Oh my word! This is such a lovey video! Your accent, the balls, the tea pot and birds chirping in the background, lol! So adorable and I can't wait to make a million felt balls to do some fun crafty thing :)
This worked like a charm! I know it's been quite some time, but thank you so much for posting this! I feel a lot less frustrated that I failed with needle felting :)
Ooh, thank you! As a complete novice (wool just arrived in post now!) I thought the only way to get these little balls was to have needle felted them. This must save some time! Inspiring, thank you.
I have a huge load of roving that I washed and is much too ruined to knit a blanket out of. I am so excited to create some poms out of my roving - makes me feel better about it not going to waste. Thank you for this tutorial!
I use warm water because I have Raynauds and cold water is too much to cope with! To get a really firm felt you can alternate between hot and cold which "shocks" the fibres and can make them felt more, but it's entirely up to you which temperature you prefer. I just go for comfort! I leave my felt balls on a towel to dry naturally.
She begins with fibers (probably wool) that have been dyed and brushed out to form that loose rope that she pulls them from. It is not felt until she felts it! You can find fiber like this at most specialty yarn stores.
Lovely tutorial and lovely birdsong! When you find a fissure, other than smashing it with the bottle, do you ever add a wisp of merino and continue felting? I'm a newbie, and I'm interested in different approaches to cracks. Thanks so much!
im impressed that you take the time to make as many balls as one beeds to maje that round carpet. I think, yarn bslls are much easier f or me. less expensive I think too? Happy Hollidays...
The soap helps the fibres to move over each other and changes the Ph, the heat from the water opens up the scales, and the rubbing ensures that everything locks together. If you have a lot of froth you may be using too much soap, and it also makes life harder when it comes to rinsing it out at the end.
xXnoXx The soap helps the individual fibres move over one another which increases the chances of the scales catching and enmeshing with others. It also raises the PH which makes felting possible. Have you tried it yet?
Hi Rachael - great tutorial, thank you do you use a watered down detergent or a concentrated one? i notice you had used ecover. is that washing detergent or washing up liquid?
You can make large ones by rolling wool into the large ball, and then tying it into the nylon sock and securing with a rubber band or thread. Then put it through one or two washing cycles and the dryer.
No. It has to be wool (it is covered in scales which open up with heat, bonding together with agitation. Acrylic fibres are smooth and do not bond together (unless melted with high heat). Merino is the easiest wool to work with, but other wools will felt too (although they require more effort). If you can't get the fleece, you could using knitting wool (but ensure it is wool, not synthetic), wind it into a ball and follow the instructions on the video. Have fun!
There is no specific ratio - I just do it by feel, so that the fibres are able to slip over each other and my hands don't stick. Some like more, others less. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on that one! I'm glad you like the tutorial. It was great fun making it, especially with my friend the blackbird chipping in in the the background!
thanks so much - very good tutorial - and i thought it was so extremely difficult and needed all kinds of needles and things. can you use yarn - pulled apart a whole lot? thanks much :} n.b. love the birds. . .
This is fabulous and fabulously easy! Is it possible to make the felt balls considerably larger- say 5 cm or so- will they stay together? Thanks! Diane
I love colorful things ... but what do you do with these balls once you make them? What are they for? I see them all over Pinterest and have no idea what they're used for!
Love the tutorial, for todays stupid question... do you just let them air dry? and can you make pebbles (without actual pebbles inside) the same way please?
The key is to take the first stages slowly. If you scrunch the wool up too soon you'll quickly get cracks. What size are you doing? Have you experimented with putting wool into the foot of some tights, tying it off and putting it in the washing machine? You may get the desired effect, or you may end up with a squiffy felted shape! I haven't tried it myself, but it sounds a fun technique. I would start small and gradually build up the size of felt ball - it might identify when the cracks show.
I want to make a wool felt necklace for my daughter. Do you know about how many balls 1oz will make? I guess I'm just trying to verify that it is cheaper to make them than to buy wool felt balls. thanks
The video is great. I wish I could get rid of my "cracks" that easily. I have tried felting a thin layer over them and that seems to work. It's a little hard to hear you, but I keep "re-winding" and trying to listen again. Yours are all so even! Thanks!
Hi Rachael, can I ask is the soapy water a specific ratio of soap to water? Or maybe it's not important! Thank you for your lovely and very clear tutorial :)
Can you make bigger balls with same method? I remember bigger balls from Waldorf circles in Germany. Also, I want to make from my cat's fur? I have seen other crafts from cat fur so why not?
I've never made them bigger, but it would be possible. I'd suggest starting them off smaller and adding layers; you will need to ensure that you avoid felting each layer too much but you will need to do it enough that the whole ball doesn't collapse or get wrinkles and grooves. Let me know how you get on.
