How To Make Felt Slippers

I recently taught Sue how to make a pair of felt slippers from merino wool and hand spun silk. Sue filmed the making of the slippers in order to watch the process again for her own slipper making fun. She very kindly made me a copy of the film so that I could share it with other slipper making enthusiasts!

Here is the video and a list of equipment you will need if you want to make a pair of slippers.

• Merino Wool – around 200g and other fibres for decoration
• Bubblewrap – you will need three pieces – 50cm x 50cm
• Scissors
• Paper and Pen
• Warm water and a bottle or plant spray – you can buy the spray bulbs seen in the film from www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk for around £8
• Washing up liquid, Olive Soap or soap flakes – I use Ecover washing up liquid which I find easier to use
• Sink, bowl, draining board, washboard (the washboard in the video has made the felting so much quicker. This one that Sue has is from www.carbolicsoap.com and I thoroughly recommend it)

Keyhaven Colours

Keyhaven Colours

Originally uploaded by Ray_chel.

I have begun a new body of work focusing on Keyhaven. Keyhaven is situated on Hampshire’s south coast on the outskirts of the New Forest. It is a really beautiful area, quite marshy and green. The waters are part of the Solent and is quite popular with sailors going in between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. Most of the times I have been it has been very windy and I haven’t seen anyone out on a boat! I am interested in capturing the colours which are stunning shades of greens, oranges, greys and blues. I am using different materials in my work including knitting wool and different plant fibres. The temptation to leave a piece of work (without stitching into it and hiding all the felt) is slowing decreasing and I have been quite pleased with the results of my felt sketches.