HandMade Felt

Felt is the oldest textile. It is not made by weaving or sewing, but wetting the wool then rubbing it then rolling it to get the wool to bind together to create felt. Felt is used everywhere from automotives such as cars, musical instruments like a piano and also in construction and as a craft material.

This work was produced by Jennifer Morrison  and is based on the works of Moy Mackay and Mary-Clare Buckle.

Material

• Merino wool tops
• Warm water
• Soap
• Bubble wrap
• Netting
• Bamboo mat
• Towel/ Sugar paper

Method

1. Lay down either sugar paper or a towel. Then use bubble rap on top, the bubble side up. take the wool top and take pieces and lay them down in the same direction. then make a second layer in a different direction and then a third layer if desired. The same is done if it is coloured wool that is being used.
2. Using warm water, dampen the wool to make it easier for the wool to bond, but not too much that the piece is saturated.
3. Use the soap, then rub it over the surface.
4. Rub the wool until the fibres are fully bonded then turn over the piece and repeat. Roll up the wool in the bamboo mat and use both hands to roll it to make it bond even more.
5. Gently rinse the wool under cold water.

Health and safety

• Clean up spillages off the floor.
• Rinse eyes out if soap gets in them.

Mixing Felt Fibres

Equipment

• X2 Brushes with needles
• X2 coloured wool

Method

1. First I picked 2 colours and placed them on one of the brushes then with the other brush put them together and pull and do it until it is really mixed.
2. Then the mixed colour can be used like as above.

Health and Safety

The needles on the brushes are sharp so be careful.