It seems like people either wet felt OR needle felt ... but nobody mixes the 2 techniques. Couldn't you needle felt the ball a little first to get the overall shape and get rid of folds and cracks and THEN wet felt it into a tighter ball?
I'd want them to make the balls from scratch as it's so much fun. You'll obviously need to ensure that the water is hot, but not so hot as to damage their little hands. It's the agitation as much as anything which felts - you just have to work a little harder! I've felted many a jumper on a cool wash...
If they are well felted they will be firm. If they are less well felted they will be softer. To be used as a rug you'll need to get them felted as much as you can so that they don't squoosh down when you walk on them.
It IS fun! I hope to make more videos in the future; I am in the process of setting up a studio where it will be easier to demonstrate larger pieces of felt, and also putting kits together for people to try it for themselves. Have you done any felting? Are you tempted to try if you haven't? R
Luckily for me, felting is not a precision art! I use about half a bottle of water and a small squirt of soap - so that would be about 1/3 - 1/2 pint water and 1/2 teaspoon of soap. You could also just rub a bar of soap on your hands, it's only to help the fibres move around a little more to give them a chance to find another strand to stick to. You'll know when there is too much soap as you'll get foam!
Hey my english is not very good and i dont quite understand what materials do you use? ? Can you make a list to me? Like i know you use hot water but what are the others? Thanks and thanks for the easy tutorial c:
Hi Makarena, I have put a list of things you need to make the felt balls here - rachaelgreenland.co.uk/felt-balls-tutorial-update/ . The felt ball kits will be available within the next week too, so all you will need is to add water, a little soap and a towel. Have fun! Rachael
I use Merino tops, which is one of the easier ones to felt. Whereabouts are you? I can get details of your nearest supplier or best online store. I also have a few kits available to make the felt balls.
Oh my word! This is such a lovey video! Your accent, the balls, the tea pot and birds chirping in the background, lol! So adorable and I can't wait to make a million felt balls to do some fun crafty thing :)
This worked like a charm! I know it's been quite some time, but thank you so much for posting this! I feel a lot less frustrated that I failed with needle felting :)
Lovely clear video and sound - thank you blackbird for the accompaniment!
Many thanks - I'm going to try this!
Penny
x
One must never underestimate what the liquid song of a blackbird can add to this process!
Ooh, thank you! As a complete novice (wool just arrived in post now!) I thought the only way to get these little balls was to have needle felted them. This must save some time! Inspiring, thank you.
I have a huge load of roving that I washed and is much too ruined to knit a blanket out of. I am so excited to create some poms out of my roving - makes me feel better about it not going to waste. Thank you for this tutorial!
Fab tutorial especially smashing the ball with the bottom of bottle...LOL. Thank you so much 😀 x
Thank you Rachael for the wonderful tutorial.
Oh, Rachael! Such talent! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you're a felter too. Such talent!
I would probably suggest that I have a low attention span and have a way of flirting between crafts!
I use warm water because I have Raynauds and cold water is too much to cope with! To get a really firm felt you can alternate between hot and cold which "shocks" the fibres and can make them felt more, but it's entirely up to you which temperature you prefer. I just go for comfort!
I leave my felt balls on a towel to dry naturally.
She begins with fibers (probably wool) that have been dyed and brushed out to form that loose rope that she pulls them from. It is not felt until she felts it! You can find fiber like this at most specialty yarn stores.
Here 2023 !!
here 2024 :3
love the tutorial, your bird sounds from outside are just beautiful
I love our blackbirds - they make the spirit soar.
Thank you for the lovely tutorial! I can't wait to try this out. I'm going to make little felted balls for acorn ornaments as present for teachers.
Beautiful, thanks for the tutorial.
Lovely tutorial and lovely birdsong! When you find a fissure, other than smashing it with the bottle, do you ever add a wisp of merino and continue felting? I'm a newbie, and I'm interested in different approaches to cracks. Thanks so much!
You are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it.
I love felt products. The video is very Informative. Thanks for the video :)
I really enjoyed making felt balls with this video.
Thank you for this easy to follow tutorial, fab!
You are welcome!
thank you so much! can't wait to try this!
Absolutely lovely I make glass beads but also want to make felt beads thank you so very much for the video.
@westinmiyako These are dyed merino tops. Merino is a great wool for felting as it is soft, has a good length of staple (fibre) and felts quickly.
im impressed that you take the time to make as many balls as one beeds to maje that round carpet. I think, yarn bslls are much easier f or me. less expensive I think too? Happy Hollidays...
