Instructions from the Kitchen Counter Chronicles
Felted balls can be used to make a variety of craft projects like festive garlands, jewelry, mobiles, wreaths, and much more. The combination of heat, water, soap, and friction allows the fibers to mend together to create the ball. The entire process takes about 3 minutes.
Supplies
*Items currently available at the farmers’ market
● a selection of wool roving*
● dish soap
● warm water
Instructions
1. Rip the wool roving into small pieces (never cut the wool roving as the raw edges mend together easier).
2. Next, roll the small pieces of wool roving into a ball, overlapping each piece. This won’t be a perfect ball, just a rough ball or spherical shape. Be sure to make the ball of roving larger than you want the final ball to be because the ball will shrink as it comes together.
3. Now it is time to drop the ball of wool roving into a bowl of hot, soapy water. You only need to use a small drop of dish soap.
4. Let the ball soak for 5-10 seconds and then remove the ball from the bowl and begin rolling it between the palms of hands. Roll gently at first, just like you would roll a ball of play dough.
5. After rolling the ball around a few times, place your hand, with the ball, under hot running water…as hot as you can handle. Continue rolling the ball in your palms and placing it under hot water until it reaches the size and density that you want. The wool will bind together and shrink down.
6. When the ball has reached the size that you like, set the felt balls aside to dry out thoroughly. Once the felt balls are dry and firm you can use them as you like.
