Felting confusion.

[banthetubetop.livejournal.com]

Alright, I've checked the memories and clicked every link in all the posts but I'm still confused.

I bought some 100% wool sweaters at salvation army, pulled them apart, and loosely crocheted them into a bag. Now I want to felt it. I don't have a washing machine, so I put it on the stove with some laundry soap and stirred it for a long time in my best imitation of a washing machine, but nothing happened and now my apartment smells weird. If need be, I can just wait til laundry day and felt at the laundromat, but I'm impatient and want to finish my project. Can someone help me out?

Thanks a lot, and I have many projects to post pictures of later this evening.