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Basic Feltmaking


© Lili Pintea-Reed

May 6, 2000


Basic Feltmaking by Lili Pintea-Reed

One method to produce cloth which is often overlooked by fiber artists is feltmaking. I'm not really sure why this is. Its a very easy, if somewhat time consuming process. It can be done with substandard fleeces and is a safe easy project for children.

So let's make some felt!

The basic process consists of exposing animal fibers to hot and cold while agitating. Anyone who has accidently *felted* a favorite wool sweater when it mistakenly got tossed into the washer has made felt. The shrunken matted mess you make of a sweater can be intentionally applied to animal fiber to make sturdy items.

In the old days, felt was made by treading large piles of the spring coat sheddings of the farm animals. Boiling water was poured on huge piles of horse hair, cow sheddings, and sheep wool which was treaded. The felt yurts still used by the Mongols are made this way.

To make this project you don't need piles of wool --just enough to stuff two wash cloths sewn together. Like all the beginner projects I list this is for a mug rug. Its fast and easy. You can even make it while you shower. How eco!

Felted Mug Rug

Materials: teased waste wool enough for 5 times the thickness desired two wash cloths thread needle

Directions: Lay one wash cloth down and place layers to teased wool down. Try and alternate the directions for each layer even though this isn't critical. It will help bind the project. On the second to last layer, lay in yarn scraps to make a pattern if desired. Place a last layer of teased wool on top of the pattern to bind it.

Place second wash cloth on top. Baste the edges together. Stitch in big basting stitches across much like quilting. Do several even rows. This will help hold things in place.

Now take the stuffed cloth to the tub and pour hot water on it. Then pour cold water. Roll and agitate the cloth or tread on it. As I mentioned before, this will be a great project for the shower. Alternate rolling and agitating with exposure to extremes in temperature.

After a bit, pull open a corner and check to see how felted the project looks. If it appears very much like a sweater left in the wrong clothes pile you are there.

Press the water out of the felt and let dry.

Remove the wash cloth binders and now you have a lovely mug rug.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages
1.   May 10, 2000 8:43 PM
Guess I'll have to try this one! I have ruined a sweater this way and it never occurred to me that I could recycle it! (It's long gone on its way to Goodwill.)

Great project for my grandchildren! ...

-- posted by jerrib



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