I Was A Felt Ball Tragic

All the way from Adelaide (via a Kiwi!!!!) we have a technique I am very curious to try out. I can't believe its this simple. Thank you very much to Maude Bath and brilliant photography by Malcolm Downes

I Was A Felt Ball Tragic

I was always known as the ball tragic in my felting group. Everyone else could effortlessly turn out beautiful hand-made, smooth felt balls.

Not me.

For me they were lumpy misshapen things resembling a sheep’s brains as much as anything. Definitely not something to be proud of, or to use in felt jewellery. I was the butt of many jokes. I had to plead with other members to make balls for me.

Last October all that changed for me.

I attended the 11^th Southern Hemisphere Convergence in Bunbury.

As we have for several previous Convergences, the SA Felters did a workshop called 'Felt Jewellery for Beginners'. As usual, I was relegated to teaching rat tails, coils and licorice all sorts.

I was busy explaining to the group why I was demonstrating these aspects, and that I was a ball tragic, when a voice from the end of the table piped up,

'Why don't you make them in a jar?'

'In a jar??', I asked.

'Yes,' she answered, 'we all make them in a jar in N.Z. It's really easy. You can't go wrong.'

I looked at her in disbelief.

So, the student became the teacher. This angel got up, found a Tupperware container, some fluff and a bit of yarn for fun, and proceeded to turn out ball after ball.

Look Maude, no hands!

I imagined this must have been a very closely kept secret in New Zealand until my innocent saviour let the cat out of the bag. A bit like the Chinese with silk, eventually the truth leaks out. So, now I'm going to tell the world – sorry NZ.

So how do you do it?

Necessary Equipment

Find a squarish plastic container with an airtight lid. A Kinder Surprise plastic capsule or a small glass jar are also perfect. The smaller the container the smaller the ball.

Pull enough fleece in whatever colours you want. Trial and error will teach you exactly how much is right for each container; you need to about half fill it.

If you want to jazz up your ball, add a little bit of yarn to the pile at this stage; or glitz (one of my favourites), or anything else that takes your fancy.

Adding a bit of Jazz

Poke the fleece into the container. You don't have to form it into a ball, just stuff it in.

Serious Poking

Half fill the container with water. Add a minuscule amount of soap if you want; it works without any, but I think it takes a smidgen longer

Smidgen of water

Put the lid on tightly and then shake.

Shake the container in all directions as fast as you can. Make like the Zumba!

Doing the Zumba

In no time at all a ball will form in the container.

Open the container, drain the water out.
Roll your ball in your hand a bit. If it isn't as hard as you want, put it back in the container, add some more water and shake again.

Repeat the shaking and rolling until your ball is perfect (hard and round).

Completed Balls

That's it!

You can then use the balls to make great jewellery, to decorate Xmas trees, or use as buttons or whatever. The main thing is you won't be a ball tragic!

PS you can make cubes too! Just over-stuff your squarish container and you get this....

          Cheers Maude

Photography by Malcolm Downes