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How to Make a 4D Wet-Felted Flower

This is the completed wet-felted flower. Read on to learn how to make one!

This is the completed wet-felted flower. Read on to learn how to make one!

Simple Can Be Oh-So Beautiful

This wet felting tutorial was developed with both the novice and the more experienced feltmaker in mind.

On completion of this tutorial, you should end up with a beautiful, delicate 4D flower. Don't forget to keep your wool-roving fibers sparse. This will ensure that your finished flower is both wispy thin and delicate-looking.

Place the wool-roving fibers as close to the fluffy edges of the mohair knitting yarn as possible. This will ensure that the mohair yarn can fuse with the wool roving fibers. Don't worry too much if one or two escape. Those loose threads will enhance the soft, delicate nature of the flower. If too many escape, simply needle felt them back into position once the flower has dried.

Wool roving and mohair knitting yarn

Wool roving and mohair knitting yarn

Things You Will Need to Complete This Tutorial

  • Sheet of White A 3 Paper
  • Flower template
  • A chopping board
  • Pen
  • Cling wrap
  • A marble or wooden chopping board
  • Merino wool roving
  • Warm soapy water
  • a squeeze bottle with a small nozzle (a hair dye bottle works incredibly well)
  • Bamboo Sushi Mat
  • Elastic band
  • Scissors
  • Small quantity Mohair knitting yarn
Draw three matching petals and one larger petal for the bottom layer.

Draw three matching petals and one larger petal for the bottom layer.

Step 1: Draw the Template

Begin by drawing a heart-shaped petal, combining three of them to form one layer as shown.

Remember to allow for shrinkage of around 40 percent when drawing your layers.

Draw three of the layers the same size and make one layer slightly larger.

Alternatively, zoom into the images on this page and transfer them to a piece of paper.

Put onto a board and cover with cling film.

Put onto a board and cover with cling film.

Step 2: Cling Wrap the Template

Put the drawn template onto a wooden or marble chopping board. Cover in cling wrap to prevent it from getting wet during the process.

Tracing over the lines with warm hot soapy water

Tracing over the lines with warm hot soapy water

Wool roving and mohair yarn

Wool roving and mohair yarn

Step 4: Gather Together the Required Wool Roving and Mohair Yarn

Trace over the wet soapy lines as shown.

Trace over the wet soapy lines as shown.

Beginning to trace the lines with mohair yarn

Beginning to trace the lines with mohair yarn

Step 5: Trace Over the First Wet Lines on the Template With the Mohair Yarn

Four layers of petals edged with mohair yarn

Four layers of petals edged with mohair yarn

Step 6: Edge All 4 Layers With the Mohair Yarn

Filling the individual petals with merino wool fibers

Filling the individual petals with merino wool fibers

Step 7: Fill the Petals With a Fine Layer of Merino Wool Fibers

Curve the merino fibers along the mohair edge.

Curve the merino fibers along the mohair edge.

Step 8: Curve the Fibers Into Each Petal

See the photos above and below for an example of how to curve the fibers.

Fill the petal, curving the fibers to fit the curve of the petal.

Fill the petal, curving the fibers to fit the curve of the petal.

Step 9: Fill the Fibers So That They Touch the Mohair Edging

The fibers should fit the curve of the petal.

Filling the petals with a thin layer of fibers

Filling the petals with a thin layer of fibers

Step 10: Fill the Petals With a Fine Layer of Fibers

Blending the fibers for effect

Blending the fibers for effect

Step 11: Blend With Contrasting Merino Wool Fibers

Blend the fibers for effect.

Second layer complete

Second layer complete

Step 12: Fill Any Gaps Within the 4D Layers

After this, your second layer will be complete.

A final touch of blue wool roving

A final touch of blue wool roving

Step 13: Add a Few Contrasting Fibers for Decoration

Don't add too much fiber. Too much thickness will result in a thick heavy felt flower without the desired wispiness.

Wetting the fibers with warm soapy water

Wetting the fibers with warm soapy water

Step 14: Dampen Down the Fibers With Warm Soapy Water

Pressing the damp fibers down.

Pressing the damp fibers down.

