How to Use a Resist Shape to Make a Wet-Felted Hat

Sally Gulbrandsen Feltmaker: Her tutorials and techniques are as individual as she is—unique, experimental and always interesting.

Wet Felting With a Resist

Felting with a resist will produce a seamless hollow shape which can be used to make hats, decorative vessels, pods, pots, vases, cat caves, bird houses, bags, purses, mitts, booties and slippers. In this tutorial, we'll learn how to make a lovely brimmed hat.

Items Required to Make this Project

• A quantity merino wool roving in three complimentary colors
• Olive oil soap or dishwashing liquid
• Hot water and a squeeze bottle
• Bubble-wrap, floor underlay or a sheet of thick plastic
• Pattern for making the resist template
• Hat block or polystyrene head
• A dessert bowl for tracing a circular pattern for the flowers
• A polystyrene head or a hat block on which to mold the hat
• Sushi mat for rolling the felt flowers in
• Piece of curtain netting

Quick Overview of the Method

Trace the pattern out onto the sheet of thick plastic, floor underlay or bubble-wrap as shown here. Remember that simple shapes usually work best. The pattern shown here does include for about 30% for shrinkage which takes place during the felting process.

• Lay the template down onto a large piece of bubble-wrap
• Begin by laying down a layer of fibers onto the template
• Cover with curtain netting
• Dampen with hot soapy water and smooth
• Press the water towards the edges of the pattern until the fibers are flattened down except for the fluffy edges.
• Remove the curtain netting gently and turn the template over.
• Turn in the loose fibers to give a neat edge
• Continue adding the next layer of fibers in the just same way
• Cover with curtain netting
• Wet with hot soapy water and press the water down and out towards the edges
• Smooth out and rub the surface gently.
• Remove the curtain netting and once again turn over the edges as shown to give a neat edge.
• Repeat - until you have completed three layers of wool, covering the template on both sides as shown below. Remember to place each layer at 90 degrees to the previous layer to the best results.
• Once the template has been completely covered with three layers of fibers, cover it with bubble-wrap and rub both sides until the fibers cannot be moved beneath your fingers.
• Roll up the project in a piece of bubble-wrap and then place the roll into a small towel as shown. It makes it easier to roll the wet bubble-wrap. Alternatively the bubble-wrap roll can be tied up or sealed with elastic bands.
• Begin rolling the project with long even strokes for a minute or two.
• Turn the project inside the towel so that the rolling direction is changed each time, inside the bubble-wrap and put the project into the small towel roll again.
• Repeat this until it becomes clear that the wool has shrunk around the template
• It is now time to remove the template from the wool covered fibers
• Using a large pair of scissors, cut into the bottom of the hat as shown below.
• Remove the template.
• Place the project into a bowl of very hot water for a minute and then plunge it into cold water
• Repeat this several times
• Rinse until the water runs clear under hot and then cold running water
• Now begin dropping the hat down onto a hard surface, I use a marble worktop to do this.
• The fibers will begin to tighten and shrink under your fingers
• Continue shrinking and shaping the hat as shown.
• Hit the hat against the surface of the table. Pay special attention to the cut edge. The cut edges will tighten and no longer look freshly cut. In areas where you want the hat to tighten more, simply hit these against the table.
• A hat block or polystyrene head can be used to mold the hat over.
• Wet the hat in hot water, squeeze and shape over the hat form. Add folds or pleats if you would like pleats them or keep on molding and shrinking the fibers if you would like to make a cloche hat. Turn over the edges if required and then make a few simple flowers or a band for decoration as described at the bottom of this page.

To explore these steps in more detail, continue reading the photo tutorial below.

1. Make the Hat Template Pattern

2. Cut the Resist Template From Thick Plastic Sheeting

3. Gather Your Supplies

4. Add the First Layer of Wool Roving

5. Cover With Curtain Netting and Wet With Hot Soapy Water

6. Smooth the Wool Fibers, Pressing the Water Down and Out Toward the Edges

7. Remove the Curtain Netting

8. Turn the Resist Template Over

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9. Fold the Merino Wool Fibers Over the Edges

