Kids Soft Felt Puzzle Using Needle Felting on Dissolving Paper

This is a technique for making a soft puzzle for very small children. It uses dry felting and wet felting technique but does not require rolling like in traditional felting. It uses a dissolving paper as a felting surface and the dryer based artfelt technique.

Supplies

Wool roving
Felting needle
Dissolved paper (artfelt paper)
Sponge or foam felting surface
Dryer
Water
Plastic bag
Towel
Boiling water
Scissors

Step 1: Base Layer

There are several types of dissolving papers you can use. I used Artfelt paper which is actually designed for felting in the dryer so I knew it could withstand as much needling as I might want and not fall apart. I crosshatched layers of wool on both sides of the paper needle felting them in lightly. The goal is to create a nice thick felt so layering 4 or 5 thin layers is necessary.

Step 2: Design Layer

I lay out the design little by little.

Step 3: Wet and Dryer Felt

Place in plastic bag and fully saturate. Seal it up. Roll in towel. Tie the roll securely. Place on the lowest heat dryer setting for 10 minute intervals. Turn the felt 45 degrees each time you take is out and re-roll so that after 40 minutes or four times in the dryer it has been rolled from all 4 directions. This will help it felt more evenly.
If it's a little distorted, you can tug or roll it square. You may do this as many times as it takes to get a dense strong piece of felt. You can see how much it has shrunk in the final picture. It has shrunk several inches in both directions. How much shrinkage you will get will vary based on the types of wool you used. As long as your felt has a come together as one piece with a ripple like surface it should be strong enough to withstand cutting.

Step 4: Rinse With Boiling Water

Artfelt paper only dissolves with boiling water. You must bring water to a boil then pour it over the entire sheet to ensure the paper has dissolved. Then rinse in tap water. I like to gently throw in the sink to make sure its firm felted. Though it's not nesasary with artfet paper. I like like to repeat the rinse process a couple of times to ensure the paper has completely washed out.

Step 5: Refine Details

If you find the color or shapes a little muted you can needle felt some colors or details back in.

Step 6: Cut the Puzzle

Cut the puzzle in to no more than 9 pieces. You want the puzzle to be very simple so do not make any complex cuts. I used gentle curves and cut it into 6 parts.