Step by step vessel tutorial - wet felt along with me!
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2022
- Are you new to wet feltmaking sculptural forms around a resist and looking for a comprehensive guide with clear instructions about how to create a beautiful vessel? This long form video goes through all the necessary steps in real time to help you achieve successful results, right from the start! Follow along with me as I guide you through the whole process from start to finish and be amazed at the beautiful felt bowl you will be able to create! Although I'm making a decorative bowl this tutorial may be adapted if you would like to felt a cat cave, hat or indeed any simple shaped hollow form. Have fun and please ask any follow up questions or leave me feedback in the comments.
Please note that this is not a short video because I wanted to share each stage with you and make a demonstration felt bowl from start to finish. I intend uploading a much condensed video of the tutorial once it’s edited but this one is for those of you who would like ALL the details, tips and advice!
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For your reference approximately 100g of fibre (3.5oz) should be more than enough to create a lightweight vessel similar to mine unless you usually lay your wool out very thickly. If you do you may need a little more. I used merino wool and embellished with silk fibre. My template diameter was 22 cms (12.5"). Have fun!
PS If you would like to create felt to eco print rather than use coloured wool and embellishing fibres I recommend natural un-dyed merino and cellulose embellishments (not silk).
My aim is to cultivate a sustainable, nature focused practice helping creatives and slow living enthusiasts feel connected, understood and supported. Since 2029 I've had multiple wet felting and eco printing workshop success stories in Ireland, North America, Australia and mainland Europe.
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If you have never felted at all and would prefer to start with a piece of flat felt here’s a ‘flat felt’ step by step tutorial! ruclips.net/video/WoT8a7fjHZ8/видео.html
Thank you for this comprehensive tutorial. I will definitely try felting a vessel with your method. You are a wonderful teacher.
Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! And you are so welcome
Wow! Thank you! Excellent tutorial! I loved you didn’t play music or too much chatting, makes it easier for me to focus. Thanks again!!!
Glad it was helpful! And thank you for the feedback.
You are a marvelous teacher and I so appreciate that you shared your talent with those of us who are new or fairly new to this art! Thank you so much!!
Thanks so much for the lovely comment Suzanne. You’re welcome!
Best tutorial on RUclips. Made two yesterday and today!! Love the spinning technique on your hand!
Wow Susan, thanks so much for the lovely comment!!!
I'm delighted that you have enjoyed this video and found it helpful. Are you a member of my public Facebook Group? Here's the link for you if not and in case you would like to join. facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown I'd love to see pictures of your vessels so please feel free to upload them to the group and tag me if you do. Usually I prefer not to get tagged (because there are not enough hours in the year to look at each individual post) but this would be an exception!
I have been dreaming of using my Tunis wool (20 years as a shepherd) and always thought felting was the answer to the medium wool that is usually medium to short length. You are incredibly inspirational. I have worked with fabric for 60 years, including everything wool, but as a designer, you have awakened the light bulb that had grown dim. Thank you, Nicola.
How wonderful that you have your own Tunis wool to use. I've not felted with it myself but am sure that if you take the process slowly at the beginning you will achieve some beautiful results! Often fibre from breeds other than merino has a higher micron and a great tip that I learned is to use more soap and less water. I suggest that you try this and be patient about the process, taking your time early on usually means that higher micron fibre comes together suddenly near the end. Good luck!
Great tutorial! Thanks so much! Long was perfect to see the entire thing (though I watched it at x2 speed lol)
Glad it was helpful! I tend to talk slowly to ensure those whose first language isn't English can understand too so the 2x speed is a God send for those who are native speakers 🥰
This is a wonderful tutorial. Your teaching style is both informative and inspiring. I can't wait to wet, net, soap!
Thank you so much! Have fun!
That would make a beautiful hat!
Thank you!
