How to Make a 4D Wet-Felted Flower
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 is 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.
Merino 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 (Hair dye bottle works incredibly well)
- Bamboo Sushi Mat
- Elastic band
- Scissors
- Small quantity Mohair knitting yarn
Draw the Template
Begin by drawing a heart shaped petal, combine 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.
Draw Petals on an A3 Sheet of White Paper
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.
Cover the Template in Cling Wrap
Trace over the Lines of the Template with Warm Soapy Water
Gather Together the Required Wool Roving and Mohair Yarn
Trace Over the First Wet Lines on the Template With the Mohair Yarn
3 More to Go!
Edge All 4 Layers With the Mohair Yarn
Fill the Petals With a Fine Layer of Merino Wool Fibers
Curve the Fibers Into Each Petal as Shown Below
Fill the Fibers So That They Touch the Mohair Edging
Fill the Petals With a Fine Layer of Fibers
Blend With Contrasting Merino Wool Fibers
Fill Any Gaps Within the 4D Layers
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.
A Touch of Blue!
Dampen Down the Fibers With Warm Soapy Water
Pat Down the Fibers With Your Fingers
Smooth Any Loose Fibers on the Edges
Cover With Bubble-Wrap, Bubble-Side Down
Wet the Smooth Surface With Soapy Water and Rub Gently
Remove the Bubble-Wrap
Bubble-Wrap Removed
Keep the Edges Ship-Shape
Cover Again With the Bubble-Wrap
Remove the Bubble-Wrap
Lift the Petals off the Cling-Wrap and Place Them on the Sushi Mat
Roll Up the Sushi Mat With the Layers Inside
Secure With a Rubber Band and Roll About Ten Times
Keep Rotating the Sushi Mat and Roll Ten Times, Repeat
The Underside of the Layers
Drop All Four Layers Into a Bowl of Hot Water
Then Drop Into a Bowl of Cold Water
Repeat the Hot and Cold Water Once More
Rinse and Squeeze Out Excess Water Gently
Throw the Layers Down Onto a Hard Surface to 'Full'
Iron the Layers Flat but Don't Iron Dry. They Should Be Damp for Shaping
Put the Three Smaller Layers One-by-One on Top of the Larger One and Join Them Together With Needle and Thread
Sew the Four Layers Together
Grasp the Petals Together in One Hand as Shown
Wrap an Elastic Band Around the Base of the Flower
The Top Side of the Flower Before Shaping
Once Dry, Sew Through all Four Layers and Remove the Elastic Band
Open the Damp Petals and Shape as Desired
The Completed Flower
Hat with Wet Felted Flower
Flower Example Two
Your Comments Are Welcomed
I hope you enjoy this tutorial.
Your comments and suggestions for future tutorials are welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you.
© 2016 Sally Gulbrandsen
Related
Comments
AUTHORYou are right, the fibers will lay in one direction. I made that bag such a long time ago! I sometimes split the batts and place the fibers so they run in different directions. I don't often use batts these days unless I want to blend bits and pieces left over from projects or use natural sheeps wool which I process myself. I hate wasting anything! I find it cheaper and easier to buy Botany Waste and tend to use it for most projects simply because it is good value..
Hi Sally I love your work and your tutorials. Much appreciated!
Was reading the tutorial on the spiral purse and you mentioned that a drum carder batt was used and that the fibers were going in different directions and would make a stronger purse. If a batt was produced on a drum carder the fibers would all be going in the same direction. Right?
Just confused about that
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Dave, that is very kind of you. I hope your granddaughters enjoy them. I, on the other hand appreciate every visit you make to my pages.
Best wishes,
Sally.
Sally, another beautiful presentation. It is unlikely I will ever make them but it does not stop me admiring the things you do, and I book mark them for my granddaughters . Well done.
lol! yes I expect they will, I still have loads that I need to check and get rid of.
- AUTHOR
No problem those bots will find them.
lol! clover? my spelling is going crazy!
- AUTHOR
Nell Rose,
Yes, you would have seen similar but, the idea behind these particular flowers is completely my own;) I love finding new ways of creating using this fantastic medium. So glad you like this one. I also hope that this year will be the one when writing my book becomes a reality.
Many thanks,
Sally.
I would have no idea on how to make these, but I have seen similar on hats etc and did wonder and think how clever they are. Now I know, you are so clover and making these and other wet felt stuff, I love it! and yes I agree with the above comments, you should get this down in a book, with all the amazing photos it will be a best seller!
- AUTHOR
FlourishAnyway
Writing a book is on my list of to do things to do this year.
Thanks for the very kind comment and for your encouragement.
Very pretty. You completely own the space of wee felting and I hope are writing a book?
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- AUTHOR
GlimmerTwinFan
Glad you liked this tutorial and yes, they can look very delicate, more so when the layer of fibers are laid down very fine.
Thank for taking the time out to comment.
Sally.
Wow - How lovely Sally. These are so delicate looking too. Another well done tutorial.
- AUTHOR
craftybegonia
I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed this felting tutorial. I hope you will try it as it is not only simple but a very effective way of making very beautiful felt flowers. Enjoy!
Sally
That is a terrific DIY project! Love the step by step sequence, helps to follow along and to learn as we go. I love the felted look, one of these days, I am going to try it. Thanks for sharing!
- AUTHOR
Larry Rankin
Wonderful to have the feedback! Thank you for visiting this hub and for taking the time to comment. Your visit is appreciated.
Sally.
Wonderful DYI project. You really did a good job of illustrating the steps.
- AUTHOR
AliciaC
Thank you so much! I am glad you liked the flowers. Feedback such as yours is always appreciated.
The flowers are so beautiful. I love the results of your wet felting projects. The format of photos and text that you use is a great way to share the instructions.
- AUTHOR
Hi Devika,
I guess we should all follow our own rule, which is that we should do whatever we enjoy and what makes us happy.
I always appreciate your visits and your comments. Thanks for the tweet too especially as I expect to hit the magic 200,000 views this weekend.
Sally
Hi Sally
You are a good at what you do, always creative. I like the idea but just can't get into something like this. Your explanations are great. I Tweeted!
- AUTHOR
Thank you for your very kind comment MsDora, your continued support is valued and appreciated.
Sally
Sally, you're the Queen of Wet Felt craft. You're also a good teacher, giving super detailed instructions and your creativity is awesome. Great work!
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- AUTHOR
Hi Donna,
Glad you liked the flowers and the Tutorial. I love making these flowers, one never tell quite how the blending will work but somehow, it always seems to.
Thanks for stopping by to comment, every visit is valued and appreciated. Thank you so much.
Sally
Hi Sally - These flowers are gorgeous! Your tutorial and photos make the process so easy. I love the different colors that you can put together to create these flowers. These floral accessories would be a great way to add color to some many things. Thanks for sharing!
- AUTHOR
Hi Billy
First again Billy. I am not sure how you do it but I am so grateful for your support and encouragement. I appreciate every one of your very kind comments.
Thank you so much,
Sally.
You know I'm completely ignorant about this stuff, Sally, and the chances of me ever doing it are about as small as me voting for Donald Trump. :) Having said that, I think your craft articles are some of the best out there. The pictures are always clear, the instruction precise and your voice friendly and encouraging. In other words, great job!
bill
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