Somewhere in the dim mists of time I’d made four pair of bottoms in recycled 60% wool/40% nylon. Last night I dyed them to more-or-less match. They’re stockinette but I’m hoping that hulking great nylon content (and keeping up with pedicures) will make them durable. And I have them. Why not use them?
The ones at right obviously could have been closer but hey, it will be another pair of wearable socks. I’d dyed these previously so the little grabby bonding hands couldn’t manage much more color.
Deliberate Felting:
The problem you may hit with cashmere/felting is that it may have been hand-washed with Woolite or Eucalon, which needs to be stripped out first.
It’s easy. Wash your sweater with shampoo – it’s the sodium lauryl sulfate, the super-wetting agent, that does the trick.
When it doesn’t feel oily any more, you’re set. Cashmere will felt thick and hard given the chance. I don’t bother with it for our ongoing mass-production, but it would make a lovely brimmed hat.