Felting: part I

Since I began using felt in my artwork, I’ve had a lot of questions about how I make it. I’ve been more than happy to indulge with every detail from raising the sheep to holding the sheet of felt in my hands. Granted, this is usually more information than people bargain for, but I’m pretty sure they won’t ever look at a piece of felt the same way again!

Speaking of felt that you’ve seen, it’s important to note that this is not the felt you used for your kindergarten craft project, or the kind they used to make hats. This is a heavy, sturdy fabric that is quite simply damp, tangled and matted fleece. It is probably the oldest wool fabric used by mankind, and the process of creating it has essentially not changed. There are methods of knitted and dry felting, but what I am working with is felt created using only water and vigorous agitation (in my case done in the bathtub!). This creates a surprisingly strong fabric that has been used to make everything from clothing to shelter (in the form of covering for tents and yurts).

First of all: the sheep. I already explained a little about the Navajo-Churro sheep that are the source of the wool I use, but I have to show a picture since they are simply fascinating to look at. The history of the breed, and where they come from, is an important part of this to me.

I receive the wool straight from the sheep’s back so the first step is to wash it; it is very oily and full of juniper berries, sticks, and the beautiful red New Mexico clay. I can’t agitate it too much or it will felt prematurely, so I soak it in soapy water then rinse and repeat several times. This is one of four natural colors I have. I believe it’s called chocolate brown.

The next step is the carding, which is basically brushing the wool so that all of the fibers lay in the same direction. It also does some additional cleaning, as a lot of dirt and sticks are still in the wool. I actually like to keep a good amount of matter in the wool though because I believe it serves as a point of reference when you look at the finished product. Carding is the most time consuming part of the process, and to get enough wool for a piece of felt I spend many hours carding. I learned how to do it on a website, The Joy of Handspinning, where they have thorough instructions and good videos. So rather than repeat what they have already well explained, I am just posting some pictures of my own process to give a general idea of what’s involved.

So, if you’re not thoroughly bored yet, stay posted for the second step, which is the actual felting process!