This is the recent felt painting that I’ve been working on. It’s probably the most complex painting I’ve done, although it doesn’t look like it when the wet felting is done.
The wet felting is only to get my base layer down, and then I add more layers and details with needle felting, also called dry felting.
This is Part 1 of the felting process, and when I finish the needle felting I’ll show that process in Part 2!!
First, the Supplies
For the felting process, you’ll need:
- Old towel
- Bamboo mats. Sushi mats or a bamboo window shades can work!
- Plastic netting. I used a plastic netted onion bag, or you can buy large sheets of dense mesh from felting supply companies.
- Very hot water and liquid soap.
For the felt you’ll need:
(I’m not very exact with wool amounts. Use what looks good to you! 🙂
- 2-3 handfuls of various green colors of roving
- about an oz. of white roving
- 1 handful of red/salmon colored roving
- few wisps of light blue
- few wisps of brownish grey
Here’s the photo I’m working from! It’s a great photo.
Now spread the white wool in vertical, than horizontal layers on the bamboo mats. This is your canvas, so make it the size you would like.
It’s okay if it gets thick, as it will settle down as you felt it.
Now for the fun part! Start laying down (painting) the basic colors on your white background.
Use variation in your colors, because that adds depth to the piece.
Now lay your netting down over the painting, (and like I said earlier, a clean onion bag works well.)
The layers by now are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick, but don’t worry, they will felt down!
Pour the very hot soapy water over the piece.
Gently tap, press, poke and generally agitate the wool with your fingers all over the painting.
The hot water “opens” the fibers, and agitating the piece locks the fibers together and makes it felt. Cold water “closes” the fibers, so you’ll rinse the piece in cold water when you are done felting.
If you need more soap, you can put some on your netting so it will foam all over the piece.
The more it felts, the harder you can agitate it.
You can be pretty rough with pressing, but be a lot more gentle with rubbing, because rubbing can move pieces out of place.
After the piece seems felted enough to stay together well, carefully roll it up in the bamboo mat and rinse and squeeze the piece under cold water. (I do this in the sink)
Let it dry on a towel, and prepare for Part 2!
Here’s what it looks like with the big foreground poppies partially needle felted on.
There’s more to come! I obviously still have to felt all the poppies in the field and add color to the sky, because I didn’t do it during the wet felting.
Thanks for reading!
God Bless, Rebekah
HeartFelt Angoras 