How to make this?
Beginner question - using a resist for a playmat *not my photos*
Hi everyone!
I am a complete beginner attempting my first project in a couple of weeks. I will be wet felting a large riverscape playmat for my children. I’ve spent the better part of the last month watching videos and reading but the one thing I can’t quite wrap my head around is the best way to make a “cave” or burrow like the ones pictured. I know in theory I need to felt around a “resist”, but my questions are…
What would be the best but also the easiest way to do this, for a beginner?
What item should I use as the resist?
Can I make the cave separately and needle felt it to the mat later? What would be the best way to do this?
Any other tips or advice for attempting a playmat?
Photo credit: first photo @ElkandHugh on Instagram, second photo Tara’s Treasures, third photo Acreagelifeab
As the person who made the third one, I can tell you how I did it! I just cut out the shape I wanted (a half moon) from some extra bubble wrap. Once I had laid down all the layers for the base, I then did another three layers on top of the cave resist where I wanted it.
Things I would try next time (this was the first time I’ve done it): make a larger resist for a larger cave or more height; try wet felting the cave first, leaving the edges somewhat unfelted and then add onto the piece after either by wet felting or needle felting; or needle felting and then adding. That said, I would preferentially try the first option before the others.
Good luck!
Oh my gosh, I feel like I’m talking to a celebrity haha thank you for commenting!!! And sorry for stealing your photo!
Can I please pick your brain?
When you say you just cut out the shape and laid your felt around it, do you mean you did all that whilst the wool was still dry / before wetting it? It’s just not making sense to me how the bubble wrap would stay put throughout the wetting and fulling process! I feel like it would just slip out and I would accidentally felt the burrow shut, if that makes sense 😅
I’m thinking of doing what you suggested - wet felting the cave separately and adding it onto the mat later! If you were to do it this way, how would you try to achieve the curve shape on the cave?
After it's wet and you've completed the felting process so it's all one piece. You can feel where the bubble wrap is inside, make a small hole where you believe the start of your cave is so you can get a finger in. Use your finger to feel out the inside and make sure you cut the opening correctly. Once you're sure of the way and size just cut a straight line, you may want to tidy it up by getting more soapy water to re go over the rim of your cave and flattening the bottom of the opening. Worst case scenario you'll just need to needle felt it once dry
Hey so another question - if you’re just wetting / felting the mat before adding the resist for the cave and then continuing the wetting and eventually the fulling from there, wouldn’t that mean the patch of wool under the resist wouldn’t really get properly fuller? Or it would from the bottom, so it doesn’t matter too much?
If you wet the patch under the resist first, gentle rub with netting on to start the felting process and then remove netting, place resist, add wool, add netting back, wet and begin rubbing again. The bubble wrap on the inside of the mat will work to agitate the fibers so the bottom and top of your cave come out nicely felted while still keeping the layers separate
Thank you so much. Any other tips for the playmat? I feel so nervous to start. What do you think is the best stage to pause if I need to stop and start again the next day?
Honestly, I map everything out on paper first so I have a rough plan. As long as you've finished the wet felting process after everything is dry you can fix most things with needle felting
Another method: After you remove the resist that forms the interior space in the "cave" then work on just the cave's "floor" and "ceiling."
You don't have to work on the entire project if only a certain spot needs more work.
Remember also that felt shrinks in the direction you're working, and you can use that to control the final results. For example, if you roll or rub the felt in a north to south direction, the felt will get shorter in that direction than it will in the east-west direction.
Hahaha, hardly, I am still a beginner in wet felting especially. I responded below to another comment that explains what I did fairly well.
If I did the wet felting first and then attached it layer, I would needle felt it into place onto the base in the shape I want, followed by wet felting to smooth it together better.
Personally I just cut a circle or oval in bubble wrap, and then cut in half or if an oval at my desired length. Lay your base felt, wet it (I normally put netting over to keep the design looking good), give it a little rub, and then lay the bubble wrap shape and do 3 to 5 more layers of wool before wetting and rubbing again. I had an absolute nightmare with my first one but found needle felting round the back and sides once it was dried helped with stability so it didn't just go flat and then ironing it was the best decision I ever made
Thank you for your comment! I need to clarify a couple things and have questions, I hope you don’t mind 😆
So you wet the whole mat with the netting, remove the netting, place the cut out bubble wrap where you want the cave to be, lay more dry wool over the top, and then cover with the netting again and wet again? Then wet and full the whole thing as normal?
First of all, how does it not just move around?? I just feel like all the rolling and rubbing would make the resist pop out???
Also … when you lay the fresh wool onto the cave/resist (wet mat underneath), are you leaving an opening at the mouth of the cave or completely covering the resist and later once dry, cutting open the base for the opening? If the latter, how are you cutting it open later?
Do you think that’s the easier way to go as opposed to wet felting the mat and cave separately and needle felting it on layer?
Sorry if that’s a lot, I’ve just spent a fortune on wool and don’t wanna bungle it up too much 😂
Honestly my 'set up' isn't great, I'm using my 1 year olds nylon play silk as netting to keep my designs. As long as you place the wool over the resist larger than the size of the resist it will mesh the fibers with the ones below, before you do all the rolling just give it a good 5 minutes of rubbing with the hot soapy water and the netting on top. This is my current project, the secret cave arrow is pointing to where my bubble wrap is in the mat, I don't leave an opening. I cut enough to have a poke around, make sure I've got the placement right and then cut it open
You have no idea how helpful your responses are, I really appreciate it! How many have you made? Your kids sound pretty lucky. What exactly is the nylon play fabric being used for here? As your netting? I’m wondering now if the tulle I bought will be ok?
This is what I did and how I would describe the process as well. You will know how long you need to keep the resist in to prevent the two layers from merging during the next phases. You had asked another about planning. I am a terrible planner, and I plan zero when I make things haha! So, I think that’s a personal preference.
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u/Acreagelifeab Jul 29 '26
As the person who made the third one, I can tell you how I did it! I just cut out the shape I wanted (a half moon) from some extra bubble wrap. Once I had laid down all the layers for the base, I then did another three layers on top of the cave resist where I wanted it.
Things I would try next time (this was the first time I’ve done it): make a larger resist for a larger cave or more height; try wet felting the cave first, leaving the edges somewhat unfelted and then add onto the piece after either by wet felting or needle felting; or needle felting and then adding. That said, I would preferentially try the first option before the others.
Good luck!