Wet Felting Tutorial for Beginners: How to Wet Felt Wool Fabric // Wet Felting Techniques

Learn everything you need to know about wet felting in this tutorial on how to wet felt wool fabric. Save the step by step instructions: www.abcrafty.com/ultimate-gui...
This is a simple felting project to make handmade wool felt with wool and fun embellishments. It's perfect for beginners just learning how to wet felt. You can then apply these felting techniques to future wet felting projects.
Calculate the wool shrinkage when wet felting with this calculator and print out a cheat sheet to keep with your felting supplies: www.abcrafty.com/felting-shri...
This way you always know how big to make your wool layout to get the correct size after felting.
Find more craft tutorials and felting projects on my crafting blog, AB Crafty: www.ABCrafty.com
Some of these links may be affiliate links, which means if you click through and purchase, I may receive a commission at no cost to you (thanks in advance!).
MATERIALS USED
I have a full list of my favorite wet felting supplies on Etsy: shrsl.com/2vyvq
I highly recommend starting out with a wet felting kit: shrsl.com/2vyvo (You can also get this on Amazon: amzn.to/39AQ3DR)
Wool (make sure it's not superwash wool or it won't shrink): shrsl.com/2vyw9 (You can also get wool roving on Amazon: amzn.to/3fAZg30)
Olive Oil Soap: amzn.to/2R3vt8V
Mesh Fabric: amzn.to/3sLC6ue
Bubble Wrap (I like to recycle the plastic packaging from Amazon, but here's a link if you need to buy it new): amzn.to/3wgPOrn
Ball Brause: shrsl.com/2vyvk
Pool Noodle: amzn.to/3fy3ng7
Palm Washboard: shrsl.com/2vyvt
Muscle Roller: amzn.to/3sFAiTA
Hot Water
Towel
Vinegar
Embellishment Fibers: shrsl.com/2vyvl
Viscose Fiber: shrsl.com/2vyw4
Viscose Thread: shrsl.com/2vyw5
Ramie: shrsl.com/2vyw3
Wool Nepps: shrsl.com/2vyvv
Tussah Silk: shrsl.com/2vyvy
Mulberry Silk: shrsl.com/2vyw2
Silk Yarn: amzn.to/3xyEzLN
Bamboo Top: shrsl.com/2vyw7
Wet Felted Coin Purse Tutorial: • Beginner Wet Felting a...
Wet Felted Tiny Hat Tutorial: • Wet Felting Tutorial |...
Wool Felting Projects Playlist: • Felting Tutorials - We...
All of my crafting projects and DIYs: • All DIYs by AB Crafty
FOLLOW ME:
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(Note how not all are just ABCrafty)
Key Parts of the Tutorial for Easy Access
0:00 Intro | Wet Felting Tutorial
0:10 Separating the wool roving
0:27 Learn how to pull fiber off of wool roving and prepare the fiber layout
1:34 Learn how to make sure you don't have holes in your finished felted fabric
1:46 Add embellishments such as viscose fiber, viscose thread, ramie fiber, silk fiber, and wool nepps
2:07 Preparing soapy water for felting with olive oil soap
2:44 Beginning to wet felt the wool and fiber
3:30 Rolling the wool fabric - shoutout to Living Felt
4:52 Learn how to do the pinch test
5:19 Begin fulling and learn how felting and fulling are different
5:43 Learn how to use a palm washboard and other tools and wet felting techniques
6:43 Learn how to shrink specific parts of the wool fabric by spot fulling
7:05 Soaking the wool in vinegar and learn why it's important
7:24 Measure the final piece to learn the wool shrinkage percentage
7:46 Closeup details of the completed felted wool fabric
#felting #wetfelting #wool #felt #roving #craft #diy #abcrafty
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Santo Rico by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Artist: www.twinmusicom.org/

[@GuyG.KTalesOfAnimals]

Okay this is so much work, I feel like I might experiment with this occasionally, but oh wow I appreciate handmade wool makers and I will respect higher pricing more, this worth a lot of time, technic and physical strength.I hope people see this throughout even if they don’t intend on trying it themselves right now, this is incredible.

