November Musings: How to Make a Wet Felted Crayon Roll
Wet-Felted Crayon Roll Tutorial
A cozy handmade gift for little artists
There’s something so comforting about the process of felting: warm water, working hands, and the slow transformation of loose wool into something solid and lasting. This simple wet-felted crayon roll makes a beautiful handmade gift and requires only a few basic materials. It’s soft, durable, and perfectly sized for a set of beeswax crayons.
You’ll Need:
- Wool roving
- Towels
- A 12" x 8" piece of flexible plastic (like a thin cutting board or placemat)
- Soap
- Warm water
- Bubble wrap (two pieces, larger than your plastic)
- Button
- Cording or elastic loop
- Needle and thread
- (Optional but helpful: a sewing machine for stitching crayon compartments)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare your workspace
Lay down towels to catch the water and soap. Fill a small bowl with warm, soapy water. Place one sheet of bubble wrap on your work surface, and set your plastic cutting board or placemat on top.
2. Begin your first wool layer
Tear—don’t cut—your wool roving into thin wisps. Lay the first layer horizontally across the plastic. Then add a second layer vertically, creating a crisscross of fibers. Be sure the wool overlaps the edges of the plastic slightly so it can wrap around later.
Gently drizzle warm, soapy water over the wool until it’s completely damp. Place your second piece of bubble wrap (bubbles down) on top, and rub in small circles with your hands for a few minutes. The fibers will begin to tangle and bind together.
3. Flip and felt the other side
Carefully flip the whole sandwich over—plastic and all. Fold any loose wool ends neatly around the edges. Repeat your layering: one horizontal, one vertical. Wet, cover with bubble wrap, and rub again.
4. Repeat the layering
Flip and layer again two more times, until you’ve created two layers of wool on each side of the plastic. Keep felting until the fibers start to feel firmly connected and no longer lift easily when you pinch them. On the 2 outer layers, feel free to add wisps of color for design!
5. Roll and shrink
With your felt still sandwiched between the two pieces of bubble wrap, roll everything up tightly inside a towel (like a jelly roll). Roll back and forth firmly for about 30 seconds.
Unroll, rotate the piece 90°, and roll again.
Flip it over and repeat.
Keep rotating and rolling until the wool begins to shrink and tighten snugly around the plastic. This step helps strengthen the felt.
6. Remove the plastic
Once the wool is well felted and firm, use scissors to cut through one side only, right down the center, to remove the piece of plastic. You now have a soft felt “pocket.”
(Optional: rub the inside gently with a piece of bubble wrap and soapy water to help secure any loose fibers.)
7. Rinse and dry
Rinse the felt with clean water, press out the excess, and leave it to dry flat for about 24 hours.
8. Trim and finish edges
Once dry, trim about ½" to 1" from the open edge to neaten it. Use a blanket stitch around the edges to finish and strengthen your piece.
9. Add crayon pockets
Lay out your crayons across the felt to see how many compartments you need. Mark small lines with chalk or pins, then sew straight seams from top to bottom. A sewing machine makes this step quick, but hand-stitching works just as well.
10. Add closure
Roll up your crayon roll to find the best spot for your button. Stitch it securely in place. On the opposite side, sew a loop of cording or elastic for the closure.
11. Fill and admire
Slip in your crayons, roll it up, and fasten the button. You’ve made a beautiful, durable, handmade crayon roll! Perfect for gifting or keeping art supplies organized at home.
A Thoughtful Handmade Gift
This wet-felted crayon roll is a wonderful way to slow down and create something meaningful. Each one is a little different, shaped by hands and only takes up a few hours of your time. Simple materials: wool, water, and care, come together to form a gift that lasts! 🌿
Please share your creations with me! I'd love to see them.
In wonder,
Mae