The process

Laying out

Using wool tops, usually merino, that has been dyed, I lay out the fibres. I use a minimum of 4 layers of carded fleece

Wetting

The fibres are wet with soapy warm water and smoothed and rubbed until the fibres start to matt together in every direction

Rolling

Then the piece is rolled, this can take up to 1000 rolls, depending on how well the fibres felt

Fulling

This is the stage that the shrinking happens, through throwing, and rinsing in hot and cold water the felt is shrinks around 20%, getting denser and stronger

Shaping and drying

The felt is now dried and ironed ready to be made up