[@ABCrafty]

haha amen! Though the time can be passed by watching a show or listening to an audiobook for example. So while it does take a while to felt and full something, your mind can at least do other things.

[@mrspleasants8529]

I just made a felted bowl...it took about an hour. Very cool and very clean hands now...smile.

[@Padraigp]

It really is and tp make a full size scarf you need a huge space because it shrinks a lot my kitchen table makes like half a scarf so i have to have a big length of plastic and prop it up to do parts at a time. Also even laying the fabriic down takes the whole of my bedroom floor and then the kitchen gets covered in soapy water. Its a lot of arm work too even with short cuts ive learned.

[@markmcgoveran6811]

I'm sad to say I'm a great big fat lazy American slob I go and I buy sweaters and I wash them in hot water and I dry them in the dryer and they automatically felt into something too little to fit me eventually and sometimes I cut the belly band off of wine and the arms off of the other and so it all together to make a longer sweater then when I get done abusing the wall it's completely felt it and I cut it in strips and crochet with it and it makes a really super warm pair of slippers for somebody with cancer or something

[@Padraigp]

@@markmcgoveran6811 jesus girl buy yourself some acrylic sweaters.

[@maggietaylor9713]

Thankyou for uploading this first class tutorial. ❤

[@ABCrafty]

You're welcome 😊

[@jacquibuckley6015]

I've watched many KZbinrs teaching wool felting over the years but I think I've just found my new favourite. Your clear, easy to follow techniques are so beneficial to me because I have cognition issues due to fibromyalgia. Thank you so much for making my new felting journey so much easier than it would have been. ❤❤❤

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks so much!!

[@mrspleasants8529]

Right now, thanks to this video I am making a bowl for my husbands office. I also think making a patch work pillow out of felted squares would be fun.

[@ABCrafty]

Aw that's great! I'd love to see it when it's done!

[@mrspleasants8529]

@@ABCrafty It came out well for a first try.

[@whomeye2168]

I've watched so many videos that were on fast forward without explanation. Your video is amazing because you explain it clearly. It's personable and inviting without an ongoing blathering effect. Thank you for your expressive simplicity. 👍 I subscribed. 😁

[@ABCrafty]

oh my gosh, thank you so much! I am all about making concise videos because that's my preference as well. So glad you found it helpful!

[@mariahmoonlifeartistry7633]

Bwahhhha, I began a wet felting project of a poncho, before actually learning how to do it! This video was great. I think I can save my poncho with your how-to help. 🤞🏻

[@ABCrafty]

oh wow, ambitious! The largest thing I've made so far is a witch hat. I'm glad my tutorial will help! I'd love to see your poncho when it's done

[@lucabeard532]

This is so cool!! New hobby unlocked!

[@countessdelancret2447]

I can’t even begin to describe how helpful you have been thank you a thousand times!

[@ABCrafty]

oh my gosh, so glad you found it helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or want to see other types of felting tutorials!

[@gaylewinds4808]

I know it's been a year, but I just discovered felting in general in May, and I wet felted my first piece today after work, watching this video. Thank you SO MUCH for putting this on KZbin. It was a lot of fun and my Rainbow High doll will have a wool cape now. I hope to make a bigger piece soon.

[@ABCrafty]

Aw yay, so glad it was helpful! I'd love to see the cape you made!

[@gardenvisuals]

Loved this! Thank you!! And this has such pretty colors and embellishments. I'd love to learn how to do this to make hats!

[@apple6ification]

This is so helpful. I wasnt sure about when to soap and embellish. Very clear and helpful tutorial, thankyou!

[@milanewtonauthor]

Clear and concise, thank you!

