Page 2 of 2
 Once the entire fleece is flat and wet, gently rub the fleece with flat fingers, first very softly and later with a bit more pressure. This is called felting. Turn the sides of the piece inward by hand to prevent the fleece from expanding too much and thinning out the edges. Occasionally, re-wet your hands with the soapy water. Through this process, we ensure that the fibers bond well together to create a sturdy and beautiful felt. |
 After a while, the fleece will start to resemble a true felt, and you can carefully flip it over. Repeat the rubbing motions on the back of the fleece. If the piece becomes too wet, gently squeeze out the excess water over the sink. |
 The duration of felting depends on several factors, including the size and thickness of the fleece. For a small sample, plan for at least fifteen minutes. To check if the fleece is ready, pinch a point in the middle of the fleece and gently tug on it. If you can lift the entire fleece at that spot and not just a few fibers, the felting is complete. It's a good idea to perform this test in multiple spots and on both sides for certainty. |
  After felting is complete, we move on to fulling. During this process, shrinkage occurs. Fulling involves pressing the wet fleece together against the ridges of a felting board. If you don't have a felting board, you can use, for example, the ribbed lid of a storage box. Some countertops also have ridges that you can use. The fleece will shrink in the direction you push it, so you must continually turn the piece and push it in different directions. When you notice that the piece is no longer shrinking and has become very thick and strong, fulling is complete. Fulling takes about twice as long as felting. Finally, rinse the piece with lukewarm water and let it dry. Your felted piece is now ready to be used for crafting. |
   |
| You can endlessly combine colors and shapes in felt. Also, try mixing colored strands together, or attempt shaping the felt right away. |