felt slippers

**edit** I HAVE MOVED BLOGS TO HERE COME OVER AND VISIT : )*******************

Hi everyone Here is the first installment of my slipper tutorial, I’ve never done this before so I hope everyone can understand it and that I don’t miss out anything major! I’m sure folk will let me know if I do.

I know there are loads of different methods for making slippers and for felting in general but this is how I do it and I thought I would share it with you.

You will need to do the felting all in one go so although I am posting this in sections, wait till you have them all before you start.

Ok, so you’ve got all the stuff I listed in the last post…yes?

Right lets start!

First cut off some small chunks of you’re soap bar and put them in the milk bottle and fill it with really hot water. leave it to dissolve while you get the rest of the stuff ready (you’ve already punched holes through the top of the milk bottle lid)

Then choose the colours you want, remember the first colour that you put on will be on the inside of the slipper. Now guesstimate the amount of felt you think you will need for one of your slippers and put it to one side, then double it to allow for the second slipper. As you’re working if you need to take more fleece remember to take the same amount for the second slipper.

Next spread out your sheet of bubble wrap bubble side up (the bumps help to create extra friction)

Then spread the tule on top of that, this helps to mold the fibers around the boot and keep them in place while you are adding water, the roughness also creates some friction which helps with the felting process.

Next get you’re towels ready have one on the floor to catch drips and one close by to dry you’re hands on – you will be constantly wetting your hands to massage the fibres and then drying them to apply the fibres.

The fibres must be kept dry so have them separate from your immediate working area when they are not in use. The water tends to spurt out of the milk carton when it’s hot.

Right, so get you’re welly boot and you’re ready to start laying out the fibers. I recommend starting with a child’s boot as it’s easier and quicker to begin with.

Before you begin to lay out the fibers, take the half you have set aside for the first slipper and halve it again so you have equal fibers for each side of the boot.

Place the first welly boot on it’s side in the middle of the sheets of tule and bubble wrap. I’m right handed so I always start with the sole facing the right, but just work however you feel is best for you. Now begin applying thin layers of fibers, all facing one direction. When you are working along the bottom edge of the boot, overlap the fibers a lot to accommodate the sole of the boot.

Work in rows. When one is finished start another and over lap each layer by a third. Work this way until all one side of the boot is covered.

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Think I’ll leave it there for now.

To be continued………………………..

Tags: craft, felt, felt slipper tutorial, making slippers, slippers