To make the bowl, we first need to make a circle of felt.
The great thing about this project is that your felt doesn't need to be absolutely perfectly round.
It's a great one for children to do as it is quick and easy too.
Here my 12-year old neighbour Holly is my trusty assistant.
She is making a white bowl.
On a dinner plate or plastic dish, lay out your fleece fibre.
(It doesn't matter if the dish isn't round- Holly is using a square tupperware sandwich plate)
For those who haven't felted before, we are using Ashford's Corriedale fleece fibres here as they are lovely and coarse and felt together quickly because of the large amount of spurs that stick together during agitation and rubbing. You can purchase fleece fibres from
Lavendilly House .
Ensure all the fibres are travelling in the same direction as shown. Cover the entire plate in spider-web like tufts. When you finish the first layer, you should be able to see through to the bottom of the plate.
The second layer (we put down three layers to make a felt 'batt') is laid vertically, opposite to the horizontal layer before.
(Your layers will resemble a cross pattern)
After this layer, you shouldn't be able to see through to the plate.
Use your fingers to spread any lumps or chunks,
and be sure to lay fleece all the way to the edges of the plate.
This is how to hold the fleece length. Pull the fleece gently from the roll to let it separate.
The 3rd layer is laid horizontally again (as in the same direction as the first layer)
For this project, you should use up about 1.5 metres of fleece. (50cm per layer or so)
Pour about 1/2 cup of warm soapy water into the centre of the plate.
Use your fingers to press the soapy water from the centre to the outside edges of the plate so all the fleece is wet.
Then, use your fingers to turn the edges of the fleece under in a circular shape.
Place a piece of netting over the top and begin to rub.
You should soon have soapy suds like this.
If not, add a little more soap.
Continue rubbing for about 10 minutes to begin the felting process and allowing the fibres to stick to one another.
To check the process, lift up the netting and test the felt by pulling up a few fibres.
When a section of fibres lifts up in your fingers, you have a good indication that your felt is beginning to form into material.
Gently pick up the material and lay it on a piece of bubble wrap. Place a second sheet of bubble wrap over the top.
Roll up the bubble wrap like sushi.
Lay the roll on a small teatowel. Wrap the end of the towel over the bubble wrap roll for extra grip.
Roll your wrapped piece.
Do 50 rolls, then open it up and swivel the material 90 degrees .
Wrap up again and continue for 50 more rolls.
Repeat this step until you have done all four top sides,
then flip it over and do the same for the bottom side.
Rolling with your arms, like Holly, gets the job done even quicker!
The next post, later today, will show you how to sew the felt bowl together.
