Introduction: Wet Felted Tiny Top Hat
Sculpt your own tiny hat out of wool! This wet felted mini top hat is a great beginner project for those interested in wet felting.
Supplies
- 0.5-1 oz of Wool Fiber
- Frosting Container – Wash out a standard 16oz frosting container to use as the hat form
- Resist Material (this can be any flexible non-porous material. I personally like to use the Amazon packing material for this as well)
- Resist Template
- Ribbon, optional
- Alligator Clip, optional
- Headband, optional
- Glue Gun
Wet Felting Supplies You'll Also Need
- Bubble Wrap
- Tulle or Mesh Fabric
- Olive Oil Soap
- Pool Noodle
- Towel
- Ball Brause, optional
- Wooden Dowel, optional
- Palm Washboard, optional
Step 1: Download Resist Pattern and Cut Resist
Download and print the free pattern to make the resist (be sure to print it out full sized without margins).
Use the pattern to cut your resist material (I like to use the plastic Amazon packaging).
(The resist is used to start shaping the wet felted item, as well as prevent the sides from sticking together)
Step 2: Watch Video
If you prefer video, you can watch the steps
Step 3: Place Your First Fiber Layer
Pull off small amounts of wool and lay them in one direction on top of the resist. Overlap the ends of the wool and make sure the wisps hang off the side a bit.
Step 4: Add Second Layer
Lay down another layer of wool, perpendicular to the first.
Step 5: Wet It
Cover the wool with the mesh fabric and wet it with water mixed with olive oil soap. Gently press the water into the wool.
Step 6: Flip
Flip it over and go around the edge and fold over the wisps.
Step 7: Add Layer of Wool
Repeat the process on this side. Again, two layers of wool in opposite directions.
Step 8: Repeaat
Cover it with the mesh and wet it again. Repeat the process of flipping it over and tucking in the wisps. Then repeat it all over again so that there are 4 layers of wool in total on each side. Try not to add too much to the edges for these or they will be thicker than the rest.
Then gently rub across the top for a few minutes to create a skin to the top layer of wool.
Step 9: Roll
Place the pool noodle to one side of the bubble wrap and roll it all around the noodle. Roll the towel around everything.
Roll it evenly 100 times. More tips for rolling can be found in my ultimate guide to wet felting.
Unroll it and then roll it up again from the bottom. Repeat this from each side. Then flip it the hat over and repeat the rolling process again from all 4 sides.
Step 10: Roll on Just the Pool Noodle
After rolling, the wet felted hat should pass the pinch test (which is when all the fibers come up at once if you pinch it). Then you can be more aggressive and roll around just the pool noodle.
Step 11: Cut Out the Resist
Once you can feel it shrinking down and can feel the resist is now too small, remove the resist by cutting the bottom.
Step 12: Rub the Inside
Rub the inside of the hat with soapy hands to make a skin.
Step 13: Shrink It
Full (shrink) the hat however you would like, such as rolling the wet felted hat on a wooden dowel, evenly from all sides.
Step 14: Trim the Brim
When the hat has shrunk a good amount, pull it over the frosting container hat form and trim the brim.
Step 15: Rub
Rub all around the hat form to shape the hat and rub the brim so there isn't a rough edge. I find using a palm washboard really helps finish it off, especially the top.
Step 16: Soak
Rinse it and then soak it in water with a splash of vinegar.
Step 17: Dry on the Form
Squeeze out the excess water or run it through a spin dryer.
Then pull it over the hat form and let it dry completely.
Step 18: Attach Accessories
This is now when you can add a ribbon around it or attach an alligator clip with a glue gun. You could also attach a headband instead.
Then your mini top hat is ready to wear!