The Process of Felting

There are many kinds of felting using fiber.  There is needle-felting; the process of using barbed needles to mat unspun wool into a fabric.  There is wet felting, the process of agitating unspun wool using soap and water to create a fabric.  The kind I am using here is just referred to as "felting" or sometimes "boiled wool".  You can knit or crochet using this method - the hats I have here are crocheted.  I crochet an amusingly huge hat, throw it in the washing machine, and basically shrink it on purpose.  Have you ever shrunk your favorite sweater so that only your three year old could fit into it?  You were actually felting it.  Felting a hat creates a dense, warm fabric that's fun to wear.  It's usually impossible even to see the individual stitches in a felted piece.  In order for the hat to shrink, the yarn used has to be a natural fiber.  These are made with either 100% wool or a 85% wool / 15% mohair blend. 

Fun Kids Hats

Any hat can be made in a variety of sizes -
this one would be a great party hat for a small girl!

All work is handmade by Marissa Aaron.  The patterns remain the property of their original owners.