Fast Felting Fun

Like most felters, I often have bits and pieces of wool around after making a project, and I sure have a large scraps bag.  One thing to do with these bits, that is fun and fast, is to make wet-felted spheres.  What can you use these for?  Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and jewelry.  Because I often make felted flowers, these can also be the center of unopened peonies. With a little practice, you can make them egg-shaped for Easter decorations.

The steps:
1. Take a bunch of lose wool.  Lightly form it into a ball shape by rolling it between your palms.
2.  Wet the ball of wool with hot water, and add a tiny bit of dish soap.  Continue to roll the ball around.  It will feel loose and squashy at this point.
3. While it is still loose and squashy, check for cracks or fissures in the sphere and fill these in with some fresh wool. I just wrap the fresh strands around the sphere.
4. Continue rolling.  As the sphere firms up, apply greater pressure to make it quite firm.
5.  Rinse.

To make balls of the same (similar) size, select equal amounts of wool.  If the ball is too large, keep rolling.  Too small? Well, it is hard to add more wool once the ball is firm.  Keep trying, and you will get the hang of it.

Keep playing with wool!  You will learn a lot about it!