a rustic gray bag made of felted wool, with a wooden stick button and leather strap.

What is Wet Felting?

Wet felting with wool is a beginner-friendly fiber art project that yields exciting, functional results! Wet felting is the process of creating felt using wool, water, soap, and friction. Felt is one of the world’s oldest known textiles. It requires no tools to make, besides the hands. It’s such a simple craft, but can be executed in an infinite number of ways. Wet felting can produce flat sheets of cloth, or three dimensional shapes of any kind, and everything in between.

Highlighting Louisiana Wool

For this project I used some beautiful Louisiana grown Romney wool. Romney is a breed of sheep known for producing a lot of strong, lustrous, versatile wool. I love working with Romney wool for just about any project. My friend at Marsh Mellow Meadows raises the sheep that produce this wool, and you can purchase it from her ebay store. I also sell it as part of my “Lousiana Spinning Fibers Sample Box.” Louisiana fiber farmers are few and far between, so it’s great to support them when we can. This will help preserve our fibershed for the future.

Wet Felting is Easy!

Wet felting a rustic bag is a great beginner project! There are a few tips and techniques to keep in mind to make sure your bag is strong and useable. I’ll walk you through all the steps you need to know.
This project will take about 60-90 minutes, plus drying time, which could take anywhere from 1-3 days, depending on the temperature and humidity level of your home.

Materials Needed

Wool Batt, Combed Top, or Roving: Buy roving here to support a Louisiana fiber farmer. You will need about 3 ounces, but I recommend buying 4 ounces just in case.
Small Bubble Wrap: To provide a non-slip surface while felting.
Soap and Warm Water: Any kind of soap or detergent is fine. I use dish soap.
Plastic shopping bag or trash bag: To cover the felt while you are rubbing and compressing it.
Bamboo mat: For rolling and compressing the felt.
Styrofoam Mold: Out of a block of Styrofoam, cut out a block that is about 5″x6″ and 1″ thick. Tip: you can tape small pieces together if you don’t have one big piece. When you’re done, wrap the entire block of Styrofoam in packing tape.
Scissors: For cutting any excess fibers.

Preparing Your Workspace

Set Up Your Area: Wet Felting is very wet. You will need some kind of waterproof work surface that is larger than your project. This could be a kitchen counter, an outdoor table, or a large rimmed baking tray on a table. Set up your area in a space where you can work comfortably for 30-60 minutes. I find it most comfortable to stand at my kitchen counter, but wet felting can also be done while seated. Keep a couple towels handy to wipe up spills.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Wet Felting the Rustic Wool Bag

Lay Out the Wool Fibers: Pull out thin tufts of wool and lay out on the bubble wrap, with the wool going in one direction. You want to create a shape that is about 30% larger on all sides than a regular sheet of printer paper. I put a sheet of paper under my bubble wrap as a guide. Once you have a layer put down, add a second layer with wool going perpendicular to the first layer of wool. This will create a stronger felt than if you only laid the wool going in one direction.

hands carefully placing a tuft of wool onto a layer of wool, in order to create felt

Add Water and Soap: Gently wet the wool with hot tap water. A watering can is the perfect tool for adding water, but a cup or pitcher will also work. Try to add the water gently so you don’t disturb your wool. After the water, add a squirt of soap. If you’re using bar soap, work up a generous lather onto your hands and then drip the lather onto the wool.

hands dribbling hot water onto a layer of wool, in order to create felt

Start the Felting Process: Cover the soapy, wet wool with a plastic shopping bag or trash bag. If the shopping bag has a logo printed on it, turn the bag inside out first to avoid ink transfer. Smear some soap onto your hands and begin rubbing and pressing the wool fibers together in a circular or back and forth motion. Use gentle pressure. Avoid moving the wool, but use enough pressure to compact it.

hands rubbing a layer of thin plastic covering a layer of wool, with soap and water all over it, in order to create felt