I am new to eco printing and the dirty pot caught my eye, but then you started talking about wet felting, you woke me up… I haven’t felted in about a year maybe a bit longer, went through a divorce and a move on my own for the first time at 63 years old. My mind is bursting with excitement, I moved to the northern coast of Maine to enjoy life and Nicola is helping me rediscover my true passions… and I agree, just listen to the birds while you create… your work is inspiring… thank you for sharing your techniques..
Hi Sharon, it's lovely to connect here through our shared love of textiles and nature. I'm really happy to read that your mind is bursting with excitement and look forwards to staying in touch and seeing your beautiful felt and new journey with eco printing!
Hi Nicola….I enjoyed your companie so mutch today making a vessel together with you….I love the result wish I could place a picture….thks a lot for this video❤
You are so welcome Maria, I'd love to see your vessel too!!! Have you joined my public group on Facebook yet? Here's the link for you and please do share pictures there! facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
Fantastic tutorial! All of them really! You are sharing your knowledge in a great, easy to understand and then follow way. That's a talent! Your creations are beautiful! Talent again! Thank you!!
Wow Barbara thank you for the lovely compliments, it is much appreciated. I am delighted you enjoy my tutorials. Happy felting!
Thank you for the detailed instruction for wet felting. I am anxious to start my FIRST project.
Oh Barbara what an exciting time for you. Enjoy the process!
That’s just beautiful! Ty
You're very welcome Shannon!
Thank you! Beautiful!!
My pleasure! Thank you for the lovely comment!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
I'm not a complete beginner with felting but I'm quite new to making vessels so I found your video very interesting and informative, thank you!
Thank you Denise!
Awesome. Thank you ❤.
You're so welcome!
Love this tutorial, such clear and helpful instruction. Thank you so much Nicola, I can’t wait to make one. ❤
You are so welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed. Be sure to share pictures of your creations too!
Thank you so much for this. Very helpful!
You're so welcome!
thanks so much! beautiful piece and great instruction
You are so welcome Teri, I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
Really enjoyed this, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! Long but love your instruction style!
Thanks Elizabeth. It is long but that’s because I know that a lot of my followers like felting along with me in REAL time!
Great tutorial, thanks
You are very welcome!
Watching this while pulling an new elastic in a king bedsheet! Better than music! It is actually music to my ears and repetitions of techniques can't hurt.
Now I want to make a vessel using your guidance... I love that you explain why... I remind it better when the reason of a technique is given! Thank you?
You're very welcome Sabine and I'm smiling, your comment is music to MY ears!!!
Thank you for sharing. Nice piece!❤
Thanks for watching!
Beautiful piece Nicola! Thanks for the wonderful tips.
You are so welcome Denise, glad you enjoyed the video!
Thank you for your very complete instructions.
You are very welcome!
thank you' i lern alot.
You are welcome!
Such a wonderful, wonderful video! I learned so much! Thank you so much!
You are so welcome Linda. I'm glad that you enjoyed the video and found it helpful!
Perfect video! I prichiet that. Thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Just made my first bowl thank you so much as I am a real newbie I’m thrilled
You're so welcome Viki, I'm delighted that you found the tutorial helpful! Are you on Facebook? I have a public felting and eco printing group there where you can upload images if you would like to share what you've felted! Here's the link for you. facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
such a lovely coloured felted piece 🙂
Thank you! Cheers!
When it gets turned inside out and shaped, it reminds me of spinning a pizza dough. 😆
Thank you for a great tutorial. I had a few questions answered there.
You are so welcome!
Awesome tutorial, I’m gonna restart the video and try along with you!
Best of luck!!
Well, I know what I’m trying next. Beautiful work.
Go for it! I'd love to see what you create if you would like to post it in my Facebook group - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
Thank you so much for a very thorough and great demonstration
You are so welcome!
I love love your tutorial, I like the slower technique you use and was so pleased with my bowl today. Looking forward to more of your videos. Thank you
You are so welcome!