10. Cover the Second Side of the Resist Template With an Even Layer of Fibers

11. Cover With Curtain Netting and Wet With Hot Soapy Water

12. Smooth Down the Wet Merino Wool Fibers

13. Remove the Curtain Netting

14. Turn the Project Over to the Other Side

15. Neaten the Edges

16. Cover Layer Two With Wool Fibers

17. Cover With Curtain Netting

18. Wet With Hot Soapy Water

19. Smooth Out Towards the Edges

20. Remove the Curtain Netting

21. Turn Over

22. Neaten the Edges

23. Cover the Second Side of Layer Two With Fibers

24. Cover With Curtain Netting and Wet With Hot Soapy Water

25. Smooth Down the Fibers

26. Remove the Curtain Netting

27. Neaten the Fibers

28. Add Layer Three

29. Add Hot Soapy Water

30. Smooth the Wet Fibers Down and Rub Gently

31. Remove the Curtain Netting

32. Neaten the Edges

33. Add Layer Three to the Other Side

34. Wet With Hot Soapy Water

35. Cover With Curtain Netting

36. Remove the Curtain Netting

37. Neaten the Edges

38. Place the Project on Bubble Wrap and Rub Well on Both Sides

39. Perform the Pinch Test

40. Cut the Bottom of the Project Open With Scissors

41. Remove the Template

42. Place the Project in a Bowl of Hot Water

43. Move the Project to a Bowl of Cold Water

44. Rinse Until Water Runs Clear

How to Complete the Hat

Put the whole project into very hot water and then cold water until the water runs clear. Squeeze out any excess water and hit the project hard against a hard surface until it shrinks to the desired shape and size.

Pour hot water over it, squeeze the water out and shape over a hat block or polystyrene head.

How to Make the Felt Flowers: Quick Overview

• Draw a circle around a dessert bowl onto a piece of thick plastic.
• Place the circle under a sheet of bubble-wrap and begin by placing some Merino Wool fibers onto the circle which shows through.
• These should be placed down in one or two very fine with the addition of few additional decorate fibers on the top. I used a few silk fibers.
• Move the circle under the bubble-wrap and repeat until you have three circles of wool fibers.
• Wet the wool fibers and then cover with bubble-wrap
• Begin rubbing gently at first and then rub much harder until the fibers no longer move under your fingers.
• Steep in very hot water and then cold
• Repeat three times
• Rinse under hot and then cold water until all the soap has been removed.
• Drop onto a hard surface until the fibers have shrunk completely.
• Shape and fold the flat piece where required to turn it into a flower.
• Stitch a few stitches into the bottom.
• Use a few stitches or a few hat pins to attach it to the hat as shown.

1. Draw a Template

Draw a template on a piece of plastic or bubble-wrap. Use a thick felt pen so that the outsides when cut can still be seen through bubble-wrap. Place them underneath the bubble-wrap and cover then with fibers as shown below.

2. Place the Circles of Fibers on the Bubble Wrap

3. Wet the Fibers

4. Cover With Bubble Wrap and Rub Well

5. Remove the Bubble Wrap

6. Place on a Sushi Mat

7. Roll in the Sushi Mat

Roll inside a Sushi Mat. These mats are the perfect tool as they really do speed up the felting process.

Alternate the direction in which you roll the project in the sushi mat, in much the same way you did when you rolled the hat. This helps to maintain a circular shape for the flower.

8. Drop in Very Hot Water

9. Drop in Cold Water

10. Rinse and Full by Dropping the Project on a Hard Surface

11. Shape Into a Flower

13. Attach the Flowers to the Hat

Questions & Answers

Question: How much wool do I need to make a wet-felted hat?

Answer: I estimate that you will need approximately 125 grams. This can vary though depending on how thick you make your layers. I weighed several hats of mine and even the largest top hat in my Tutorials came in at about 150 grams.

© 2014 Sally Gulbrandsen

Comments

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on July 10, 2020:

Thank you so much Sylvia. I appreciate the feedback.

Sylvia Cooper on July 10, 2020:

I love your projects. Instructions are so clear.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on May 07, 2019:

Thank you so much, Nina, blessings to you also:) Happy felting.

Nina on May 07, 2019:

Fantastic stumble... Inspired... Bright blessings to you thanks for sharing loving knowledge.. x

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on April 20, 2018:

Well done! I am delighted that you found the Tutorial easy. Thanks for taking the time to stop by to comment.

Sophia on April 20, 2018:

Thankyou, this worked perfectly for me! I've only ever needle felted before so this was new territory. I made a hat blank that I can block and finish later, the millinery part I've done before at least.

Great tutorial, very clear!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on April 09, 2018:

Thanks for taking the time to stop by to comment. Personally I find that underfloor underlay works far better than cardboard or bubble-wrap but so glad to hear that your beret worked out well.

John Griswold from Eastern Massachusetts on April 09, 2018:

Great article. I felted a beret using corrugated cardboard as the resist. When the cardboard started to collapse from the wool shrinking, I cut a hole in the middle of one side, and removed the resist. Then I beat the crap out of it to felt it properly.

Thank you for your blog.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 23, 2018:

I would estimate about 200 grams. I suggest buying Botany Waste from World of Wool. It comes in packs of 500 grams for about £12. You won't get to choose your colors but it will be great for starting out if you intend doing a few more wet felting project! It will contain a variety of colors and a variety of felting wool roving which can be mixed to create a wonderful palette.

