Working with Felting Wool and Water

In Wednesday’s post, we introduced you to a new DIY technique: how to work with felting wool using a needle. We also explained a little about what felting wool is and shared some interesting links for learning how to craft with it dry. So if you didn’t read it, we recommend taking a look.

Today we’re going to continue exploring the lovely possibilities this material offers and show you how to work with felting wool and water. It’s also very easy, although it requires more patience and time than the needle technique.

Another wonderful idea for making personalized, unique and very special Christmas gifts. Although it’s also great for making yourself a gift any day of the year ;)

It’s super simple, very entertaining and it always works. Let’s get started!

TECHNIQUES FOR WORKING WITH FELTING WOOL, WATER AND SOAP.

To felt wool dry, you needed a special base and needle. For the wet-shaping process, you will need:

• Hot water.
• Neutral soap, liquid or flaked.
• A cleaning cloth or towel to avoid making a mess.

And depending on the shape we’re going to make, we’ll also need other materials, which we’ll detail for each item.

1. Felting wool balls.

This is the easiest shape you can make. You can use them for decorating, making garlands, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, decorative curtains… So many ideas come to mind!

With your hands completely dry, tear off a piece of wool (don’t cut it with scissors; use your hands) and shape it into a ball. To figure out how much you need, keep in mind that during the felting process, its size will shrink to almost half, although you can always add more strands if it looks too small.

Wet it with water and soap and gently shape the surface imperfections with your fingertips. When it’s more or less even, place it between the palms of your hands and move them in circles to roll the ball so it gradually takes shape. Start very gently and increase the pressure as it takes shape.

When you feel that it can’t be compacted any further, simply leave it to dry for about 24 hours.

You can see the whole process in this short tutorial from El Desván de los Ñecos. The material used in the video is carded wool, but you can also use combed wool (which is the type of felting wool you’ll find most easily).

2. Felting wool rolls.

We know that doesn’t sound very glamorous, but it gets the point across ;) The rolls can be used as a choker or bracelet, but we can also make them thicker, sausage-style, and cut slices that can be used as beads or medallions.

To make felting wool rolls, you’ll also need something to shape them with, such as a sheet of bubble wrap or one of those little bamboo placemats for the table.

Just as with the balls, first we choose the size and shape and compress the fibers a little while they’re dry to give them shape. Next, we wet them with hot water and soap and start shaping them, very gently and with our fingers at first, then using the sheet of bubble wrap or bamboo mat. As they gain consistency, we increase the pressure.

You can see the whole process in this video, where you’ll learn to make a scrunchie with felted-wool rolls.

3. Felting wool medallions.

To show you how to make the thicker felt bar by combining several colors, from which you can then make medallions, we’re sharing this other video where you can see how to make a beautiful necklace using several shapes: balls, zigzags and felt medallions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIZAnn7Cdy4

There are still a few more techniques and little secrets to show you, but these are the simplest shapes you can make to start practicing and get the hang of working with felting wool and water.

The balls and rolls are crafts you can easily make with little ones, since unlike dry felting, which is done with a needle, you work with your hands, water and soap. You just need to be careful that the water isn’t too hot so they don’t get burned.

And besides, they always turn out well!

Happy felting!