Step 15: Pat Down the Fibers With Your Fingers

You'll want to carefully press the damp fibers down.

With a finger smooth the fibers to make a nice petal shape.

With a finger smooth the fibers to make a nice petal shape.

Step 16: Smooth Any Loose Fibers on the Edges

Use your finger to smooth the fibers into a nice petal shape.

Cover the petals with bubble wrap.

Cover the petals with bubble wrap.

Step 17: Cover With Bubble Wrap

Make sure to cover the project bubble-side-down.

Rub the wet surface with warm soapy water.

Rub the wet surface with warm soapy water.

Step 18: Wet the Smooth Surface With Soapy Water and Rub Gently

Remove the bubble wrap.

Remove the bubble wrap.

Bubble wrap removed

Bubble wrap removed

Step 19: Remove the Bubble Wrap

Keeping the edges in shape

Keeping the edges in shape

Step 20: Keep the Edges Ship-Shape

Retouch the edges as needed to keep them neat.

Re-cover with bubble wrap

Re-cover with bubble wrap

Step 21: Cover Again With the Bubble Wrap

Exposed layers and a bamboo sushi mat

Exposed layers and a bamboo sushi mat

Step 22: Remove the Bubble Wrap

Next, carefully remove the wrap again. Have your sushi mat nearby.

Putting the layers onto the bamboo sushi mat

Putting the layers onto the bamboo sushi mat

Step 23: Lift the Petals off the Cling-Wrap and Place Them on the Sushi Mat

The four layers shown being put into the sushi mat

The four layers shown being put into the sushi mat

Step 24: Roll Up the Sushi Mat With the Layers Inside

Secure the sushi mat with a rubber band.

Secure the sushi mat with a rubber band.

Step 25: Secure With a Rubber Band and Roll About 10 Times

Keep on rotating the layers inside the sushi mat.

Keep on rotating the layers inside the sushi mat.

Step 26: Keep Rotating the Sushi Mat and Roll 10 Times, Then Repeat

Make sure to rotate the layers inside the sushi mat between each set of rolls.

The underside of the layers

The underside of the layers

Drop the layers into a bowl of hot water.

Drop the layers into a bowl of hot water.

Step 27: Drop All 4 Layers Into a Bowl of Hot Water

Drop into a bowl of cold water.

Drop into a bowl of cold water.

Step 28: Then Drop Into a Bowl of Cold Water

Repeat the process.

Repeat the process.

Step 29: Repeat the Hot and Cold Water Once More

Squeeze out the water.

Squeeze out the water.

Step 30: Rinse and Squeeze Out Excess Water Gently

Throw the layers down onto a counter top to full.

Throw the layers down onto a counter top to full.

Step 31: Throw the Layers Down Onto a Hard Surface to 'Full'

A countertop makes a good hard surface for this part.

Iron smooth but don't iron the layers dry.

Iron smooth but don't iron the layers dry.

Step 32: Iron the Layers Flat but Don't Dry Them

Don't iron these layers to the point of dryness; they should remain damp for shaping.

Joining the four layers with thread

Joining the four layers with thread

Step 33: Stack the Layers and Join Them Together

Put the three smaller layers on top of the larger one, then join them together with needle and thread.

Sew the four layers together taking the thread back to the lower side.

Sew the four layers together taking the thread back to the lower side.

Step 34: Sew the Four Layers Together

Take the thread back to the lower side.

Grasp the layers together with one hand.

Grasp the layers together with one hand.

Step 35: Grasp the Petals Together in One Hand

See the photo above for an example of how to do this.

Put an elastic band around the base end.

Put an elastic band around the base end.

Step 36: Wrap an Elastic Band Around the Base of the Flower

The top side of the petals before shaping

The top side of the petals before shaping

Sew right though the back of the flower from several points as shown and remove elastic band.

Sew right though the back of the flower from several points as shown and remove elastic band.

Step 37: Once Dry, Sew Through All Four Layers and Remove the Elastic Band

Sew through the back of the flower as shown in the photo above.

Open the damp petals and shape as desired.

Open the damp petals and shape as desired.

Step 38: Open the Damp Petals and Shape as Desired

Now your flower is complete!

Gallery: Completed Flowers

The completed flower.