Implementing Illusions: Felting a Marvelous Vest Step by Step

The illusion is a perception of reality, and it can be implemented with the help of very ordinary things. For example, felt allows realizing the most unusual ideas. And here is a proof: today I reveal a little secret how to make a light tunic without a single seam or grommet.

Materials and tools:

• about 160 g of Australian Merino wool in a combed wool tape
• 10-15 g of fibre viscose fluff
  The detailed material consumption is at the end of the tutorial. The pattern is downloaded above. If you want to print a pattern, set Actual size.

Cut out the pattern from a bright film of the desired size (I made size S), a detail of a shirtfront and some 3-4 cm blocker strips.

Mark out the backline.

Lay out fibres of viscose on the template of the back, then gently wet them with warm water to prevent flying. Fibers of viscose give shine and extra strength to a felted fabric.

Prepare decorative elements of the lacing, dividing ley into three-four parts. The length depends on the template — apply them to it in advance.

Wet every detail and roll on a ribbed surface, trying to get a thin tape. I use a piece of reinforced film for greenhouses. The tips are left untouched and fluffed.

Gently lay out the tapes:

Place two blocker strips along the backline:

Put two strips of wool along the neckline 1-2 cm longer than the blocker strips:

Lay out strands of wool in one layer diagonally; gently separate the thin strands; each next row is perpendicular to the previous one and overlaps it at 2/3. The thinner the layers, the softer the cloth. Allowances for folding are 2-3 cm longer at the sides and along the shoulder seam.

Wet with warm soapy water and gently rub through a mesh, until the fibres mix together. Allowances are left untouched.

Remove the mesh and, with gentle circular motions, make smooth the edges at the bottom, the armhole and the open seam in the middle of the blockers.

Turn over the blank and slightly rub the joints between the strips:

Now lay out viscose clouds and fold the allowances.

Mark the decor on the right side and put a layer of wool of a lighter shade. Wet and rub the fiber leaving the edges of the shirtfront dry.

Place a blocker film over the shirtfront and felt strips, from bottom to top.

Similarly, place two blocker strips:

Wet, rub, bend allowances to the back:

Pay special attention to the fold, rub it in a plane, carefully avoid folds and creases.

Shrinkage happens very quickly, so once the vest becomes tight, remove the template and continue the intensive process of felting.

Pay special attention to decorative elements; checking them from time to time not allowing to interlock.

Felt the vest for the first fitting, roll and knead it like dough. Monitor the size.

Correct deficiencies found after the first fitting and leave the vest until the next day to dry completely. Such felt comes out soft, flexible and plastic, and the decorative elements keep their shape very well.

Here is a help table for craftsmen to learn an approximate consumption of wool for this tunic.

Late autumn is a perfect time for a walk in your favourite park:

This tutorial is made in memory of Luba Voronina. Crow's Nest expresses gratitude for assistance to Glotova Marina (a perfect execution of ideas) and Smirnova Ludmila (our lovely model).