DIY: How to Make Felt Balls at Home

Felt balls are an easy and fun craft that can be customized for all kinds of projects. They can be used as décor for your home, accessories for your clothing, or even toys for your pet. Making felt balls is a relaxing activity that can be done alone or with friends and family. In this article, we will go through the steps of making felt balls and provide some tips and tricks along the way.

To make felt balls, all you need is wool roving, hot water, soap, and your hands. Wool roving is the fiber that is used to make wool yarn, but instead of being spun into yarn, it is rolled into a ball and felted. The felting process involves the fibers binding together when exposed to heat and agitation. This process creates a dense, durable ball that can be used for a variety of craft projects. Let’s get started!

Making Felt Balls: A Step-by-Step Guide

Felt balls are fun and easy to make, and they can be used for a variety of purposes, from decoration to craft projects. In this section, we will take you through the process of making felt balls step by step.

Gather Your Materials

Before you get started, you will need to gather a few materials. You will need wool roving, warm water, dish soap, and a bowl. You can find wool roving at most craft stores, or you can order it online.

Prepare Your Work Area

Before you begin, it is important to prepare your work area. Lay down a towel or some newspaper to protect your work surface, and fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of dish soap.

Divide Your Wool Roving

Next, you will need to divide your wool roving into small sections. You can do this by gently pulling the wool apart with your hands.

Roll Your Wool Roving

Once you have divided your wool, you can begin rolling it into a ball. Start by rolling the wool between your palms, using gentle pressure.

Add Water and Soap

As you roll your wool, dip it into the bowl of warm, soapy water. This will help the fibers to stick together.

Continue Rolling

Continue rolling your wool in your palms, dipping it into the soapy water as needed. You can adjust the size of your felt ball by adding or removing wool.

Rinse Your Felt Ball

Once your felt ball is the desired size, rinse it in clean, warm water to remove any excess soap.

Dry Your Felt Ball

Finally, you will need to dry your felt ball. You can do this by laying it on a towel and allowing it to air dry. You can also speed up the drying process by using a hair dryer on a low setting.

Repeat

To make more felt balls, simply repeat the process with new sections of wool roving.

Use Your Felt Balls

Once your felt balls are dry, you can use them for a variety of purposes. They can be used as decoration, added to a wreath or garland, or used in craft projects. The possibilities are endless!

The Materials You Need to Make Felt Balls

Before diving in on how to make felt balls, it’s essential to know what materials you need to prepare beforehand. Here are the materials you will need:

1. Wool roving: This is the primary material you need when making felt balls. You can find it in craft stores, or you can purchase it online. It comes in various colors and sizes, and you can choose whatever fits your preference.

2. Dish Soap: You will need dish soap to start the felting process. Any regular dish soap will do just fine.

3. Hot water: You will need hot water for the felting process. Ensure that the water is hot enough to melt the lanolin in the wool roving to make it easier to felt.

4. Bowl or bucket: You will need to fill a bowl or bucket with hot water to start the felting process. Make sure that the container you are using is big enough to hold the wool roving.

5. Towels: You will need towels to keep your hands dry while felting. Make sure to use old towels that you don’t mind getting dirty.

6. Felting needle: This is an optional material that you can use to add extra details to your felt ball.

7. A foam pad: This is also optional and used to hold the wool balls while felting.

8. Embroidery thread: You will need embroidery thread if you want to add designs to your felt ball.

9. Scissors: You will need scissors to trim off any excess wool roving after felting.

10. Beads or trinkets: These are optional materials that you can use to add to the design of your felt ball.

Now that you’ve prepared all the materials required let’s move on to the next section, which is the process of making felt balls.

Section Three: Drying and Finishing Your Felt Balls

1. Air-drying Method

After your felt balls have been thoroughly rinsed and squeezed to remove excess water, they are ready to be dried. Using an air-drying method is the simplest way to dry your felt balls without causing any damage to them.

You can air-dry your felt balls by placing them on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. Ensure that they are not in direct sunlight or heat, as this can cause warping or shrinking of the felt balls. Allow them to dry naturally for at least 24 hours, flipping them over occasionally to ensure that both sides of the felt balls are drying evenly.

2. Heat-drying Method

If you are short on time and need your felt balls to dry quickly, you can use a heat-drying method. However, this method should be used with caution and only if you are confident that your felt balls are made of wool. Synthetic felt balls should not be dried with heat as they can melt or warp.

To heat-dry your wool felt balls, place them in a pillowcase or mesh laundry bag and put them in your dryer on the low heat or delicate setting. This ensures that they do not lose their shape or felt further. It might take around 10 to 20 minutes to dry, depending on the size of your felt balls and the strength of your dryer. Check regularly to ensure that they are not overheated as it can cause shrinkage.

3. Needle Felting

If you enjoy adding designs or personal touches to your felt balls, consider needle felting them. Needle felting is a process of poking wool fibers with a special needle that binds them together to form shapes or designs.

You can add designs to your felt balls using the needle felting technique, by attaching small pieces of wool roving or needle felting yarn onto your felt balls. It’s a great way to add some personality to your felt balls and create one-of-a-kind decorations or accessories.

4. Polishing

Once your felt balls are completely dry, you can enhance their texture and shine by polishing them. Polishing your felt balls will also help to remove any loose fibers or fuzz that may have developed during the felting process.

To polish your felt balls, you can use a soft cloth or buffing pad to gently rub them until they shine. You can also use a small dab of natural oil or beeswax on the cloth or pad to get a glossy and polished finish.

5. Storing Your Felt Balls

Finally, it’s important to store your felt balls properly to ensure that they stay in good condition and maintain their shape. Store them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat. Consider using airtight containers or zipper bags for better preservation. If you plan to keep your felt balls for an extended period, it’s a good idea to add some lavender or cedar chips to keep them fresh and prevent moths.

Time to Get Crafting!

Now that you know how to make felt balls, it’s time to get started on your own projects. Whether you’re making cute garlands, adorable cat toys, or vibrant pincushions, felt balls add a special touch to any craft. Plus, they’re easy and fun to make, which makes crafting a great way to relax after a long day. Thank you for reading, and we hope you visit again soon for more crafting inspiration!