Entrelac felted beret

This is my beret before felting. I have begun the felting by hand, but boy was that work. So it's in the washer right now. We'll see, the last time I tried that it appeared no hot water was getting in the machine, because nothing at all happened. I took it to the sink then and it felted right up. I know some people say it can take a few trips in the washer.