Thanks for sharing! great video
The soap helps the fibres to move over each other and changes the Ph, the heat from the water opens up the scales, and the rubbing ensures that everything locks together. If you have a lot of froth you may be using too much soap, and it also makes life harder when it comes to rinsing it out at the end.
Hi,
What kind of soap do you use?
Thank you!
Wow, is it THAT simple?! Thanks for showing :D
It IS that simple! I shall be making more videos soon to demystify other techniques. Have fun!
Rachael Greenland
HI Rachael :)
Why does everyone use soap? What does soap do?
Thanks :)
xXnoXx The soap helps the individual fibres move over one another which increases the chances of the scales catching and enmeshing with others. It also raises the PH which makes felting possible.
Have you tried it yet?
This was amazing ! Thank you
You're welcome.
Hi Rachael - great tutorial, thank you
do you use a watered down detergent or a concentrated one? i notice you had used ecover. is that washing detergent or washing up liquid?
You can make large ones by rolling wool into the large ball, and then tying it into the nylon sock and securing with a rubber band or thread. Then put it through one or two washing cycles and the dryer.
Oh my gosh!!! I have that same mug!!!!
Thanks! Very informative.
Thank you so much
I first time seen this.
No. It has to be wool (it is covered in scales which open up with heat, bonding together with agitation. Acrylic fibres are smooth and do not bond together (unless melted with high heat).
Merino is the easiest wool to work with, but other wools will felt too (although they require more effort).
If you can't get the fleece, you could using knitting wool (but ensure it is wool, not synthetic), wind it into a ball and follow the instructions on the video.
Have fun!
There is no specific ratio - I just do it by feel, so that the fibres are able to slip over each other and my hands don't stick. Some like more, others less. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful on that one!
I'm glad you like the tutorial. It was great fun making it, especially with my friend the blackbird chipping in in the the background!
Very nice easy way to make beautiful balls
thanks so much - very good tutorial - and i thought it was so extremely difficult and needed all kinds of needles and things.
can you use yarn - pulled apart a whole lot? thanks much :} n.b. love the birds. . .
Harder than I expected! 😊
very nice, thank you
This is fabulous and fabulously easy! Is it possible to make the felt balls considerably larger- say 5 cm or so- will they stay together? Thanks! Diane
Anything soapy will do - I sometimes use a bar of soap. A little goes a long way!
Happy felting.
Great. Thanks. Love the birdie noises in the background. :-)
Victoria bakss
Great video, very helpful! Can you add layers to make them bigger without them peeling or falling apart?
You would need to layer them at the start, or certainly early on as once it starts to felt additional layers may peel away.
That's neat. I'm already used to rolling balls with clay that way. Well minus the soapy water and pounding with a bottle lol. Heidi
Gosto, è bonito, e ficam ideias Boas.
I love colorful things ... but what do you do with these balls once you make them? What are they for? I see them all over Pinterest and have no idea what they're used for!
Love the tutorial, for todays stupid question... do you just let them air dry? and can you make pebbles (without actual pebbles inside) the same way please?
Could you use offcuts from knitting projects and the like or does it have to be roving?
It's a good name!
What ratio is the soapy water? Thank-you for this video!
Thanks for the tutorial, is the rinsing water in the jug hot or cold? Do they just dry naturally at the end? Thanks again.
Thank ! It's helpful
Rachael could you send me info on where you get your felt or your felt kits?
The key is to take the first stages slowly. If you scrunch the wool up too soon you'll quickly get cracks. What size are you doing? Have you experimented with putting wool into the foot of some tights, tying it off and putting it in the washing machine? You may get the desired effect, or you may end up with a squiffy felted shape! I haven't tried it myself, but it sounds a fun technique.
I would start small and gradually build up the size of felt ball - it might identify when the cracks show.
so helpful!
thank you for this
I want to make a wool felt necklace for my daughter. Do you know about how many balls 1oz will make? I guess I'm just trying to verify that it is cheaper to make them than to buy wool felt balls. thanks
What kind of soap do you use do you use fairy up liquid or soap you use to wash your hands with
Either will do. You can either add a squirt to the water, or grate part of a bar of soap into it then swoosh it around to dissolve it.
Are you going to have a go? It's great fun!
What sort of felt are you after and what do you need it for?
hi! what a interesting video. I'd like to know whats the first liquid that u used. Thanks from Argentina :)
+Sofia Andía mixture of water and soap
The video is great. I wish I could get rid of my "cracks" that easily. I have tried felting a thin layer over them and that seems to work.
It's a little hard to hear you, but I keep "re-winding" and trying to listen again.
Yours are all so even!
Thanks!
Hi Rachael, can I ask is the soapy water a specific ratio of soap to water? Or maybe it's not important! Thank you for your lovely and very clear tutorial :)
Do you know what the soap is for? Is it possible with only hot water?
