I made felt balls, and it was everything I thought it could be.

by Sister-Diane on October 1, 2009

Yaaaay! Mom and I got together for a craft day yesterday, and explored the wonderful world of felting!

We had a great time making these felt balls, which are totally intriguing. We used Judy Coates-Perez’s tutorial, which worked like a charm.

It’s so easy – you lay your roving down in layers, with the strands criss-crossing. Then you make a yarn ball for the center.

Then you wrap the roving around the yarn, making a rather loose ball. (There’s nothing wrong with your eyes, by the way – this is out of focus. Sorry!)

Next, you gently slide this ball into the leg of a pair of nylons, and tie it off. And then it goes into the washing machine.

When they came out of the washer, we were giggling with glee to see that they were smaller, tighter, and nice and round! After the dryer, even more so. Like magic!

I cannot wait to play around with stitching, beading, and sewing buttons to them now!

We also noodled around with needle felting. I’m really intrigued with the idea of felting one piece of felt to another. It worked pretty well with these fulled sweater scraps. Needed a lot of stabbing, though.

I also fulled one of the two scarf-size scraps I picked up at the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store. Now it’s nice and felt-y, and I’d like to cut some assorted circles from other colors of wool felt and then needle-felt them to this scarf.

Is this even possible? I don’t know yet. Felters, any thoughts?

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kelly3814

In what state and town did you find this woolen mill?

SisterDiane

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store is in Portland, Oregon. The mill itself,
which you can also visit, is in Washougal, WA.

sam

first thing: if doing the felting on your heart example took lots and lots of stabbing (as in it took for-ev-er), you are using the wrong needle. there are different felting needles - something like fine, medium, and coarse - and the fine ones accomplish pretty much nothing. they truly are for fine finishing work.

at any rate...yes, you can needle-felt one piece to another - with a caveat. you know how something felted progresses from being a little bit felted, to more and more, eventually getting very hard and tight and hitting its felting limit? trying to attach something that is already near it felting limit will be hell, so work with pieces that aren't too felted. if the materials you already have to work with aren't joining well, try again with something less felt-y. make sense? also, the type of wool will make a different with needle felting just as it does with wet felting. needle felting can work on lots of fibers, it just depends on your patience and using good needles.

SisterDiane

That is super, super helpful, Sam - thanks so much!

thingsbright

Are the insides regular acrylic yarn? If so, this seems like a great way to us old thrifted yarn. And I'm seeing pumpkins and Christmas ornaments here....

SisterDiane

Yes! We tried both wool and acrylic yarn in the centers, and the balls
came out the same.

I agree - so many ideas for Christmas ornaments!

pam

Thank you so much, Diane, for a most excellent crafty felting day! We covered a lot of territory in the felting world, didn't we! I love my felted balls too and plan to have a bunch more ready to wash very soon! What is your hourly rate for the use of your machine???

Re your question about felting fabric on fabric - am sure it must work - remember the gorgeous jacket on display at the Pendleton Store - the flowers on the pockets were all felted on using other wool fabrics. So beautiful!

CraftyPam

This is great! I made felt balls using rounded stones as a base. Instead of putting them in the washing machine, I rubbed the outsides with my hands. Instructions in the lovely book, "Last-Minute Fabric Gifts" by Cynthia Treen. They look the same as yours, but, of course, they're heavy.

Adélie

Hey, that method sounds great ! I love the color atmosphere of the fifth picture, by the way... And yes, I suppose it should be possible to needle felt elements on your wool scarf, even though I never tried that method. As you're talking about circles, in case you didn't see it, there's a great how to about marking circles on felt here : http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-to-cut...

SisterDiane

Thanks for the link, Adelie! That tutorial is genius.

kelly

Love your balls! (Oh, wait... that... somehow... well, you know what I mean.)

As for your question: to the best of my knowledge, you can use the needle to attach anything felt-y to anything else felt-y. Biggest requirement: Patience.

As you mentioned, it does take time. Also, not an activity to do distracted -- keep your eyes on the needle! (I speak from experience, here.)

fuzzydragons

that is a lot easier then I was imagining, def. going to have to try that.

Carole

I've made beads, but never balls, and not with the hot water method, only by needle felting. Very fun.

refashionology

How fun! I have to try this. I agree, great blog title.

dudecraft

That is one intriguing blog post title! You know how to write 'em!

SisterDiane

...I was inspired by one of your tweets this morning, perhaps. :-)

kim_spoonflower

Wow, you mean there's an alternate method to making felt balls other than rubbing them forever between your palms in scalding hot soapy water? Where has this tutorial been all my life?!