Hot off my crash and burn doily lampshade failure (see my previous post), I decided I needed to get right back on the bike yesterday and try something new. I've wanted to try felting forever! I love the way it looks--the bright colors and rustic stands-- and I thought it would be a nice asset for my collage work. Maybe a lovely felted flower on top of a pixie dust bottle (instead of the current paper or silk I've been using.)? Perhaps I could even make a fairy to go in my teacup gardens (okay, that's aiming high but I can dream!). So I looked online for some felting 101 tips and decided to attempt some felt balls using a wet felting method, since that seems to be the easiest way to start. I purchased some felt batting at Hobby Lobby the last time I went.
I found a package with lots of colors in rolls for about $7.
Aren't they pretty?
So I unrolled them and tore off a chunk to work with. Just experiment with size here. I did read you are not supposed to cut them w/ scissors.
I tore it all up and made a fuzzy pile of it.
Then I dipped the pile into my bowl of HOT, SOAPY water.
The blogs all seem to agree, hot, soapy water is the key!
Then I rolled it gently between my hands until it began to form a ball and "felt". You can feel it binding together and becoming more concentrated. Don't squeeze or press. It'll do it on it's own. Your hands will be be pretty sudsy when you get done. When you have a uniform felt ball, rinse it out and let dry.
Voila! Fun, pretty little felt balls you can use to make a garland or base for another project. I think I'm going to take the red ones and try to make holly leaves and connect them, or cherries. Stay tuned!
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