. Hopefully something will excite you, intrigue you or inspire you! 

Be sure to check out our website at www.GoodGarbage.org to keep up with what is happening this month at the shop!