In this video I show you how to make a pair of felt slippers, from start to finish. This tutorial is long and detailed, because I wanted to make sure that each step is clear and well explained. Even if you are an absolute beginner, this tutorial will help you get started with your first felting project. I have watched so many wet felting videos in order to teach myself how to wet felt, and there are some fantastic videos on YouTube. However, I found that some of them are quite short and abbreviated, and it's hard to know how long each step should take from watching them.
Wet felting is not difficult, once you understand the technique. Felting takes time though, and it requires patience. In this video I show you in detail how to design a template, how to layer your wool, how to felt, and how to shape your slippers so that they look beautiful and fit you well.
Inspired by Polish folk designs, I chose to embroider my slippers using two traditional embroidery stitches, "herringbone stitch" and "feather stitch". I have also sewn a cork sole to the bottom of each of my slippers so that they are more robust.
To make a pair of felt slippers, you will need the following items:
1. Thick cardboard, from a recycled box
2. Parcel tape, which needs to be plastic unfortunately, as it needs to be waterproof. You can always reuse your templates to minimise waste.
3. Wool roving or other felting fibres. I use "botany lap waste" from World of Wool (not sponsored, I bought it myself) but you could also use plant based fibres or plant based fibre waste if you are confident that the fibres will felt. "Botany lap waste" is a substandard animal based waste product from processing wool. As I am vegan, I choose to use secondhand or waste wool when I am crafting or selecting clothes. This is a personal choice and something I am happy with, as for me it aligns with my views on minimising the impact of my lifestyle on non human animals and choosing fibres that are natural and biodegradable. Sustainable crafting is a balancing act, so find products that work well for you and match your own personal values.
Edited (November 2023) to add: my finished slippers weigh 95g dry, with the cork soles attached. I share this as a guide for you so that you can estimate how much wool you will need, particularly if you plan on dyeing wool for felting.
4. Soap. I use olive oil soap, which is the traditional option. You can use any type of soap, but it helps if it doesn't foam too much.
5. Synthetic netting, or synthetic laundry bags. These are for creating friction and preventing your wool from adhering to natural fibres, such as cotton towels.
6. Cotton towels to line your workspace, and a silicone pastry mat is useful if you need to protect your table from water damage.
7. Bubble wrap is useful to have to hand, but not essential. The synthetic netting is more important.
8. A rolling pin or foam "pool noodle".
9. A bowl of hot water, which can be changed when it cools.
Here are some time stamps for you so that you can jump through the video and rewatch the steps you need as you felt:
00:00 Start
00:24 How to make a felting template, also known as your "resist".
00:53 How to begin layering the wool roving.
02:16 How to start the wet felting process.
06:18 Edge management with a 2D resist.
17:35 Adding additional layers of wool roving.
20:38 How to wet felt once the layers are established.
27:48 How to use bubble wrap in wet felting.
34:41 Hole placement and removing the templates.
38:30 Techniques for shaping and sizing felt slippers.
42:08 How to manage loose felt and messy patches.
47:12 How to neaten the edges of the openings.
49:36 Using boiling water to shrink wool when wet felting.
50:24 Attaching cork insoles to the base of the slippers.
51:48 How to decorate your felt slippers with embroidery.
54:18 Some detailed footage of the finished slippers.
#felting #silentvlog #fibreart