Paper and Felting

In papermaking a dilute suspension of fibers in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibers by pressing and drying to make paper. Paper is made from fiber sources such as wood pulp, plant pulp, and shredded textiles.  During the drying process, flowers, leaves or small confetti can be added.  The papers can also be watermarked or embossed.  Handmade papers often have irregular and wavy edges. 

Felting is the process of making unwoven cloth often called felt or boiled wool, a substance which is used universally today for clothing and accessories, utilitatian items, and artistic expression.  Artists will use their handmade felt in two- and three-dimensional artworks such as wall hangings, sculptures, jewelry or dolls. 

​In felting, raw natural fibers such as wool from Merino sheep and other animal furs are combed and laid down in layers with the fibers in alternating layers running at 90-degree angles to each other.  The resulting mat is soaked and gently agitated in a solution of hot water and soap so that the fibers become knotted and randomly interwoven to form a solid mat of material.  The felt can then be fulled or thickened and strengthened by roughly agitating the fabric on a coarsely ridged surface such as a washing board to encourage further tightening of the knotted fibers. A felting needle with barbs can be used to snag and intertwine filaments when forced through layers of loose fiber. Artisans may work wet or dry or combine the processes until they achieve their desired effect. One fun “fulling” technique involves knitting, crocheting, or weaving wool yarn into a large cloth and then washing it in hot water and soap in a washing machine until the fibers have matted together and the cloth has shrunk into a thickened piece of felt.