Instructions
STEP
1:
Get about 5 ounces of wool, I used this nice peacock roving
STEP
2:
Cut out a pattern, or resist, out of cardboard. This is a 'double boot' pattern, so 2 boots can be felted at the same time. I used thin cardboard, also called fiberboard.
STEP
3:
Cut the wool into pieces and layer, first horizontally then vertically, onto your resist. I did 4 layers.
STEP
4:
Cover the whole thing with tulle or window screening. Pour some warm water and dish soap on it, and begin felting! Felting is RUBBING until the wool fibers blend together, making one solid piece of felt.
STEP
5:
When you are happy with the first side, flip the whole thing over, layer wool, and felt the other side. Pay special attention to the edges, or 'seams'.
STEP
6:
When the entire thing is felted (one piece, no loose strings or holes), Cut the 2 boots apart and remove the cardboard resist. Turn the boots inside out, and continue felting with warm water and dish soap. Put your hand inside the boot and felt with your other hand.
STEP
7:
Rinse the boots with HOT water
STEP
8:
Squeeze out the water, and roll the boots, one at a time, in a towel. Roll them up in all different directions, and SLAM the towel down each time. This "hardens" the wool. Do this to each boot several times.
STEP
9:
Now, put the boots on your feet, fill your basin with hot water, stick your feet in, soap up your hands, and felt the boots directly to your feet. This sounds weird, but it is important. Before this step, you will have 'baggy' boots, this step makes the boots more 'form fitting'.
STEP
10:
Rinse the boots, squeeze out the water, and gently stuff with crumpled newspaper and put them somewhere to dry. As a final step, you could add a leather sole, embroidery, feathers, buttons, beads, or whatever floats your boat! I will dress these up a little, another day.