Thank you so very much for this wonderfully detailed tutorial! Very helpful!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you for your very detailed tutorial Nicola. So very appreciated. I followed along and made my very first wet felted vessel. I used merino roving (tops I believe is the term in the UK?) and had some great results. The bottom of my vessel is not as thick as the sides so that was a lesson for me.
Thank you, Nicola. I wish I had your very detailed tutorials when I first started wet felting 10 years ago. Even as a more experienced felt maker, I always learn something new from your videos. 🥰
You're so welcome Melanie. It's great to hear you enjoyed the video even though you have so much experience and felt beautiful pieces yourself!
I just found your wonderful video, followed it to the minute, and was delighted with the attention you gave to each detail...which, in turn, gave me a wonderful vessel to start with. I am delighted and am anxious to start another one with some nicer wools and see what I can accomplish. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES.
Thanks so much for the lovely feedback Alicia. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the video and were able to make a lovely vessel!
Thank you for this wonderful video! It is my first time felting a 3D vessel and this tutorial is perfect.
You are so welcome, I'm SO glad you found it helpful!
非常感谢您耐心的教程
What a fantastic and informative tutorial! I’m hooked-thank you!!!
You are so welcome! Enjoy!!
Nicola you are the best.🎉
Thanks so much!
Nicola you are an absolute star!!! I thoroughly enjoyed your long tutorial - so detailed! I can’t wait to order some wool! ❤
Have fun!
That was delightful! Thank you so much. I have lots of fiber, but only started wet felting yesterday. I long to make a bowl like this one, so hopefully this week I'll begin. Your video is so very helpful.
You're very welcome! Have fun learning to felt, it's such a wonderful technique that you will be hooked almost instantly.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us so generously! I enjoyed the long and detailed video very much and can apply many of the things you explained in my future projects.
You are so welcome!
Wow!
Thanks for such an in-depth tutorial. Love the shape and colours.
You're very welcome!
Wow, thank you sooo much for this video. I have never felted before, or done any fibre art. I followed your incredibly clear and detailed video and created a beautiful small vessel. I'm hooked!
Glad I could help Cher! If you are on Facebook, why not share a photo with my public group? We would love to see! Here is a link - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
Programa de excelencia , muchas gracias desde Argentina
Greetings from Clasheen!
Nicola, you are amazing! Ive been following you for 2 years and you've exposed our world to this beautiful art. I'm going to give this a try- im sure its harder than you make it look.
Hi Didi, thanks for your lovely comment! Good luck with felting your own vessel and have fun. You have got this!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this awesome tutorial! ~ Karen
My pleasure Karen!
This tutorial is so helpful! You make it clear and easy to follow. I've done needle felting , but I was too intimidated to give wet felting a try. Thank you for your time, I can't wait to try this.
Thank you for the lovely feedback Lori! I am delighted you found it easy to follow. I would love to see how you get on when you try - if you are not already, please join my Facebook group and share your creations if you feel comfortable. Here is the link - facebook.com/groups/nicolabrown
Thank you for including all of the details in your tutorial. It is so helpful to be able to see the entire process. I also often use colors in my work that come from nature as you just can go to wrong with natural beauty.
You are so welcome. I'm glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the lesson it's a wonderful job. I will try to make my own product step by step.
Have a beautiful day
You're very welcome! Best of luck with your own product!
Thank you! First time i am watching your tutorial and it is very relaxing. I learnt a lot.
Glad it was helpful!
I really enjoyed that - thank you. and it's really giving me a nudge to have a try myself; something I've considered for years... I just have to get a few pennies together to get some wool. I'm particularly loved how much you seem to be enjoying yourself there at the end!
Thank you Laure! Enjoy, I must let you know... It is addicting!!
Hola Nicola. He visto tu video casi sin respirar. Me atrapó tu minucioso, bello y honesto trabajo. Gracias desde Argentina 🌺🌼🌷
Gracias de Irlanda!
Hola Nicola. Que hermosa vasija hiciste. Estoy muy entusiasmada con el fieltro y una de las cosas que más me gusta hacer son cuencos o vasijas. Has sido muy clara en tu explicación. Saludos desde Ushuaia
Muchas gracias Violeta, me alegra que te haya gustado el video. ¡Saludos desde Irlanda!
Hi Nicola , thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. I have been following step by step and create a bowl..ish...LOL. all went well in the felting process but I couldn't make the shape wright. It is more like a wavy oval that collapse on itself 🙀I wish I could send you a picture to have your comment on what I have done wrong or if can be saved❤🩹❤❤
Love the colors it looks like you are creating a Beret hat I’m guessing you would use the same concept …quite a workout I must to say…well,presented and beautifully creative…that you for sharing..stay blessed..
Wow thank you Gwen! What a lovely compliment x
I would so love to do this but I'm kind of allergic to wool. I made a knitted then felted large tube that then had holes cut into it and another long tiny tube fed through all the holes for part of my thesis project when I majored in sculpture in University. The whole piece then hung from the ceiling. From knitting for many hours with all that wool it started to affect my lungs. However that was dry wool so I might be able to work with wet wool. I can't actually wear wool as I will break out. This was a really interesting process and made me wish that I had hand felted my college piece. It was sadly done in a hot washing machine cycle lol. Didn't get quite as homogenized as it would had it been done by hand.
Hi Salem, greetings from Ireland and many apologies for my slow reply. How frustrating that you are allergic to wool. It's possible that wet felting wouldn't be a problem for your lungs, but not a certainty. However, some people can work with alpaca or mohair fibre instead and I think don't have issues. It's not as easy to achieve strong sculptural pieces using them but definitely doable!
Thank you so much Nicola. So easy to understand your teaching. I am curious to know how many layers of roving you would use each side for this project?
Many thanks
I use the same number of layers with roving as with batts, it's just that the wool is prepared in a different way in the mill. For larger projects I'll weigh my wool to ensure that I have the same quantity in each layer and on each side of the resist but the number of layers are the same! Does that make sense?
Thanks Nicola for a wonderful tutorial. I am based in Ireland also and was wondering where I could get silk fibres here. I really enjoyed this video and am going to try to make a vessel at some stage.
Great to hear Martina, I hope you had some success with your vessel.
Thank you so much , great tutorial. Do you have a formula for the amount (weight) of wool for different sizes of bowls?
You're welcome for the tutorial and no, I don't have a formula to share about how much fibre to use. However, it's very easy to weigh a dry felt vessel or bag and then just scale up the amount of wool you use and cut out a larger resist based on how much bigger you want to make your piece.
You are an amazing teacher!!
I knew nothing of welt felting and now I almost feel confident enough to try this project. I’m not finished with the video yet but I love everything you’ve done so far I have a question… What is the purpose of the soap? Is it a binder? I guess I could Google it and try to find out, but I was just wondering. Thank you for a wonderful and inspiring lesson.
Hello Fran, greetings from Ireland! Thanks so much for your lovely comment. To answer your question, the soap isn't a binder but does alter the ph level of your felt and helps the wool come together quicker. I'm not a scientist so honestly can't explain it better than that. If you didn't use soap your fibre would feel very scratchy under your hands and would take a lot longer to felt together Towards the end of the process you need to wash all the soap out and any final shrinkage actually happens even quicker. I hope this helps and good luck trying this out. You've got this!!!
Oooh I loved this! I got way too many ideas while watching this.. can you needle felt onto a finished dried piece?
Yes you can!
Thanks Nicola! I have tried to start another one, which I think is going better. I am at the felting part but when I pull the ends of the foam in (with soapy hands) there is still fibre coming up. I have pictures.
I suspect Shelley that you may need to use hotter water and more soap from the sounds of this
What a great video, thank you! As a beginner getting my supplies together, I am curious, if you don’t have “my friend’s grandmothers shower curtain” what fabric could you use for that layer? 😊 Would tulle fabric work? Thank you for your excellent videos!
