Felt is fun

Felt has always seemed to be popular with crafters but there appears to be an explosion of felted items around right now.  There is a growing trend to making your own felt with a variety of techniques being used to make  beautiful creations to wear such as hats, bags and even felt jewellry.  A growing number of crafters are also creating pieces of textile art with handmade felt,  taking this medium to a different level altogether.

Felting is one of the oldest textile forms but it is being brought right into the present by crafters who not only see it as an inexpensive but also thoroughly enjoyable craft.  Of course for those who don’t feel the need to create their own felt,  there are felted sheets available at various outlets, in a rainbow of colours suitable for many projects. 

If you would like to make your own felt why not invest in a Dry felting or Wet felting kit to begin with and then progress further once you have mastered the basic techniques.

Dry felting uses a felting needle or multi needle tool available in different sizes to suit your project, along with a dense needle felting pad.  Natural wool fibres can be arranged into beautiful designs and the felt is formed by punching the felting needle through the layers into the felting pad until the fabric becomes bonded. 

Wet felting uses layers of wool fibres which are layered together is a crisscross fashion before applying oil based soap on a waterproof surface.  Adding the soap makes the fibres slide and mix together and when warm water is applied it will merge the fibres.  The piece is then rolled between bamboo mats which helps to shrink the wool and thicken it.

 This is just a basic guide to felting but if you would like to share any tips for using felt in your projects or indeed making felt we would love to hear them.

Happy Creating

Chris xx