Set your washing machine to agitate for 10 minutes, then check it to see it's progress. It you want it to felt more, place it back in the hot water and reset the wash cycle so it continues to agitate - you do not want it to drain yet. Continue to check it about every 5 - 10 minutes until it is the desired size. It could take several checks before your item is done.
Once you determine it is done, simply let the washing machine finish running it through the rinse and spin cycles. Some sources suggest you should not let your project run through the spin cycle as it might get damaged, but I did without any problems. If you prefer, you can remove your piece and hand rinse it in cold water and gently ring it out and pat it with a towel.
Now you can dry your felting project...