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@lmobie]

I appreciated that you explained *why* you do some of the steps. I've done a beginners class, but definitely learned some new "basics" here. Thank you.

[@cc-bl4iw]

This is such a great video! Thank you so much 👌👍

[@mmattb]

Very clear and thorough! Great work!

[@sandranestlerodehale5086]

Super easy to learn the process! Thanks!

[@ABCrafty]

Glad you found it helpful! I would love to see what you end up making!

[@hilaryshannon4226]

Oh that was mesmerising, thank you. I have never done it but now rushing off to Hobbycraft!

[@barbarastadler6699]

What an incredibly detailed video!! I cannot wait to try this technique!

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks so much, glad you liked it!

[@myownlittlehouse471]

This is SO helpful! Today I'm starting a little wet-felting adventure. Thanks for all these great tips.

[@ABCrafty]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

[@patriciadoyle3416]

Excellent, concise and informative video. I'm ready to go! Thank you 😊

[@justaperson4656]

Thank you for this! I'm in want of no kill sheepskin rugs, and wet felting was mentioned as a good way to make a rug backing. Even if my rugs don't work out, I know I've found a fun third way to make woollen fabrics (the other two being knitting and weaving)

[@jwatley313]

I love wet felting all the neat fibers

[@patrickclark6261]

super helpful!

[@TigersinOklahoma]

Awesome! I have 2 pet sheep and just enough materials about the house to try this. Thank you for showing me how. Heart thanks!

[@ABCrafty]

oh wow definitely jealous! You'll get some gorgeous projects!

[@rachelcamm4990]

Excellent tutorial! Thanks 😊

[@ABCrafty]

Thank you! Glad you liked it!

[@gnanimackinnon7165]

Lovely video with clear instructions. Thank you

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@docspaghettilegs]

Wow - I make felted slippers but they are knit from 100% wool. I am definitely going to try wetfelting.

[@Lalephah]

Thank you so much! This is really helpful.

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks glad you like it!

[@sheep9944]

Thank you!!!! Very helpful!

[@ABCrafty]

You're so welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@dimagenpersonal]

I love your work and your explanation. In few minutes you brinda me a lot of ideas, I'm so thankful for that. ❤

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks so much! Glad I could inspire :D

[@laurabanchik3544]

Thank you!!!

[@sandrastrobel1254]

New subscriber here!!!🎉i am also new to felting but I’m hooked. Wet felting is interesting. I never realized how much work goes into it. Great video! Thank you.

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@froggyhillartie]

My go to video! Thank you. Very good teaching. ❤

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks, so glad you like it!

[@HelenaMGale]

Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks for watching! Hope it was helpful!

[@ThePennyPosse]

sooo helpful i definitely wanna try this for a stool cushion

[@ABCrafty]

Glad you found it helpful! Be sure to felt it thoroughly so it's as durable as possible.

[@mykawilcox4382]

This was a great tutorial!

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kage6511]

This reminds my of processing film photos!

[@nightingaleiom]

Excellent ! Clear about process ,

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful!

[@JermaineHarper1]

I once worked with this designer that made all of her garments out of fabrics we made with this technique, it was craaaazy at the time but now I really want to try it again for my own projects, it's such a nice way to limit our footprint in the textile industry by finding ways to create our own fabrics.

[@toericabaker]

so thorough !

[@ABCrafty]

thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@elisaa9981]

My mother wet felted a lot, so much that she and a friend could sell things at local markets (she had another day job, though). She did all kinds of things; socks, boots, hats, bags, and whatnot. No technique was as time consuming as the ones shown here.

[@ABCrafty]

I'd love to hear about her techniques!

[@laracraft82]

Thank you for this video helpful

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks, glad you liked it!

[@zinnia20207]

Great tutorial!

[@ABCrafty]

Thank you!

[@user-ly3dd9vw8q]

holy shit you’re back?!? i loved your diys so much omg

[@ABCrafty]

haha yes!! I am officially back :D and thanks so much!!

