Are you new to feltmaking and looking for a comprehensive step by step wet felting tutorial to help you achieve successful results, right from the start? If so this video about flat felting may be the one for you. Follow along with me as I guide you through the whole process from start to finish and be amazed at the beautiful felt you will be able to create! This is not a short video because I wanted to share each stage with you and make a demonstration piece from start to finish. I discuss the materials I use, chat about choosing the embellishing fibres, soap, sprinkler, bubble wrap, laying out the wool, adding the embellishing fibres, starting to felt, fulling (the shrinking process) and finishing the felt. For your reference I used just under 40g (1.4oz) of merino and a small handful of embellishing fibres for my demonstration piece.
PS If you would like to create felt to eco print rather than use coloured wool and embellishing fibres I recommend natural undyed merino and cellulose embellishments (not silk).
00:01 Introduction from Nicola
00:20 Selecting materials
02:02 Soap and making liquid soap
05:40 Towels
06:03 Bubble wrap and alternatives
09:07 Laying out layer one of wool - bubbles up
11:34 Wet
13:03 Net
13:10 Soap
14:44Sweeping edges in
15:47 Laying out second layer of wool at right angles to first
16:42 Wet, net, soap, sweep edges in
22:37 Start the rubbing process
25:12 Lift bubble wrap, turn over, repeat
28:47 Rotate and repeat
35:06 Rub directly on felt
37:19 Turn over and continue felting
39:30 Roll up in bubble wrap then in towel
41:30 30 rolls then open. Continue with this process then rotate
46:08 Stretch the felt
48:46 Roll felt on itself
50:10 Tip for working the edges to make them more even
52:04 Final rolls
53:49 Assess and wash felt, wash table
55:50 Roll the rinsed out felt in a towel and stretch. Iron on the hottest setting to finish it!
My aim is to cultivate a sustainable, nature focused practice helping creatives and slow living enthusiasts feel connected, understood and supported. Since 2029 I've had multiple wet felting and eco printing workshop success stories in Ireland, North America, Australia and mainland Europe.
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DISCLAIMER - None of my videos are sponsored, all opinions and suggestions for studio supplies or equipment are my own. Some of the links below about developing a business are affiliate links. This means that at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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