The Lazy Girl's Guide to Felting Rocks : A Tutorial

I love felt and I love stones, so it will come as no surprise that I really love felted stones. I have been making them for years now but sometimes I really want the end result without all that energy and time expenditure. In the past there are times when i have literally rubbed the skin right off my hands in felting stones. My skin really can't take the beating it used to so I have devised the lazy girl's ( who loves the skin on her hands too much)
guide to felting rocks.
To get started you will need some small smooth rocks to felt. For the sake of this tutorial I used a bag on smooth stones purchased from the dollar store but I have seen similar stones at Michael's or most craft shops. you will also need some wool fleece or roving , hot water and liquid soap , an old pair of stockings or nylons and some string. You will need to have access to a washing machine.
I used to pay a great deal of attention to the soap I used for felting but in reality it doesn't really make a difference. I use what ever liquid soap I find at the sink now. Take a large bowl or fill the sink with hot soapy water. Take one of your stones and wrap it with wool fleece making sure to cover all directions of the stone. I usually make about 3 or 4 layers.

Now wet the stone in the hot , soapy water.

Gently rub the stone in your hand for a few minutes until it seems wet , soapy and smooth .

Don't rinse it but place it aside for later and start on another stone. When you have covered as many stones as you want you are ready for the next step . You will need to find that old pair of stocking or nylons and some string or yarn for this step.

Starting with the toe of a stocking place a fleece covered rock snugly in the stocking and tie with a string in order to separate the stones so they don't felt together.

No I don't wear fish net stockings , these are from on of my daughter's dance costumes. Now place this rock filled stocking in your washing machine , put the setting on hot , and low water level and start the wash cycle. i have done this many times and have never damaged my machine. I wouldn't recommend you try to felt boulders this way. When the cycle is done remove the stocking . You can hang it to dry just like this or remove the stones first, which ever you prefer. Now you can admire all the beautiful felt stones you made. This batch took about 1 hour up to the point of letting them dry. I bet you never guessed it could be so easy. You can vary the method buy using multicolored fleece or by adding just a thin vein of a contrasting color to make it look like a faux sea stone.

There you have it my first tutorial for the month of september since we are never too old or too busy to learn new things and broaden our crafting repertoire.

a little note : the winner of the giveaway is Celine. When I receive her address I am sending her the little guy with the knitted suit that was hanging on my inspiration board. Thanks to everyone who left a comment , all your kindness was packed up in the box with the little bears for their big adventure.

Comments

[Cami]

Thanks so much for this wonderful tutorial. I've always been intrigued, but a little intimidated, but you've made it look so easy! I can't wait to try it myself :)

[Claudia]

I made a few felt stones and it is interesting to see that we have two different techniques for making them. Nice tutorial!

[Joanna]

Beautiful colours. My felting always falls apert but that makes me wnat to try again!

[Margaret Oomen]

Joanna, maybe you aren't using good quality , quick felting wool. One of my favorites is the ashford merino roving that you can purchase here http://www.achildsdream.com/handwork_supplies/felting_crafts/felting_wool.htm. It makes felting easy, it almost felts itself.

[Rachel]

WOW! What a great tutorial! The pictures of the rocks in a circle are absolutely stunning! I'll be linking to this tutorial today and trying is asap!

[leilalu]

what gorgeous stones. Great tutorial as well!

I have tagged you on my blog, hope you don't mind!

[rebekah]

those colours are absolutely gorgeous. especially the greens!

[Molly]

wowowowow!!! How cool! Earlier this summer I needlefelted some spheres to hang from a couple of driftwood branches from one of our camping trips. Now I'm inspired to finish that project and find some rocks. Might be a good Gustav project if we lose power.

Molly

[jen]

wonderful tutorial! i just returned from a lake shore trip (which i think you saw on flickr)... not only did i pick up lots of little smooth stones, i also brought home a big bag of wool roving! i need to felt some rocks now!

[beccajo]

totally love it.

andy goldsworthy would be proud!

http://bp1.blogger.com/_G1LzgVgrWqk/R2XLpHJ2giI/AAAAAAAAA90/HMP3FGLpEBY/s1600-h/Andy_Goldsworthy3.jpg

[Missus Wookie]

Thank you so much for the tutorial - wondering if this would be a good craft for the kids at Children's Meeting. They'd love getting their hands soapy and choosing the rocks/wool.

Cool idea - thanks!

[Laura]

Oh, thank you so much for this tutorial. My little ones and I can't wait to give this a try. What a great way to use up the pantyhose that has been languishing in my dresser drawer since I started working at home!

[josie]

Oh! I love this idea. Thank you so much for sharing it.

[Maiz]

These are so beautiful... I want to hold one! I just can't stop looking at these and at your crochet covered rocks. What is it about them? Maybe I identify with them because many years ago I was a geologist, and now I'm an artist-mama. Yes, I do feel like I am a little felted rock. Your blog is so wonderful.
-Maiz

[planetjune]

I just found your blog today and wanted to say that your felted stones (and your photography!) are lovely! Gorgeous colours and the mirror is very effective.

[Grace@PoeticHome]

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful tutorial!! I have never felted before, but I LOVE felted rocks, and your encouragement inspires me to try.

I love your blog, perspective, and beautiful work! Your mushrooms are delightful, especially juxtaposed next to the collected ones.

[Hashi]

I think I need some of these ...

[Miss Julie]

Love this idea. I will get my preschoolers to help with this!

[Miss Julie]

Love this idea. I will get my preschoolers to help with this!

[Mrs. Tantrum]

I LOVE THIS IDEA! I am going to try it with my all to big stash of yarn.

I saw in a REALLY EXPENSIVE magazine some felted coushins that looked like rocks. The description said that they were 'felted' I wonder how to do those...Now I am inspired to experiment!

[hannah]

I dont have a washing machine but would dunking them in hot water from the kettle work as well?