Preparations for Resist Felting Workshop

Instructions for seamless felted items

These are instructions to undertake the making of a simple 3D shape. From here it will be possible to experiment with more shapes, sizes and openings etc.

1. Resist

Cut out your desired shape from strong plastic sheeting (old fertiliser sacks or something similair is good!).

The finished item will be approx. 40% smaller so bear this in mind when sizing your shape. Do not have any sharp corners as they will poke out during the felting process.

2.Splay out the felt fibres in a sun shape around the resist shape.Avoid gaps in the fibres unless this is your desired effect! This is going to be the inside layer of your 3D shape so consider how you want it to look.

You can be as delicate or bold as you like. If you wish to use manmade fibres for their effect you will have to trap them into the wool layers. Experimentation is good!

Place net over this.

Spray with hot water (the heat speeds up the process)

Soap over with olive oil soap, but not too much. This is required in order to encourage the wool to absorb water and assist the matting of fibres

You can use the palm of your hand delicately to begin felting the layers.

3. Take netting off carefully and turn the piece over. Fold over the splayed edges onto the other side.

4. Continue same process at least 3 times.

5. Take away sheeting and netting.

Roll up tightly from the edge of your bamboo roll or bubblewrap and begin rolling up and down to agitate and begin felting. Keep turning the shape so that it will be evenly felted all around.

6. It will begin to shrink and curl. Continue until it is really well felted. 

7. Cut the resist open (the hole increases hugely in size so think about the size of cut carefully depending on what you want to achieve. Examples shown.