Felting Raw Fleece 2015

I am a baby photographer and like making my own props. After trying to find some information on felting raw fleece, I couldnt find anything very helpful, so decided to experiment and make my own video. This is my first attempt and I must say I was quite pleased how it turned out. Next time I might wash the fleece first and see how that goes. My biggest fear was over felting the fleece, which luckily didn't happen too much.

[@saritabills5245]

Can you add instructions in the about section? Like steps and what is needed besides hot water and soap? That would be very helpful and appreciated

[@mamatasahu4934]

Woow...absolutely informative 🤗

[@heidihileman3123]

Thank you so much for posting this..... I have a couple of mostly felted Icelandic fleeces that I want to make rugs of:)

[@NatjeToch]

Thanks for this video, it was very helpfull

[@sandyj61]

+Nathalie Snoeijen Thank you, my first attempt at this style of felting and making a video lol

[@jessicaneal8553]

This gives me a great idea for making a baby change mat! I'll have to see how I go with my other projects first though, if I get time before she arrives :)

[@sandyj61]

Great idea, it doesn't take to long to make a flat felted blanket/mat.

[@ctay122]

hi Sandy I'm just wanting to know if you can remember, when I'm looking at this video it looks like you put the woolon the top part of the fleece not the underside?

[@sandyj61]

In making this I have the curly fleece first, and make the backing on top, so it's turned over when finished.

[@jelmermuis7000]

very good and clear tutorial! Thank you.

[@TJHutchExotics]

Love it!! Thanks for the video

[@dalegregg3861]

Pretty good photography, for a baby!

[@mrmunchkin2181]

How well has it held up? It is beautiful.

[@sandyj61]

Thank you, it has held up really well, I've used it for a number of my newborn photography sessions, usually as a rug for under their posing bowls etc.

[@Ahlathein]

What was the sheer fabric you used on top at first when you started adding soap and water? I have a partially felted Jacob fleece that I want to felt into seat cushions

[@sandyj61]

Hi sorry for the late reply, I used an old net curtain.

[@saramishefske839]

Thank you for making this video! I’m sure it took a great amount of time to produce it, and at the same time you made a. lovely rug. I have three cotted Gotland fleeces to try this with. One question: do you use really hot water for the entire process (until rinsing)? How hot is the water in your water bottle-it looked like you were drawing it from the kitchen tap. TIA. Cheers, Sara

[@sandyj61]

Hi Sara, I'm so glad you enjoyed the video. It was hot from the tap, but not boiling hot. Plenty of soap and friction felts it together :)

[@ninaschafer4371]

Thank you, very informative

[@monikabednarz352]

Did you use only wool curls or 'straight' pieces also ?

[@sandyj61]

Hi, I used very raw unwashed sheep fleece, I can't remember the type of wool now. I used straight carded wool for the backing and curly rough wool on top.

[@patriciarussell1177]

I am trying to make a large rug out of 24 micron wool, and I can’t seem to get it thick enough.

[@chinaonward1433]

How long did this take, total? It's speeded up, so really hard to tell.

[@sandyj61]

It may have taken around an hour from start to rinsing.

[@hannahellis4549]

Was this quite thick once finished? And would you say it was fairly even (not too lumpy?) Thank you

[@sandyj61]

Hi Hannah, it was quite thick and a bit lumpy, but I liked that for texture in photograph. The type of wool used would change that. I used very raw fleece.

[@lcunningham1776]

What type/brand soap did you use? Wool scour?

[@sallyweighill8572]

Do you think I can do this with alpaca fleece? Not very curly, usually felts too well to be honest so worried I won’t get the fluffy top. Only one way to find out I suppose!

[@sandyj61]

Hi Sally, I'm not too sure how well it would work with alpaca. I would experiment and see how it goes :)

[@StRain-zx2vo]

unwashed wool. only the sheered edge felts tight. wash after felting, otherwise it won't felt together.

[@GOLDSMITHEXILE]

how did you treat the raw fleece before you started assembling it on the table. I've gathered loose wool in the past but it was filthy with all sorts of nasty bits

[@sandyj61]

This was still a bit dirty, it took a LOT of rinsing afterwards, in hindsight I should have rinsed and dried it beforehand.

[@serendipity1273]

Hi Sandy. This method seems great for me to create a lining for garments. But I want the end result to be way more fluffy than this. What do you suppose I do?

[@sandyj61]

The best way to have it really fluffy is to needle felt the curly locks to a felted background.

[@serendipity1273]

Ok so you’re saying felt on top of a an already felted fabric? Don’t really understand.

[@sandyj61]

The method I did above made the curly locks a bit flatter, which still looks good. But if you wanted more of a fluffier look you could needle felt the locks to a felt layer. Is that understandable? 😊

[@PermaPen]

Wonderful!

[@keshavashukla]

Nice tutorial, all I can feel at the moment is the pain in your hands :)

[@sandyj61]

haha, no pain, but a good workout :)

[@carolejacquy8110]

Hello, thanks for the video, it was helpfull but where do you get your woll???

[@sandyj61]

Carole Jacquy where you from? I'm in New Zealand and there are many sources of sheeps wool here 😃

[@carolejacquy8110]

@@sandyj61 i'm from Belguim and i don't know if they sell sheepswoll here :(

[@carolejacquy8110]

@@sandyj61 here we don't have anything, i'm from Belgium xx

[@kieranmills3131]

have you made anymore since? and did you have an issue with the top not being as fluffy as you hoped?

[@sandyj61]

Hi, I have made a few more, but not so thick. And I needed to wash the wool first, as this was raw it wasn't quite as soft as it should have been. It has still been a great backdrop for my photos.

[@kieranmills3131]

+sandyj61 ok cool what did you use for the base im buying a bag of raw wool not sure if i need to get other stove for the bottom like you have here

[@kieranmills3131]

+sandyj61 oh and how dod you wash your wool first without it felting together?

[@sandyj61]

Sorry, in my comment I hadn't washed it first but should have (just by soaking and rinsing without agitation in warm/cool water. The initial layer was from wool roving. It was a total experiment that worked out ok.

[@gillywillybythesea]

"Worked out okay"?? It worked out great! Thanks so much for sharing this :)

[@patriciarussell1177]

OK tell me did you use a backing out al OK tell me did you use a backing?

[@sandyj61]

patricia russell , I used two types of wool, I lay the curly raw wool down first and then the clean merino roving on top so they would felt together during the process. So there is a backing but all made together at the same time.

[@BethSchuler]

What did you use it for? TFS

[@sandyj61]

Beth Schuler I am a baby photographer so it gets used as a fluffy background 😃

[@gingerdodson4268]

@@sandyj61 it's beautiful

[@patstokes3615]

Too much water.

[@Iceonfire1878]

Why can't people TALK!! when they do a video!! Sorry, but when I start one and there is no commentary, I won't watch it.

[@sandyj61]

Wow!! that's the way it goes I suppose :)