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Wool Alphabet DIY

I saw these felt letters in Copenhagen and fell in love. I really wanted to figure out how to make them. They are really cute and sweet toys. They make a great Christmas gift or would even be cute attached to the outside of a gift. It’s a pretty simple process and the materials are common household items except for the wool roving which can be found online or at most crafting or knitting stores. See the instructions below.

Material Needed: Wool Roving, Bubble Wrap, Soap, Rolling Pin, Scissors, Hot water, Bowl

Step 1: Lay your bubble wrap (bubbles up) and tear small strips of wool roving and place on top of the bubble wrap creating the shape of the letter. Continue to tear and place the felt, layer upon layeruntil it is around two inches high.
Step 2: Dampen your felt pile with warm soapy water and cover the letter with bubble wrap, bubbles facing down (towards the felt) and roll with rolling pin.
Step 3: Open the bubble wrap and using your fingers roll the felt together to create the desired shape – make it compact as it will expand
Step 4: Place the letter in a dish of hot water. Remove the letter from the dish and squeeze out excess water
Step 5: Start rolling the felt together in between your hands or fingers (creating heat and friction)
Step 6: Use the scissors to help shape the letter (cut if one side is longer than the other or if you need the inside of a letter cleared out)
Step 7: Continue dunking your letter in hot water and rolling the letter in your hands (area, by area – ex. Legs of the “A”, inside of the “A” – you need to work each and every part.) Once your letter is the desired shape and tightness – squeeze out any excess water and let it dry. Each letter takes about 20 minutes.

All photography by Heather Zweig for Oh Happy Day
Art Directed by Jordan Ferney
Crafting by Stacy Wichelhaus

  1. Sarah

    December 5, 2012

    so cute! i see so many possibilities for these…!

  2. michele@hellolovelyinc

    December 5, 2012

    i love the project! gonna try it! i have a whole rubbermaid full of roving i want to use, and the thought of spelling out a christmas themed message with the felted wool is perfect.

    hope you’ll stop by when you have a moment, lovely blogger.

    michele
    http://hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com

  3. kristen

    December 5, 2012

    Awesome! Curious, how long would you say it took to complete the entire alphabet?

  4. Olena

    December 5, 2012

    All your projects are so fantastically inspiring, thank you so much. I wonder how you got the letters roughly same size? Did you use about he same amount if wool roving for each letter? 

      • jordan
      • December 5, 2012

      yes!

  5. Laura @ Chaotic Domestic

    December 5, 2012

    These letters are adorable. Also love the little doll with the bowtie!!!

  6. little kitchie

    December 5, 2012

    sooooo cute! love, love, love

  7. Luz B.

    December 5, 2012

    I love this idea! Do you have an estimate on how much roving you used for the whole alphabet?

      • jordan
      • December 5, 2012

      It doesn’t use a ton. One letter’s worth is about the size that could fit in your palm.

  8. Laura

    December 5, 2012

    what a fantastic idea and this could be perfect for being a home with the kids. Your blog is so lovely to just pop in and out of, getting ideas and inspiration.

    Laura x

    http://www.coffeetoastandlondon.com

  9. Mabel and Zora

    December 5, 2012

    Cute project!

  10. Elena @ Randomly Happy

    December 5, 2012

    This is completely amazing. I’ve wanted to try needle felting for ages, but this looks so much more straight-forward (and less use of quite-frankly scary pins).

    You never cease to amaze me with your ace ideas!

    x Elena @ Randomly Happy

  11. Tania

    December 5, 2012

    Hi Jordan, love love love your site and welcome back to SF from a fellow City dweller! Do you think these letters would unravel if a baby chews on them or if they are washed (by hand)? My daughter will be almost 11 months by Christmas and I think the letters of her name in bright colors would be such an adorable stocking stuffer but she’s still at the stage where every toy (and anything else she can get her hands on!) goes into her mouth so just trying to figure out if perhaps I should wait on these.

  12. Heather

    December 5, 2012

    Such a great DIY! How long did it take to complete?

  13. Melissa

    December 5, 2012

    I heart your site! so many awesome idea. I just need more time to do them all 🙂 I shall try this one to decorate the office. Thanks!

  14. Marielle

    December 5, 2012

    This is the cutest! Love the happy colours as well 🙂

  15. Featheringtodo

    December 6, 2012

    Nice! I’m teaching first grade and am always looking for playful ways to work with letters and words. The kids will love experimenting with these soft and colorful letters! Thnx for posting!

  16. Stefanie

    December 6, 2012

    These are beautiful. I wonder if you wouldn’t be able to make them using needle felting as well? It might be a little less labor intensive.

  17. Emma at The Marion House Book

    December 6, 2012

    I just made my first felt bowl the other week and loved the process – the rolling, the smell of the wet wool, and the final shaping. Definitely going to give these a try in the new year.

  18. Liz

    December 6, 2012

    I love these so much. I think a nice touch would be to add little magnets on the back and stick them on the refrigerator. I am going to give it a try! Love all your great ideas Jordan. Keep it up!

  19. Theresa

    December 7, 2012

    Beautiful! What a sweet little alphabet set! What a great gift for the holidays, too!

    Theresa
    http://bomamma.blogspot.com

  20. Lejla

    December 7, 2012

    Lovely idea.

  21. Jill

    December 8, 2012

    I am constantly impressed by your style/aethetic and your hand-made ideas. I love this!

  22. Christian

    December 10, 2012

    where did you buy the wool roving? and are the letters hard once complete?

    Thank you. brilliant idea thanks for sharing

  23. fräuleinwunder

    December 13, 2012

    wow, what a lovley project. i love it

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