DIY Wool Dryer Balls

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Learn how to make DIY wool dryer balls with this east step by step tutorial. Reduce static and save money by tossing them in with each dryer load. Scent them with your favorite essential oil.

four DIY wool dryer balls in a silver bowl

Making my own DIY wool dryer balls has been on my want-to-do list for so long. I read about them last year and was fascinated by the idea! I stopped using dryer sheets a while ago and have not used anything for months.

But now that the cooler weather is showing up, so is the static!!!

So, a couple of weeks ago while the boys were watching the Patriots game Sunday night, I decided it was the perfect time to make them.

I bought my yarn at JoAnn’s fabric using a 40% off coupon and paid only a little over $7.00 for one skein of yarn.

These would make a great little DIY gift idea for the Holidays as well!

Four gray DIY wool dryer balls in a silver bowl

There are so many great benefits to using DIY wool dryer balls:

They decrease drying time
There are no harmful chemicals and perfumes
They last for years!
They increase fluffiness or softness
They reduce static
They on’t affect absorbency of towels

Supplies needed to make Wool Dryer Balls:

skein of wool yarn, scissors and black pantyhose on a wood table

1 skein of 100% wool yarn (I used Fishermen’s Wool yarn) or unravel an old 100% wool sweater you’re not wearing

Old pantyhose or knee highs stockings

Scissors

Knitting needle or heavy duty sewing needle

Optional: essential oils if you’d like a scent (learn more about essential oils here)

I made 4 dryer balls with one skein of Fishermen’s Wool yarn.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You must use 100% wool yarn for the wool dryer balls. No blends, acrylic, no blend, or any that say “machine washable”. Only 100% wool yarn will “felt” and not unravel when you use them the first time.

4 gray DIY wool dryer balls on a wood floor

How to Make DIY Wool Dryer Balls

Start by wrapping the wool yarn around two fingers about 10 times

Then pull the yarn off your fingers and wrap across the middle of that about 10 more times.

Continue wrapping yarn around 7-10 times each time you change directions as you move around forming a ball.

Continue wrapping yarn around the ball in different directions (at least 7-10 times before moving to a new location) until the ball of yarn is about tennis ball sized.

Cut the yarn with about a six inch tail. Tuck the end under several of the layers of yarn.

Then push it as far inside the ball as you can. (You can use a blunt-tipped needle for this if you have one handy)

Repeat the above steps to make additional dryer balls.

Someone in my house was SO interested in what I was making. Especially since it’s a BALL!

A close up of a dog lying on a couch arm

four gray wool dryer balls on a wood floor

Once you have all the dryer balls made, place them one at a time into one of the legs of the stockings. Tie off in between each ball so they are separated like one big yarn ball caterpillar.

wool yarn ball in a black stocking held in fingers

three wool dryer balls stuffed in black panty hose

Felting the wool dryer balls

Toss the caterpillar string of wool balls into the washing machine with your next few towel or sheet loads and wash on HOT water and a cold water rinse cycle.

Dry the caterpillar on HOT as well.

You may need to repeat the washing and drying cycles several time before they are properly “felted” (up to 3 or 4 times)

For regular loads, use at least 4 balls to notice a decrease in drying time. For large loads, use 6 or more wool balls. The more you use, the more quickly your clothes will dry.

You can also add 1-2 drops of essential oils to each ball if you’d like. I would use a clear oil so there is no chance of stains.

How to Make DIY Wool Dryer Balls

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Author: Sherri Hagymas

Ingredients

▢ 1 skein of 100% wool yarn I used Fishermen’s Wool yarn or unravel an old 100% wool sweater you’re not wearing
▢ old pantyhose or knee highs stockings
▢ scissors
▢ knitting needle or heavy duty sewing needle
▢ optional: essential oils if you’d like a scent

Instructions

Start by wrapping the wool yarn around two fingers about 10 times
Then pull the yarn off your fingers and wrap across the middle of that about 10 more times.
Continue wrapping yarn around 7-10 times each time you change directions as you move around forming a ball.
Continue wrapping yarn around the ball in different directions (at least 7-10 times before moving to a new location) until the ball of yarn is about tennis ball sized.
Cut the yarn with about a six inch tail. Tuck the end under several of the layers of yarn.
Then push it as far inside the ball as you can. (You can use a blunt-tipped needle for this if you have one handy)
Repeat the above steps to make additional dryer balls.
Once you have all the dryer balls made, place them one at a time into one of the legs of the stockings. Tie off in between each ball so they are separated like one big yarn ball caterpillar.

Felting the wool dryer balls

Toss the caterpillar string of wool balls into the washing machine with your next towel load and wash on HOT water and a cold water rinse cycle.
Dry the caterpillar on HOT as well.
You may need to repeat the washing and drying cycles several time before they are properly “felted” (up to 3 or 4 times)
For regular loads, use at least 4-6 balls to notice a decrease in drying time. For large loads, use 6 or more wool balls. The more you use, the more quickly your clothes will dry.
You can add 1-2 drops of essential oils to each ball if you’d like. I would use a clear oil so there is no chance of stains.