Wool Types for Wet Felting

Wool Type Characteristics Best Uses
Merino Wool Fine, soft, felts quickly Smooth, delicate felt projects
Corriedale Wool Medium fiber diameter Durable felt, medium texture
Romney Wool Coarser fibers Thick, strong felt
Shetland Wool Lightweight, warm Lightweight and warm felt
Icelandic Wool Dual coat (soft undercoat + coarse outer) Textured felts and layering

Essential Wet Felting Tools

Tool Purpose Notes
Soap (Liquid or Bar) Helps fibers mat together Use mild dish soap or special felting soap
Warm Water Activates wool fibers Comfortable to touch
Bubble Wrap or Bamboo Mat Provides friction surface Used for rolling and agitation
Towels Absorb excess water For pressing and drying
Rolling Pin or Pool Noodle Helps compress and full the felt Makes rolling easier
Mesh Screen or Netting Holds fibers in place Useful for wet layout

Basic Wet Felting Process

Step Description Tips
Prepare Wool Pull and arrange wool fibers thinly Alternate directions for strength
Lay Out Fibers Form wool layers crosswise Use multiple thin layers
Wet Wool Apply warm soapy water Ensure even saturation
Agitate & Rub Use hands, bubble wrap or mat Create friction to bind fibers
Roll & Press Roll wool tightly and apply pressure Repeat to tighten fabric
Rinse & Dry Remove soap, press out water Lay flat to dry, reshape if needed

Common Wet Felting Techniques

Technique Description Uses
Nuno Felting Felting wool onto fabric (silk, cotton) Lightweight, textured fabric
Fulling Additional shrinking and strengthening Durable, dense felt
Surface Decoration Adding embellishments post-felting Beads, embroidery, needle felting
Resist Felting Using resist materials to create shapes Hollow forms, bags, vessels
Shaping & Molding Wet shaping around molds Hats, bowls, sculptures

Project Ideas & Difficulty

Project Wool Type Skill Level Time Estimate
Felt Sheets Corriedale or Merino Beginner 1-2 hours
Scarf or Wrap Merino + Silk Intermediate 3-5 hours
Hats & Bags Romney or Shetland Advanced 5-8 hours
Decorative Art Mixed fibers Intermediate-Advanced 4-6 hours
3D Felted Forms Mixed wools Advanced 6+ hours

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Problem Cause Solution
Wool doesn’t felt Water too cold or soap insufficient Use warm water, add soap
Felt is too thin Insufficient wool layers Add more layers, felt longer
Felt tears easily Poor fiber interlocking Increase agitation and rolling
Uneven thickness Uneven wool distribution Spread fibers evenly
Felt shrinks too much Over-fulling Reduce agitation, monitor process

Care & Maintenance for Felted Items

Tip Explanation
Hand wash gently Use cool water and mild soap
Avoid wringing Press water out carefully
Dry flat Maintain shape during drying
Store away from moisture Prevent mold and mildew
Use fabric protectors Optional, to prevent stains

Resources & Learning

Resource Type Description Notes
Books “The Art of Wet Felting” by [Author] Step-by-step tutorials
Online Videos YouTube tutorials and courses Free and paid options
Workshops Local fiber art classes Hands-on learning
Suppliers Wool and tools sellers Specialty craft stores online