[@jamesmoore9289]

Great video!

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks!

[@BunnySeer]

This is actually like your best video and its very good

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks!

[@jamiesimon7311]

Thank you

[@barbarajwilsonjacobs8275]

Here goes I'm starting my first felting. Water, soap rub, etc.

[@ABCrafty]

Yay, good luck! I'd love to see it when it's done!

[@apple6ification]

How'd it go?

[@pamur5979]

Perfect pace of narration

[@ABCrafty]

Thank you! I'm always concerned I may be going too quickly, but I personally prefer succinct content so I pace them that way.

[@juliadean2473]

Great help, thank you. Is it possible to keep one side fluffy?

[@sandrabaron1703]

Very informative, thank you! I am new to needle felting and I wanted to investigate wet felting as I would like to make thin wings on needle felted insects

[@ABCrafty]

Glad you found it helpful! I love that idea, combing the two (wet felting and needle felting) always makes for great finished pieces

[@julibeswick-valentine3690]

Same here, thank you

[@prodigygirl1]

This is brilliant ❤

[@breeze656]

Great tutorial, thanks. I would appreciate it if you could show us how to make a scarf with the same style of random placement of wool or felt please?

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks, glad you like it! I can definitely look into a doing a scarf!

[@craftygrannyt]

i would love to make a medicine bag... i love your video and going to look at your blog now

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks! I'd love to see it when you make it!

[@tracyirwin103]

Beautiful results and great instructions for wet felting.

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks so much!

[@nsam9668]

So beautiful 🌹

[@ABCrafty]

Thank you!

[@Amylf10]

Boot covers! I’m trying to make covers for Tinkerbell shoes!

[@ABCrafty]

Ooo that'd be neat. I've actually made elf shoes and plan to make a full tutorial for that.

[@southernamerican5027]

It's long but it's soothing and fun. Watch a movie while you're making the wool fabric. It's also satisfying.

[@bolcsojeszofia3897]

❤ köszönöm

[@inertproductionsalternate9114]

I wonder if the short flax linen fibers that are usually spun like wool could be felted.

[@mattsteinfeld]

Does this process work with beaver for capelines, say 250g worth of fur?

[@luxymist4661]

why bubble wrap and not just a plastic piece?

[@7ann7seven13]

I watched a video of a girl who spread the wool out REALLY thin, then used the warm soapy water to make the wool stick together! I did not understand that wool's natural characteristic is that the hair has millions of scales on it that actually , once you slime the wool all around together , it cannot help but cling to each other, like a gang. You , calculate the thickness and then the magic begins by it's all bonded together, naturally. You can make a quilt top out of it and stitch all over it , sewing the wool to the cotton batting. The surface of the wool all blended together in different colors or monochromatic is SO warm , but it's so thin !! Wool is weighted, warm yet can be thin enough to be a nice blanket or scarf summer or winter. Cozy!!

[@ABCrafty]

yeah wool super versatile, I love working with it! And yes, the reason wool felts is because the little of barbs all around the fiber. When you add heat, moisture, or soap, it opens those barbs, allowing them to interlock, causing felting.

[@HelderAlves139]

Hey loved the tutorial. Thank you. Im new to dry felting but I will go back to this video when starting wet felting. One question: 25 rolls for each side or 1 roll is "up and down"?

[@ABCrafty]

Thanks, glad you liked it! It's best explained at 3:54. When you wrap it up in the towel, you roll a total of 100 times. After 25 rolls, give the "log" a quarter turn. This way you roll it evenly. Then unwrap everything, flip the pool noodle to the opposite side and repeat. Then repeat 2 more times so the pool noodle starts at all four sides of the project. Then flip the project over and do it all over again. So it's 100x from the left, 100x from the right, 100x from the top, 100x from the bottom. Then flip the project over and repeat.

