How to Wet Felt a Bird Pod Using Merino Wool Fibers: Free Tutorial
An example of a wet felted bird pod which I made last Summer and which still hangs in my garden today.

Small World Gertie Ball (Tie Dye)
This photo tutorial shows you how to create a wet-felted bird pod on a balloon
A great hand crafted project for you and the children to make as a gift or just simply for the fun of it. Why not add a little bird food to your gift and make someone feel really special!
Perhaps a little' feathered friend' will take shelter there this Summer! Another fun little idea might get the children to paint a little wooden board which says:-
'Vacant Pod - one feathered occupant wanted - just as soon as possible please!'
Please send me your images if you decide to tackle this project. I would love to share your images and comments regarding felting in my next blog.
This is a group of bird pods I made last Summer

Things you will need before you can begin
Wool Roving or Wool Tops,(Available on e-bay, Amazon or Wingham Wool) Bubble Wrap, A 'Gertie' ball or alternatively a Party Balloon. Old Towels to catch the drips, a kettle and a bowl for boiling water, Dish Washing Liquid and a Sponge. Scraps dyed wool or silk for decoration, Tumble Drier
Balloon or a 'Gertie' ball ?

Add a little water to your balloon

Template plus ball or balloon

A few more things you will be needing

Your Choice - A balloon or a Gertie Ball!
Not much in it except the price! . A 'Gertie' ball is re-usable and will not need to be filled with water..
I add some water to the balloon, it adds a little weight to the balloon before I blow it up. The water in the balloon also seems to assist the felt making process whilst the pod is in the tumble drier.
A small piece of cloth inserted within the knot assists me to open the knot when I want to reduce the size of the balloon inside the pod.. Doing it this way lets the pod shrink back a little more when you put it back into the tumble dryer.
Inflated ballon with water inside it

This is what merino wool roving looks like.

Close-up of the merino wool fibers

Split the width if is makes it easier to work with

Begin by placing the slivers of wool on the template

One layer has now been completed

Lay the next layer at 90 degrees to the first later

Layer three

Decorating the bird pod

Close-up of the decoration

Boiling water, sponge & a dash of dish washing liquid

Cover the project with curtain netting

Wet the bubble-wrap slightly, it makes your hands glide of the bubble-wrap.

Remove the netting and cover with bubble wrap

The pinch test!
Pinch test - Test to see if the fibers have fused together. Pinch them carefully between two fingers and if they don't move, it is then time for you to stop rubbing. Remove the netting from the projectt
Flip the project over to show wrong side

Place the ball on the plain side, wrap it up and smooth it out carefully with the aid of the bubble wrap.

Hint, fit your stocking over the back of a chair and carefully insert the wet covered ball into it. Gently lift off and tie it up before putting into tumble dr

Pod inside the stocking and at the kitchen sink.

Remove stocking from bird pod after ten minutes!

Pod with balloon and water still inside

Pod with balloon and water removed.

Bird Pod Project
Are you likely to attempt this project
Time to give the bird pod it's finishing touches!

What to do when things go wrong!
Sometimes things do not always go to plan. For help and advice on how to improve your Pod if things don't always go quite to plan. More help and advice on what to do when things go wrong can be found on http://sallybea.hubpages.com/hub/What-to-do-when-things-go-wrong-when-Wet-Felting
Making a felt vessel on a ball
Questions & Answers
© 2012 Sally Gulbrandsen
Comments
clever idea, those birdies are going to love this unique nest, will be make one soon, voted up
Gorgeous! I can sense some felting projects in the air for me (on top of the ones I have done already). Thank you for the useful tutorial photos. Voted beautiful & rated!
I work with felt but never knew how to make a ball with a hollow inside, now I do. Thanks for the great tutorial! I hope I can try this one out soon.
That's really cute. I think my dogs might love that more simply because it looks like a huge tennis ball. lol I didn't know that it was possible to do something like this. Very nice!
Really cool project. Voted up.
This is a beautiful tutorial, and I love that it is for the birds. Your photos and descriptions are marvelous. Voted up and more.
I really have to try felting. This is absolutely beautiful, the project and the hub. Well done and now to figure out how to felt. Wow!
How to Wet Felt a Bird Pod in Merino Wool Fibers - A Photo Tutorial, incredible about this hub topic. You have certainly caught my eye with this title don't know how I missed it. So beautifully presented and a wonderful decorative suggestion. Keep on writing and sharing your informative hubs.Voted up,useful beautiful and interesting
This is a very cute ornament and lots of fun. But please check with your local Bird Protection organization before recommending this as a possible bird home. According to Massachusetts Audubon society, it is very important to be a responsible 'bird's nest parent' and keep any nest boxes regularly cleaned. (They also say nest boxes should not swing.)
I need to try this! Pinning now and voting up!
Hi Sally - this was a great tutorial! I made 6 pods at the same time but also experienced thin spots on a couple of them. Your tutorial says "There are many ways to 'tart' up your pod. More about this later!". Do you have a link to that information? I would like to check it out and see what my options are. Thanks so much!
What a great idea. I live off the grid with solar power so I am never likely to have a dryer. However I can think of a few people to suggest this idea to. Your instructions and photos are brilliant. Voted up and awesome!
Fantastic and beautiful - I'm pinning this one, too! I never would have guessed felted projects could be so durable. I really want to felt now!
You've taken a great effort...i love this hub.
This was a great tutorial. I've shared it with one of my friends on facebook. I look forward to seeing more of your hubs :)
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