This part takes the longest. Keep rubbing the wool and plastic bag all over until you can see that the wool is matting together. Keep the edges a little bit thin and wispy. Tip: pinch the wool with your fingers to test it: if you can pull the wool apart, it needs more felting.
Once your felt is looking solid, place the Styrofoam form onto the felt and fold over the sides and bottom of the bag, as shown. Add some layers of dry wool, water, and soap, to cover the thin areas where you joined the edges. Cover with the bag or bubble wrap and rub, rub, rub.

using a styrofoam form to shape wet felt into a rustic bag

Continue to rub and press the bag all over, manipulating it into the shape you want, smoothing the edges, and checking and reinforcing any thin spots with more wool. Tip: once your bag is relatively sturdy, you can carefully hold it up to the light to easily check for thin spots that need reinforcing.

hands adding a few tufts of wool onto a wet felted bag, in order to reinforce thing spots

Roll the Wool: Take out the Styrofoam form and set it aside. Use a bamboo mat, rolling pin, or pool noodle to roll the wool back and forth. Roll it up vertically, then unroll and roll it up horizontally. Roll roll roll. This adds more pressure and compacts the felt from all directions, making it even stronger.

hands using a bamboo mat to roll wet felt in order to compress and strengthen it

Finessing the Shape: Unroll the bag and re-shape with your hands. Double check that everything is strong and sturdy.

Rinse and Shape: Rinse the bag thoroughly to remove soap, then insert the Styrofoam form and re-shape with your hands.

hands inserting a styrofoam form into a wet felted bag, to create shape while the bag dries

Drying and Finishing: Lay the bag (with the form inside it) out to dry in a warm place with good ventilation.

Incorporate a Strap: When your bag is dry, you can add a strap. Use a 3/4″ wide piece of leather to cut a strap that fits you. Measure the length you need, and add 8″ for tying knots. Cut small slits, about 1/4″ wide, into the sides of the bag, about 1″ from the top. Thread one end of the leather strap through the slit to the outside of the bag. Tie the end of the strap into a simple knot to prevent it from going through the slit. Repeat on the other side of the bag with the other end of the strap. Tip: if you don’t have a leather strap, you could use a piece of cotton clothesline or a similar rope. Just be sure not to cut the slits too big if you use a different strap material.

adding a simple leather strap onto the wet felted bag

Add a Button and Buttonhole:

You can use whatever button you’d like, but if you want to make a rustic driftwood button like mine, follow these instructions:
- Whittle/cut an attractive stick into the size you need for your button. I used a piece of smooth driftwood and just had to cut it shorter, and sand the cut end.
- Using a tiny drill bit, drill two holes into the stick so you can thread your button.
- Rub the stick button with linseed oil to protect the wood and deepen the color.
- Sew the button onto your bag, and carefully cut a slit in the flap to create a buttonhole. Don’t cut the slit too big!

sewing a wooden button onto the wet felted bag

How to Maintain Your Bag

Wool is naturally good at repelling dirt, but if you need to wash it, you can.

First, remove the strap and the button.

Next, soak the bag in cool water with a bit of wool wash.
Avoid rubbing or wringing out the bag. You can very gently squeeze it to help it absorb the water. But for the most part, just let it soak and let the soap do its job.
Rinse out the soap gently.
Roll the bag in a towel and squeeze gently to remove excess water.
Re-shape the bag by inserting the Styrofoam form and shaping with your hands. If you don’t have the form, stuff the bag with something similar.
Set the bag out to dry.
Once dry, reattach the strap and button.

a woman wearing a woven plaid shawl, and a finished wet felted rustic bag with a leather strap

Wet Felting is the Perfect Canvas for Your Creativity

This rustic, neutral wool bag is perfect for what I was envisioning, but maybe you’d like something more colorful. You can use dyed wool and other animal fibers (mohair, angora, silk, etc.) to create your own unique designs full of the colors and textures you love. Experiment with new shapes, sizes, and projects. The possibilities are limitless! Check out my fiber shop for my hand blended, homegrown, and naturally dyed fibers and blends. Using my products supports my homestead, and the Acadiana Fibershed. Thank you for your support, and happy felting!

Check out the video I made of this process for more step by step guidance: