Wool that has been felted and wool felt are quite different products. Wool felt is a nylon product as seen in the familiar colorful felt squares available in fabric stores and craft departments often used for crafting projects. Wool felt has a specified amount of wool added in the milling process. Wool that has been felted is made from carded wool, raw fleece, or true wool garments or wool pieces deliberately washed in hot water and dried to shrink and mat the wool fibers closely together. As the scales on the wool swell with the water they become locked tightly together as they rub against one another. A dense fabric is created although much smaller than its original size.

To make your own felted wool place only all wool fabric or an all wool garment that will be used for making the felted wool in your washing machine (one with an agitator, front-loading machines do not agitate the wool sufficiently to felt), fill with hot water, agitate the fabric on the long cycle and set the rinse cycle for cold water. Machine dry for about 30 minutes using the regular heat setting or air dry flat. When dry, if the wool seems not quite felted enough, repeat the cycle one more time however the amount of shrinkage may be only slightly more than before.

Whether sewing by machine or by hand, felted wool is one of the easiest of fabrics to use for crafting as it does not fray or ravel, has enough body to easily take on needed shapes, and has a luxurious depth of feel.

For quick and easy last minute gift ideas consider the following:

Cheery Pillow
Two 14-x-14-inch squares of felted wool
Pearl cotton or embroidery floss
Polyester fiberfill
Felt scraps to make trees, geometric shapes, flowers, animals or scenes
Additional embellishment ideas: sequins attached using clear or coordinating seed beads, iron-on rhinestone transfers (follow manufacturer's instructions for application) or buttons.

Pin and baste your chosen felt scraps onto the felt piece that will be the pillow front. Blanket-stitch around the pieces using contrasting thread colors for a country look. With wrong sides together, pin the pillow front to the pillow back. Use a 3/8 or 1/2 inch seam allowance to hand or machine sew the front to the back, leaving an opening for stuffing. Stuff the pillow with fiberfill and whip stitch the opening closed using very small stitches.

Pillow Variation - pink the edges of the pillow front and pillow back pieces. After embellishing the pillow front piece, place the front to back wrong sides together and hand or machine stitch 3/8 or 1/2 inch from the pinked edges using a contrasting thread color leaving an opening for stuffing. Close the pillow with top stitches following the existing stitching lines for a charming alternate look.

Teen Purse
1 yard (approx) felted wool
Contrasting color pearl cotton or embroidery floss
Thick craft cording or decorative purchased purse handle

Consider the finished size of purse you want to make; using a rectangular or square shape is easiest. Cut the felted wool three times the finished size in length and the exact width of the purse shape. One-third will become the back of the purse, one-third the front, and one-third the flap closure.

To assemble, fold the felt into thirds to create the purse pouch and flap. Leave the flap as is or cut into a slightly rounded shape, v-shape or just straight across and slightly less in size than the purse front. Stitch the purse front and back together (reinforce the outer opening edges slightly at the point where the purse pouch becomes the purse flap by taking a few extra stitches) use a contrasting color thread and apply a simple blanket stitch all around the purse edges. Use the same stitch around the purse flap. Cover the cording with the felt and hand stitch closed. Attach to the purse with several hand stitches or attach a purchased purse handle using the manufacturer instructions. Apply a decorative button or frog-type closure to the flap if desired.

Gift Tags and Ornaments
Using simple cookie cutter shapes as templates, cut two of a snowman, tree, bell or star shape, place the two pieces wrong-sides together then hand-stitch about 1/4 inch in from the edges, using a color contrasted or same color thread as the felt, leaving an opening to insert a little fiberfill stuffing, then continue to sew the now padded shape closed. Embellish as you’d like and attach a gold cord for attaching to a wrapped present or to hang later on the holiday tree.

Felt Baby Booties – Project instructions from Gleason's Fine Woolies.

Penny Rugs
Dating from the 1800s, penny rugs were not really rugs to walk on at all but were made from scraps of wool and used as table runners, to decorate walls, and dresser tops. Originally pennies were used as templates to draw circles (some coins or pennies were quite large then)-- hence "penny" rugs. They are an inspiring example of thrifty folk art. Patti R. Anderson offers complete project instructions for a Christmas Tree Penny Rug.

Sew happy, sew well.

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