Hi Sally, many apologies for my slow reply. Personally, I hate using tulle because the fibre sticks to it too easily although other felters don't appeal to have a problem. Mosquito netting, fly screen and any slippery net curtain works really well as a felting net!
Thanks Nicola for a great tutorial! You explain everything so clearly - it's a pleasure to watch the video 😍I have three questions: 1. If you decide to keep the rim so the inside shows, is there a way to felt it as well, or do I have to sew it? 2. You seid you don't have to finish it in one session - what happens if it dries (with the soap)? can you wet it and get back to work or should you leave it in plastic bag so it doesn't dry? 3. Do you have frontal workshops? if so, where can I find info about them? I didn't see any on your site. Tanks so much for all your help ❤
Hi, great questions! I've a free eco printing bootcamp happening from 22 to 24 January so if you'd like to register and learn loads of info and helpful tips here's the link! members.nicolabrown.ie/yt-bootcamp If you've any friends who you thing would enjoy this too please can you share the link with them? Thanks so much.
@@clasheen Just saw your respond. Unfortunatey you wrote "great questions" but didn't answer them... can you please clarify about the 2 questions I asked? Thanks!
Really enjoyed watching your tutorial. Where did the time go!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this tutorial. I took a class from a local yarn store but they didn't go into as much detail as you did. I followed along with you and had very good success. You are an excellent teacher. You covered everything so well and I learned a great deal. I do have a couple of questions: If your vessel dries and your opening is a bit uneven can you cut it and smooth it out with soap and water, or is it a done deal? Also, can you somehow keep everything wet so you can go back to it a day later and finish it off, or is it better to just do it in one go? I would like to join your club, but I don't really know how to do that, so if you can elaborate I would appreciate it. One last question....microns....what would you say is the best range for wet felting vessels? Thank you again Nicola for sharing your vast knowledge. I can't wait to try to do a flat piece of felt. I have ordered supplies and am anxiously waiting for them. I wish you all the best!
Hi Carol, many apologies for my slow reply but hopefully my answers will help you now!
You can go back to your felt at any stage and rework it, just make sure that it is fully wet and soapy for the best results.
You never have to finish a piece in one sitting, in face, leaving your felt moist overnight or even for a few hours can help it come together more quickly when you go back to it. Just keep it in the bubble wrap but if it dries out (I've left a piece for 6 months!) add warm water and soap again when you go back to finish the piece. You will also need to make sure and pull the edges up around the resist/template before you start to work it again because the fibre 'relaxes' when it's left overnight and you don't want to end up with big ridges where both sides meet.
In relation to my club, currently membership is closed but it will reopen for a short while in the middle of the summer. Thanks for you interest! If you subscribe to my newsletter it's the best way of staying up to date with upcoming learning opportunities as well as news about free workshops and regular tips. Here's the link for you. members.nicolabrown.ie/newsletter
Foarte multă muncă si multă răbdare. Dar este foarte frumos!👏
Mulțumesc Diana!
I have completed my bowl and it is dry it holds the shape but is soft! Should it be harder?
Hi Geri, the felt should feel nice and firm to the touch and hold the shape easily although it won't be hard as a rock! If you think it's too soft it's possible that you need to shrink it further. Why don't you leave it for now and if it starts to sag a bit you can re-wet and soap it then continue to felt it more!
Question: after I have folded the ends in, the centre piece tends to lift up and. I am guessing this is because it is the filling and there were no ends to fold in. How can I prevent this?
Hi Shelley, it's probably because I am mentally tired now but I'm not 100% sure what you mean. If you mean when you wrap the tips of the wool shingles around the template over to the other side are you doing this with damp and soapy hands? Do you mean that the template (or resist) is lifting or the fibre that you are positioning the tips onto? I think that I don't quite understand what you mean by 'filling' so if you are happy to get back to me with to let me know I hope to give you a more helpful answer. Also, if you want to let me know the point in the video you are at when doing this folding in of ends that will also be helpful. Thanks!