[@raggededgefarm5523]

Thank you for a really good video. This may be an odd question but I am looking to make wet felted raw fleece to use as a weed suppressant in the garden. I am not really finding much about this but used loose raw wool and worked well except most blew away ( I am in an exposed coastal place). Do you think I could use these techniques to make a weed mat? I would like to use raw as the manky goodness will seep out to the ground as it breaks down. :)

[@ABCrafty]

I don't know anything about weed mats, but if you want to make a mat out of wool, this is exactly what you would want to do

[@xirensixseo]

assuming i made a piece too small, do you think i could extend my piece after its been felted?

[@macym57]

7:29 wow! It surely looks like moss on the forest ground.

[@ABCrafty]

Right?? I love it :)

[@amandah5478]

I found this tutorial really helpful. Thank you. I went to a craft day out, tutorial thing, where I left with a piece of unfelted felt. They said to look on you tube to finish it. I really love the colours you've used. It turned out beautiful. Have you got any plans for it?

[@ABCrafty]

Aw that sounds fun, hope you're able to finish your piece! Glad you found this helpful! No plans yet for mine, will likely cut it up into a project at some point.

[@amandah5478]

@@ABCrafty Oh nooo!!. You can't cut it up. I'd be framing it. Haha

[@nelliemarshall-torres1088]

how long do you let the piece soak in vinegar? And are you supposed to rinse it out again after that? Thanks!

[@feefee6889]

Could I use wool soap?

[@ZoeT906]

Hello can you use this wool for quilting?

[@lauraleecreations3217]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@Rewildminnesota]

i'd love to see how to do shoes and a hat with a brim

[@user-yq1mz5gk1j]

Instead of mesh fabric I used a plastic over it, I rolled it so many times but wool stick to a plastic, is it too much water or too little olive soap ? Or because it’s not mesh ? Thank you

[@jenniferturner7293]

Fun. So if you want it thicker, do a third later of the two directions or better to do another 4 layers?

[@ABCrafty]

You can add as many layers as you'd like! But definitely work in 2's so that you have a layer in each direction. Otherwise it will shrink more in the direction with fewer layers.

[@americanladybug3354]

Do I use the same method for a wet felted picture background?

[@ABCrafty]

yes! but you want to be extra gentle to start and likely for longer if there are lots of details you want to keep

[@kirstencook1439]

How to wet felt a sheet to get a solid sheet of felt with holes like Swiss cheese.Rock On😷🤗

[@ABCrafty]

oo ya!

[@lesfibresfantastiques7265]

Do you think I can do the fulling by throwing my piece in the washing machine? Like I would do with an old sweater?

[@ABCrafty]

Yes, you absolutely can, but you have very little control over the way it shrinks and it could be too rough for the project depending on the details.

[@maryann2692]

Y ou need a template I found it makes it easier

[@karenswindell1973]

I’m having trouble adding pure silk fibers to my Marino wool - they just won’t attach. Any suggestions?

[@ABCrafty]

You want to be very delicate when working with the silk - barely touching it. It can also help to put some wisps of wool over the silk to help it adhere.

[@jacquibuckley6015]

What would be the reason for my 1st ever wool felting project not shrinking? Is this an issue?

[@ABCrafty]

If the fibers are interlocking, then it's like not enough time/friction.

[@looloomama]

when you are rolling it... is it the movement? or the pressure that's important?

[@ABCrafty]

All of the above. It's all form of the agitation. You're both compressing the fibers and agitating them.

[@acciotardisalohomora6302]

Would you use the same soap and vinegar on acrylic felting or would this technique not work for that? I can't handle wool typically since it makes me itchy but I have been able to use alpaca so far. I wasn't wanting to test this with alpaca though. This video makes wet felting look like so much fun, I got most of the supplies but no space for this YET :/

[@ABCrafty]

Generally acrylic will not felt as it doesn't have the same fiber properties. Alpaca, however, is a type of wool so will felt. The softer the wool, though, the more difficult it is to felt. The reason it's soft is because the barbs along the fiber strands aren't as pronounced - these barbs are what interlock to felt the fiber together.

