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Felting terms
BATT: a pile of wool that has been arranged in layers
in which the wool in each layer is lying crosswise to the wool in the previous
layer.
SHINGLE: a method of laying out small handfuls of wool in which the
layers slightly overlap, like shingles on a roof.
WARP: in weaving, the
vertical strands.
WEFT: in weaving, the horizontal strands.
You will need
8-12 ounces of carded wool
8-ounce bar pure olive oil
soap
Warm water
Plastic gallon milk jug
Flannel-backed plastic
tablecloth
Regular kitchen sponges
Large bowl
Measuring
cup
Scissors
Large whisk
Measuring tape
Felting Tips
You may want to use a matchstick blind or even a piece of
bubble wrap (smooth side up) to rub the wool on when it’s wet. These
surfaces aid in the agitation needed to bind the fibers together.
Heat water in a
crock pot to provide a continuous
source of hot water. Heat seems to speed up
the felting process. If the
water is too hot for your hands, use a potato masher
to press water
into felt.
You can use a steam iron to stabilize layers of
fiber and surface decoration before adding soapy water.
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How to make a basic felt scarf
1. Lay plastic tablecloth over work surface. Pull thin handfuls of the carded
wool to create thin layers 12” to 16” wide. Lay tufts in shingled rows,
overlapping the bottom edge of 1 row over the top edge of the next, on
tablecloth until piece measures
72” long.
2. Create the second layer on
top of the first, laying wool tufts in the same shingled fashion, but crosswise
to the first layer. Repeat to make a total of 5-7 layers.
3. Chop or grate
bar of soap into tiny pieces and mix in bowl with 1 gallon of warm water. Stir
with a large whisk to help soap dissolve. Pour soapy water into gallon milk jug.
Do not use until soap is completely dissolved.
4. Use the measuring cup to
dribble some of the soap mixture over the wool until it is completely
saturated.
5. Use your hands to pat
the water into the scarf to ensure
saturation. Use
sponge to gently soak up
the excess water, squeezing
it into a bowl.
6. Place one hand on top of the other and press into one
end of the wool piece first with the palms, then on to the fingers. Then rub in
a circular motion, gently moving over entire area 8 times. If needed, add small
amounts of soapy water to help bond the fibers together.
7. Use scissors to
trim the sides of the scarf, if needed.
8. Continue to rub up and down over
the wool for the count of 5, repeating 10 times. As the water in the wool cools
off, periodically sponge off the cold water and dribble on more warm water. If
the water becomes too sudsy, pour small amounts of clear warm water onto
scarf.
9. Push the scarf into itself and use the sponge to remove most of the
water.
10. Pick up the scarf and squeeze remaining water out into a sink.
Then dip the scarf into the bowl of warm, soapy water from the first soaking
(see step 5).
11. Squeeze scarf gently over the sink 25 times.
12. With
the scarf still squeezed into itself, rub it on the plastic tablecloth 25 times.
Then open and check for bonding of felt. If needed, continue to add soapy water
mix, rub, and rinse till fibers have bonded into a sturdy fabric. When wool is
bonded, rinse, squeeze out all water, and lay flat to dry.
Felted Scarves page
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