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Jelly Feet!

‘New home’ paper cut card.

As I reveled the felting wool today I was surprised at all the lovely colours i had!

How to felt:

You will need…felting wool from most good craft stores, a tea towel (any piece of cloth or fabric will do), some bubble wrap, a jug of hot bubbly water…got it all? You may begin!

1) Lay your tea towel at your work area and begin to lay your first layer in a horizontal direction pulling it off of the ball and stretching it slightly enabling in to be even. It is better to have lots of thin layers built up compares with a couple of thick ones!

2) With your first horizontal layer complete to your desired size you can do a second layer in a vertical direction using the same technique, followed by doing a 3rd layer horizontally again.This builds a base layer and the different directions enables the felting process to ‘knit’ better later. I normally do these layers in the same colour but its up to you. Also if you buy ‘prefelt’ you dont need to do this 3 layers.

3) Now the fun can begin! You can layer up as many colors in which ever direction you please, horizontally, diagonally, strips, spots or an abstract piece (which for me is my favorite). Today, however, I am doing a patch work piece!

4) Do yet? Well you can begin by boiling the kettle for some hot water! Move your piece on to a tray (to catch the water) and to an area that it doesnt matter getting a bit wet (kitchen worktop might be a good idea). Now pour half a jug of hot ish bubbly water over your work. Now place the bubble wrap on top a squash it down a bit and roll up. Now roll roll roll (about 30 times atleast)!

5) Are your arms aching yet? Because you now need to roll it the opposite way! Yes another 30 times!

6) Repeat this rolling, the bigger the piece of felt the longer it will take however the rolling it is worth it. To little and it with be soft and delicate the more the harded and tougher it will be. You can’t roll it to much and it depends on what your making.

You will begin to know when its done the corners will begin to lift.

You can also rub the surface dentally to see how sort it is. When your happy pull the felt away from to tea towel.

7) Run a small amount of cold water and dip your piece of homemade felt in to ‘shock’ the fibers as well as rinse out the bubbles. Hang out to dry and then make it in to a garment or hang it as it is! I have made many items hearts, small bags phone cases to cut shapes out off. This piece though is to be made into a pencils case for the new term in September!