Lindos!! Podría informar cuál es el nombre de ese material? Es lana? Gracias
Can you make bigger balls with same method? I remember bigger balls from Waldorf circles in Germany. Also, I want to make from my cat's fur? I have seen other crafts from cat fur so why not?
Thanks for this! Can you tell me where I can buy fleece online and what kind? What I should look for.
Wool roving
πολυ ωραια η ιδεα
Is this cotton wool or fibre? Please help. I have never seen this kind of felt before.
I've never made them bigger, but it would be possible. I'd suggest starting them off smaller and adding layers; you will need to ensure that you avoid felting each layer too much but you will need to do it enough that the whole ball doesn't collapse or get wrinkles and grooves.
Let me know how you get on.
It seems like people either wet felt OR needle felt ... but nobody mixes the 2 techniques. Couldn't you needle felt the ball a little first to get the overall shape and get rid of folds and cracks and THEN wet felt it into a tighter ball?
Hey, it a nice tutorial.
Can we do this with cotton ? if we don't find felt wool
Cotton won't felt. It needs to be wool, but you can wind a ball of yarn and felt that instead.
The material is wool roving, which is cleaned, carded and combed wool. No doubt it can be purchased online.
Thank you
IT LOOKS SO FUN.... It's just soapy water in the beg. Right? And can u do more tutorials and make diffrent shapes and and animals and stuff?? Thanx :D
hello Rachel, great tutorial, my English is not good, what kind of water is on the plastic bottle, on the plastic jar and in the kettle?
In plastic bottle just warm soapy water - clean cool water in jug for rinsing and I in the kettle more hot water to help bind
can you tell me what material to start with? thank you!
Yes, wondering where is the best place to buy Merino wool?
I'd want them to make the balls from scratch as it's so much fun. You'll obviously need to ensure that the water is hot, but not so hot as to damage their little hands. It's the agitation as much as anything which felts - you just have to work a little harder! I've felted many a jumper on a cool wash...
I'm in Canada where would I buy this type of felt never heard or saw it before .
Gwen Johnson You can order it online or most craft stores sell it.
Is there a special type of felt? The felt squares they sell in Cali are pressed and don't appear as thread like.
how do you make sure each ball will be the same diameter?
Thanks a lot
Thank you :)
Hey, nice tutorial - just wondering how hard the balls are once they have dried completely? I'm planning on making a bedroom rug with these :)
If they are well felted they will be firm. If they are less well felted they will be softer. To be used as a rug you'll need to get them felted as much as you can so that they don't squoosh down when you walk on them.
Thanks for the advice :)
It IS fun! I hope to make more videos in the future; I am in the process of setting up a studio where it will be easier to demonstrate larger pieces of felt, and also putting kits together for people to try it for themselves.
Have you done any felting? Are you tempted to try if you haven't?
R
what r u using in your clip of making the Dryer Balls ?
What do you use for the soapy water? What Ratio?
super 😄wow
Luckily for me, felting is not a precision art! I use about half a bottle of water and a small squirt of soap - so that would be about 1/3 - 1/2 pint water and 1/2 teaspoon of soap. You could also just rub a bar of soap on your hands, it's only to help the fibres move around a little more to give them a chance to find another strand to stick to.
You'll know when there is too much soap as you'll get foam!
Where is a good place to get fun colors of felt?
I'm in the UK. Where are you?
If you are able to wait a week or so, I will be putting some kits together and you can get them from me. Do you have a colour preference?
Hey my english is not very good and i dont quite understand what materials do you use? ? Can you make a list to me? Like i know you use hot water but what are the others? Thanks and thanks for the easy tutorial c:
Hi Makarena,
I have put a list of things you need to make the felt balls here - rachaelgreenland.co.uk/felt-balls-tutorial-update/ . The felt ball kits will be available within the next week too, so all you will need is to add water, a little soap and a towel.
Have fun!
Rachael
That's great but what wool do you use and where did I get it thanks
She used felting wool, you can either get it online or at your local craft center if they supply it.
I use Merino tops, which is one of the easier ones to felt. Whereabouts are you? I can get details of your nearest supplier or best online store. I also have a few kits available to make the felt balls.
About how many grams would the felt fibres that you start with? I am going to buy some and want to know how many balls 10g would make me. Thankyou
Where do u buy the felt wool?
Bonjour, le produit vous le prenez ou?
Hi Rachael: Is this only for certain wool or can Merino wool be done the same way?
These were made with Merino wool. Some wools felt better than others, but Merino is the easiest to use. R
Thank you, Rachael!
Do let me know how they turn out.