The techniques of wet felting have changed little over the past 2,000 years. Then as now you use wool, water, heat and agitation to tangle wool fibers together into an unwoven fabric.
Wet felting involves applying warm soapy water to layers of wool fibers placed in layers at 90 degree angles to one another. Repeated agitation and compression causes the fibers to hook together into a single piece of fabric. Only certain types of fiber can be felted successfully. Sheep's wool is a favorite.
Most types of sheep’s wool, can be used for the wet felting process. wool is covered in tiny scales. Wetting and soaping the fleece causes the scales to open, while agitating them causes them to latch onto each other, creating felt. Plant fibers and synthetic fibers will not felt.
After the wet felting process is complete, the felted material may be finished by fulling which includes scouring and thickening. In Roman times, fulling was conducted by slaves working the cloth while ankle deep in tubs of human urine. Stale urine, known as wash, was a source of ammonium salts and assisted in cleansing and whitening the cloth. Now soap is used.
Originally, fulling was carried out by pounding the woolen cloth with the fuller's feet, or hands, or a club. In Scottish tradition, this process was accompanied by waulking songs, which women sang to set the pace. Women sat at a table and beat the cloth against it in rhythm.  |
| Wet felting involves lots of agitation, rubbing, and rolling using bubble wrap or a felting stone. |
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| This shows shaping wool into long ropes...more rubbing! |
And voila! Beautiful bags for everyone.
Here are some pictures of wet felted items done by Kathleen, our wet felting guru, by Marty, and by others who took classes here at the farm.
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Wet felted Slippers, by Kathleen. Class coming up February 23. There is room for more....
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