Tips for rolling in wet felting

Tips for fulling by rolling
This is one of the most frequently used methods. Basically, you roll up the piece and use back and forth movements to apply pressure to it.
This is usually done with
• a bamboo mat,
• a sheet of bubble wrap,
• an anti-slip mat,
• or even just a towel or a cloth.
You then place the felt item on this cover piece and roll everything tightly.
It’s also a good idea to use a core (like a tube, a rolling pin, or a pool noodle) to provide a hard surface inside.
Secure everything with a string or elastic and you can start rolling.
During the process, make sure you open up this bundle now and again to check on the felt. Any wrinkles, for example, have to be flattened out.
Turn the felt around until you’ve rolled it in all directions, so the felt shrinks in an even way.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS METHOD ARE:
• it can be used for a wide variety of items,
• it’s great for big pieces,
• it’s not as aggressive as kneading or strong rubbing, so it’s perfect for delicate pieces like nuno felted scarves,
• it’s easy to control and the pressure is applied evenly.
WHAT ARE THE BEST TOOLS FOR ROLLING?
Felt makers normally use 2 tools for rolling:
One for the exterior
• a bamboo mat,
• a sheet of bubble wrap,
• an anti-slip mat,
• a towel or cloth.
One for the core
• a tube,
• a rolling pin,
• or a pool noodle.
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE BETWEEN THESE TOOLS?
My general answer would be that you should use whatever you have. But if you have a lot of tools to choose from, here are some tips:
1. If you’re working with silk, avoid using a bamboo mat or put something else (like a thin plastic) between the mat and the silk. I find the silk can get caught in the bamboo and get damaged.
2. If you’re making a very thin felt, avoid bubble wrap, especially if it has very big bubbles. I find it leaves marks on thin felt.
3. I recommend a towel for the last phase of fulling, when the felt is nearly ready. In this case, you can use it without the core.
For the core, my favorite one is the pool noodle. But, again, there’s nothing like experimenting to find out which are YOUR favorite ones.
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