Stesha on January 22, 2018:

How much wool by weight would you recommend for a project like this?

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 04, 2018:

Kathryn, thank you for your comment. I do tend to use a tumble dryer for most of my felting projects. Shrinkage tends to be a lot more with this method so you might like to try it for yourself. Check it often so that not too much shrinkage takes place. This can be done before or after the template has been removed.

Kathryn on January 04, 2018:

Your hat turned out lovely. did you do a lot of trimming around the edge of the brim? Mine turned out big. Actually very long and way too much brim. I think I changed the cm to inches correctly. I think I can salvage it, but I'll shrink the template a lot for the next one. Thanks for the details and great photos.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on March 05, 2017:

The first hat block I made appears in this tutorial https://hubpages.com/textiles-sewing/hand-crafted-... You could shape your hat on your own head, or use a ball, use a polystyrene mannequin head or even on a plastic 'hat shaper'. I think that these are all practical but cost effective options. I do of course have a few wooden hat blocks and they are lovely to use but can be expensive. May I suggest that you visit my Hubpages profile where you will find many more tutorials for making hats and other felted items using a variety of shapers.

Mrs E from Reading on March 05, 2017:

The tutorial is exactly what I was looking for. I need to find something the right size for a hat form. We used to make masks by using cling film (with holes cut in for breathing! ) gaffer tape and papier-mâché. That would not produce a waterproof form, but maybe it could be treated or painted. Maybe that would work?

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on March 21, 2015:

Virginia Allain

I would have a go at making a hat using a ball for the resist. Check out my hat tutorials using a ball or even the one which uses a small polystyrene ball (a lot depends on the size of the dolls head you want to cover) remember the wool will shrink about thirty percent. Put it into a tumble dryer and felt it that way if you feel intimidated by this process. I promise it is very easy. I appreciate your stopping by to comment.

Virginia Allain from Central Florida on March 21, 2015:

Wow, quite a process. I was curious, thinking I could make a hat for my doll, but don't think I'll undertake this just for her. The result was beautiful.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on February 15, 2015:

Sharon

The measurements as I see them are:-

Middle dotted line 41 cm

Top line across 36 cm

Bottom 43 cm

Lower bottom line 53 cm

As one person above stated she found the pattern a little large. I would suggest that if you head is small, reduce the measurements slightly or shrink the hat more when you 'full' the hat. I pop my hat into a freezer bag and hit it hard against a wall in the areas which I want to shrink more. A larger hat can always have fold or pleats added to it if all else fails. I hope this works out well for you,

Sharon on February 14, 2015:

I can not see the measurements on the hat template. could you please provide these?

thanks

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on January 01, 2015:

Hi Dianna,

I would suggest that if you try this project again and it does come out too large, try wetting it and then place it into a tumble drier to shrink further. Alternatively try adding some folds when you block it. Most projects can be salvaged as you did yours but unfortunately wool shrinks either more or less and the results cannot always be predicted. I have several hat tutorials on hubPages - try the hat on a ball next time, it is a fun project which is for adults and children.

I will bear in mind your size suggestion when I write another

tutorial.

I appreciate your stopping by to comment,

Thank you,

Sally

Diana on January 01, 2015:

i did make this hat it came out very very big you should put the pattern in inches to but i made a pocketbook out of it i did learn a lot from your tutorial though thank you

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 20, 2014:

rebeccamealey

I am glad you found the tutorial to be complete - I enjoyed writing and photographing it. Thank you very much for your visit and also your comment.

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, USA on October 20, 2014:

Very pretty hat! I love the flowers on it. Quite a project, and your photo tutorial is very complete!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 16, 2014:

firstday - they are dead easy to make - just make a knot in a piece of wool roving and wrap the extra wool around the knot. Add a little dish washing liquid to the soft ball and then add a little warm water. Roll the wet soft ball on a dry kitchen towel or rubber mat or alternatively in the palm of your hand. The former two methods work very quickly and result in a beautifully shaped ball.

Rebecca Be from Lincoln, Nebraska on October 16, 2014:

Sallybea, Thank you, I will. He wants me to do it. Although it is a project together since he is doing the wood part. I need to be able to make small felt balls to put eyes on to make animals.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 16, 2014:

firstday - careful, you could get hooked on felting! I hope you and your husband enjoy making your project together. Feel free to ask - if you have any questions..

Best wishes,

Sally

Rebecca Be from Lincoln, Nebraska on October 16, 2014:

I am glad I found you. I have to learn to felt. My husband has a project and he wants me to do the felting. I got a couple of library books. When I saw this, well I must read all your hubs on this subject. thanks Sally Bea

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 04, 2014:

teaches1234

I am glad you like the hat. I love the orange color too. I guess it reminds me a little of Africa:) I am glad you found this Tutorial useful.