[@acciotardisalohomora6302]

@@ABCrafty I did felt acrylic for eyes and mouth that I added to a crochet project that I brushed out the yarn since I posted this, it wasn't wet felted but it felted pretty well for what I attempted. At least as well as the cheapo starter bundle kit I got for supplies that had a few grams of wool to start with. Plus I didn't have red tips or itchy skin so perks :D Does merino wool work though for felting that seems to have the least reaction to me so far. I'm still working through figuring out which fibers I react to >.< I will say that fiber strands didn't want to hold as easily but I just twisted the acrylic yarn over it so it had a crisscross effect so it was easier to felt together. I did look up pointers for working with acrylic felt but this video actually made me want to felt instead of just to add to my crochet :P

[@Miauwies]

Can I use carded wool for wet felting?

[@ABCrafty]

Absolutely! Wool in any format is fine - it doesn't have to be roving/slivers. You can also use wool batting as you would get from a carder

[@evasantillan1847]

Puede traducir en español.

[@nightingaleiom]

Can you tell us how to order the wool , what’s called and how much ?

[@ABCrafty]

I personally like to work with merino wool. The amount I used to make this fabric was very little - probably around 0.1 oz in total and then the added embellishments. I have links to some of my favorite wool and embellishments in the description. Let me know if you have any other questions! :D

[@whyparkjiminnotridejimin]

How will throwing felt make it shrink??

[@ABCrafty]

It provides agitation - when the wool hits the table, it gets compressed on impact.

[@SophiesWorld2024]

Are you laying it down in bubble rap?

[@ABCrafty]

Yes, I'm placing the wool on bubble wrap

[@co9129]

Can I use normal tape water instead of hot water?

[@ABCrafty]

Yes, you absolutely can use room temperature water. It will simply take longer to felt and full your project. The hot water helps because it expands the fibers, allowing them to more easily entangle with the other fibers. Room temperature water won't expand them as much so you have to provide more agitation, which should be done over a longer period of time versus more aggressively - otherwise you'll rough up the fibers.

[@user-kv9xu6ji8d]

we loved it! maybe a bit slower!

[@greedypaul6343]

Just watched this and the mini hat video. Do you show how to make actual size adult hats anywhere? We have sheep and I want to do this for a gift for my fiancé.

[@Sam-gf1eb]

So why not throw it in the washer for the fulling stage?

[@ABCrafty]

Doing it by hand, you control the direction of the shrinkage. A washing machine will absolutely help shrink it down, but it may not be the outcome you'd like. In some cases it may be fine, but if you want to control the dimensions, it makes sense to do it by hand.

[@southernamerican5027]

It also looks like camouflage

[@mahliee]

is the mesh neccessary / why is it neccessary?

[@ABCrafty]

Technically it's not necessary - it helps keep the fibers in place when first starting the process

[@frankscott927]

I’m looking to make some pilgrim hats

[@ABCrafty]

ooo cute!

[@PifsGifts]

Why bubble wrap? Thank you.

[@ABCrafty]

Bubble wrap has texture that helps agitate the wool, but it's also soft and pliable. It's also easily accessible so if you can reuse and repurpose an item, I'm all for it!

[@studio_wild]

Thanks so much for your tutorial, your piece is beautiful! I made some felt for the first time thanks to you kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJzRm6Chr9KEjaM I hesitated post it here, but decided I'd be flattered if someone did, so thanks :)

[@ABCrafty]

Yay, yours turned out great! I have yet to make something that big!

[@patticook]

Nicely done and explained. I will recommend this, however, for beginners, I would remove all the fancy fibres and just have them create the fabric first. It's not so intimidating this way and encourages them to push further with extra goodies. Just my experience speaking.