How do you look after the finished item?
What wool was the batt? Where do you get your supply from for the batts please?
The wool I used was short fibre merino batts (Kap or Cape merino) from Wollknoll in Germany Tricia, they are fantastic. www.wollknoll.eu/shop
@@clasheen thanks Nicola. I’ve had to go with World of Wool since Wolknoll is too expensive with postage.
@@triciaslater4783 Funny Tricia, I just placed a trade order with WOW today too!
What is the name of the water dispenser that you are using please?
It's a ball brause Claire and can be bought from most wet felting suppliers. Sometimes bonsai suppliers sell them too!
@@clasheen Thank you for your reply Nicola😊
Why would my bowl have ridges. I felted three layers on each side and felted it by rubbing it and rolling it. I took the resist out and felted it by rubbing and throwing it. The bowl is not smooth. It has big ribs.
I am new to felting bowls, but watching your video. I noticed you do a lot of agitation with soap, water on top of your bubble wrap and not underneath where the wool is. Can you explain that to me?
Hi Lisa, the bubblewrap protects the fibre so more work on top of it earlier helps the wool combine with the embellishments and there is less rolling to do.
As a teacher, can you leave the first layer and come back another day?
Great question and yes, you can actually stop any felting project and return to it at a later date! I recommend just leaving it lying flat on your table and replacing the top piece of bubble wrap. Usually the fibres will relax after a rest so just make sure to pull them (GENTLY) up around the edge of the resist before you continue to lay out the piece. The worst that will happen if you leave it for weeks rather than a day or two is that the fibre may start to discolour. As soon as you add more soap and hot water however it will return to how it looked before!
@@clasheen thank you so much!
Also, in the final felting, pulling everything in to the middle is adding a lot of excess in the middle. Suggestions?
Hi Shelley, it sounds as if you might be using too much fibre and not being gentle enough when you are wetting out, soaping and pulling the wool up around the edge of the template early on. It’s very delicate and if you don’t ensure that each individual layer has this attention from the beginning I suspect that the fibre is slipping off the template to quite a degree, then you’re turning your vessel over and have loads to ‘pull’ up on the other side. Please check that you only have the very tips of each shingle to pull over AND that you don’t lay the body of your fibre over the edge as you lay out the layers. By this I mean that each layer should be laid out up to the edge of the template, not over, after you have laid out the radiating fibres. The only fibres that I aim to have going over the edge are the tips of the radiating wool, not any of the main layout. Once the main layout is wet and soaped some will go over the edge anyway and that’s ok. However, if you lay too much from the main side over the edge before you wet it out that will mean more and more to pull up on the other side and I suspect this might have happened to you. Why not just start again and work on a new vessel one stage at a time, following the video. Take your time (it’s not a race) and use what I say as a guide here, see if that helps. You can felt over the course of several days and enjoy the process, just cover your piece with bubble wrap overnight and it will come to no harm at all! Also, if the middle is building up that is a sure sign that you are pulling far too much fibre over your resist. Usually the place to watch out is the edge where both sides meet as that can build up but if the centre is, that’s another indication that your fibres are coming over the template too far. Think a maximum of 2cms or half an inch and I think you’ll have a successful outcome. Good luck!
The edges are not being rub ad much. , and look slightly raise. I am guiding you are right
Thanks for sharing. I have loved the look but not appreciated the craft involved.
You are so welcome Erika!
Thank you!
You’re very welcome Janet!
Hi Nicola , thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. I have been following step by step and create a bowl..ish...LOL. all went well in the felting process but I couldn't make the shape wright. It is more like a wavy oval that collapse on itself 🙀I wish I could send you a picture to have your comment on what I have done wrong or if can be saved❤🩹❤❤
Congratulations on your first piece! Feel free to send me an email with some information and a picture and I'll get back to you as soon as possible - nicolabrowntextiles@gmail.com
Thank you 😍 much appreciated 😍