Best wishes,

Sally

Dianna Mendez on October 04, 2014:

What an adorable hat and I love the bright orange color. I only wish I had one to wear this fall season. Your post design is great and the detailed photo instructions are very useful. Thanks for the idea.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 02, 2014:

The Stages Of ME

One has to think of the process as being a therapeutic one, just imagine a few hours of your day being completely involved in rubbing and massaging wet wool in order to create something which is both unique and beautiful. That is because not one wet felted item is ever created equal:)

Thank you for your comment,

Best wishes,

Sally

Kathy Henderson from Pa on October 02, 2014:

Awesome hub, I will be the wimp that say whoa to much work, but the outcome is amazing and I would so buy this product. Great idea to motivate crafters or project with your kids or grandkids :)

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 02, 2014:

DDE

Hello Devika,

My Wet Felting Tutorials take a little time to prepare and to write up. Add to that, the editing of images where necessary and I am constantly aware that I can't always be as productive as I would like to be when it comes to writing - but never mind, it is all fun and nice to share one of my hobbies with others. I very much appreciate each and every visit, thank you for the share, vote up, beautiful, interesting and useful. I hope you having a productive week,

Best wishes,

Sally

Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on October 02, 2014:

Hi Sally you took a while to write again but then again you knew why. Another great surprise for us. I love this idea and your creative mind always surprises e. Voted up, beautiful, interesting and useful.Also shared.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 01, 2014:

Iris Draak

I look forward to hearing how you get on. I hope you enjoy making this your daughter.

Best wishes,

Sally

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 01, 2014:

AliciaC

Thanks for the compliment and for the visit. I am glad that I was able to explain the process so that it could be easily understood.

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on October 01, 2014:

I love the appearance of the hat and the flowers. They're beautiful. All the details in this hub will be very helpful for someone who wants to complete this project!

Cristen Iris from Boise, Idaho on October 01, 2014:

Sally, I absolutely love hats and my daughter gave me a lovely green felted wool bowler quite a few years back. Your hat with those whimsical flowers makes me happy just looking at it. You've convinced me to try my hand at this. This hat looks like the perfect mother-daughter project during a holiday break. I can't wait, and your tutorial gives me great confidence that the effort will be successful!

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on October 01, 2014:

grand old lady

I am glad you enjoyed the colors on the hat. It is a very simple get very effective way of Wet Felting a Hat.

Thank you so much for your visit and your comment,

Best wishes,

Sally

Mona Sabalones Gonzalez from Philippines on October 01, 2014:

This is a lovely project. I love the different colors on the hat.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on September 30, 2014:

Flourish Anyway,

Thank you for the complement and thank you very much for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Sally

FlourishAnyway from USA on September 30, 2014:

Beautiful job. I have a new nickname me for you: Sally the Goddess of Wet Felting.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on September 30, 2014:

Hello DJ

It is so nice of you to stop by. I am glad you enjoyed this Hub and I very much appreciate your very kind comment re my artistic touch.

Best wishes,

Sally

DJ Anderson on September 30, 2014:

Sally, what a wonderful tutorial!

You are so clever with your artistic touch.

Anyone would find this very easy to follow to create a wet felt hat.

Great Hub, Sally!

DJ.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on September 30, 2014:

Alise- Evon

I like to have both the written explanation on my hubs for those people who may not know anything about felting but I agree with you. I learn much better from looking at step by step pictures. I hope you do decide to use up that wool roving. A hat would make a great present for Christmas.

Thank you,

Sally

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on September 30, 2014:

MsDora

I think this one may be going on sale in the very new future. I am always grateful for your continued support, even if you may not wish to make any felted products yourself. Thank you so much for the vote up.

Sally Gulbrandsen (author) from Norfolk on September 30, 2014:

Hi Billy,

Yes, you and I, we know what we do best and I am very grateful for your continued support - mind you, I might be able to persuade you or the Missus to change your mind when the first sheep arrive at the urban farm:)

Thank you Billy.

Sally

Dora Weithers from The Caribbean on September 30, 2014:

Do you have any hats for sale, Sally? This one is cute. I know it would be a pleasure to watch you in this creative felt work you do. Thanks for sharing another beautiful project with great instructions and pictures. Voted Up!

Alise- Evon on September 30, 2014:

Wonderful tutorial and beautiful hat, sallybea! (Though I must admit I just skipped to the pictures after reading a few of the written instructions as I found that easier to process.) I took a wet felting class a few years ago and loved it. I haven't made anything in awhile- went on to other things- but always thought it would be nice to try a hat. I still have roving, and know I could complete a hat with the help of your hub.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on September 30, 2014:

You and I both know I won't be doing this, but I'll always be by to give you support. You know your stuff, and you understand the importance of a niche....success will be yours if you keep at it. Well done, Sally. Now, have a marvelous day.