About the Course

This course teaches everything you need to create beautiful wool felt handbags using an innovative Felt Bag on a Ball 3D resist wet felting technique. Join Natasha on this step-by-step video tutorial journey, packed with clear instruction and tips. Suitable for beginners as well as existing feltmakers who want to develop their wet felting skills by learning a new technique.

 

Learn how to:

  • Wet felt with a 3D felting ball resist to create a seamless hollow felt bag form.
  • Work with carded wool fibre and a variety of surface design embellishment materials.
  • Design your own bag completely, from colours and pattern to the final shape.
  • Create felted-in strap tabs and an internal phone pocket.
  • Give your bag a professional finish with a hand-sewn clasp.
  • Make an alternative bag with a flap closure and turn-lock clasp.
  • Make a smaller version of the bag using a smaller size felting ball.

 

The course includes:

  • Online self-paced learning.
  • Clear instructional videos showing every step of the process.
  • Downloadable and printable PDFs on equipment/materials/suppliers plus a quick course reference guide with key measurements.
  • Tips and advice to avoid common mistakes and make your feltmaking a success.
  • Creative community and support via a private Facebook group.
  • Unlimited access to the course.

 

This course is for you if:

  • You’re a feltmaker who has always wanted to learn how to work with a 3D felting ball resist.
  • You’d like to expand your existing wet felting skills to work with different wool fibres and embellishment materials.
  • You’re new to wet felting but you’d love to learn by making a really great end product.
  • You’d like to design and create your own shaped wool felt handbag.
Watch Intro Video

Click here to see the course trailer

FAQs

  • How much does the course cost?

    The course costs £75, which is a one-time payment for instant, unlimited access. You can make payment either by credit card or PayPal.

  • Where can I buy a felting ball?

    If you're based in the US, you can purchase a ball directly from US supplier Living Felt (www.livingfelt.com). If you're in the UK or Europe, you can purchase a ball from my Folksy shop (www.folksy.com/shops/NatashaSmartTextiles). For all other locations, please choose whichever is likely to be easiest/quickest delivery for you (I deliver the balls worldwide apart from to the US).

  • Which felting ball do I need?

    The felting ball used for the majority of the course is the original purple 'Big Bertha' Living Felt felting ball, so this is the one you require to complete the course. However in March 2022 Living Felt also introduced a new smaller green 'Little B' felting ball. This ball is used only in the Lesson 9 Bonus Small Bag tutorial, so is optional.

  • Can I use any wool fibre to make the bag?

    Yes and No. You can use any breed of sheep wool fibre but it is essential for the felting on a ball process to work that you use your main wool fibre in carded batt or sliver form (rather than tops or roving). However, you can use a small amount of wool fibres in any form (including tops or roving) as part of the surface design embellishment for your bag.

  • Do I need any other specialist equipment?

    Not specialist but repurposed! You'll need tights/pantyhose and a couple of plastic washing-up bowls or similar.

  • How long is the course?

    The course is divided into 31 separate videos, each ranging in length from 5 to 25 minutes. Total video instruction time is just over 8 hours. You can watch at your own pace and repeat or revisit videos as much as you like.

  • How long will it take to make a bag?

    It varies, but you will need at least 7 hours or one day to wet felt your bag. However you can split this into stages, so you can make your bag over several days if you prefer.

Course Curriculum

  • 1

    Lesson 1 Introduction

    • Welcome and Introduction to the Course

    • Felt Bag on a Ball Handout 1 - Equipment, Materials and Stockists

    • Felt Bag on a Ball Handout 2 - Course Reference Guide and Measurements
  • 2

    Lesson 2 Getting Started

    • 1 Preparing the Felting Ball

    • 2 Assembling and Preparing Your Equipment

    • 3 Choosing and Preparing Your Materials
  • 3

    Lesson 3 Creating Your Bag Design

    • Layout 1 Adding Your Design

    • Layout 2 Adding Wool Fibre

    • Layout 3 Adding Side Tabs

    • Layout 4 Adding a Pocket

    • Preparing to Felt
  • 4

    Lesson 4 Felting Your Bag

    • Felting 1 Rubbing and Pushing the Ball

    • Felting 2 Bouncing the Ball

    • Felting 3 Removing the Ball

    • Fulling 1 Throwing and Shaping

    • Fulling 2 Rinsing and Final Shaping
  • 5

    Lesson 5 Finishing Your Bag

    • The Finished Bag

    • Adding a Clasp

    • Adding a Strap
  • 6

    Lesson 6 Alternate Bag Version

    • Alternate Bag 1 Nuno Design Layout

    • Alternate Bag 2 Art Batt Design Layout

    • Alternate Bag 3 Fulling and Shaping

    • Alternate Bag 4 The Finished Bag
  • 7

    Lesson 7 Final Thoughts

    • Final Thoughts and Next Steps
  • 8

    Lesson 8 Bonus Flap Closure Bag

    • Flap Bag 1 Design Layout

    • Flap Bag 2 Flap and Fibre Layout

    • Flap Bag 3 Felting and Fulling

    • Flap Bag 4 Finishing the Bag
  • 9

    Lesson 9 Bonus Small Bag

    • Felt Bag on a Ball Handout 3 - Lesson 9 Bonus Small Bag Reference Guide

    • Small Bag 1 Introduction, Equipment and Materials

    • Small Bag 2 Yarn Design and Tab Layout

    • Small Bag 3 Flap and Pocket Layout

    • Small Bag 4 Pushing and Rubbing

    • Small Bag 5 Fulling and Finishing

Meet Your Teacher

Natasha Smart

Hello, I’m Natasha Smart, I’m a wet felting artist, teacher and author based on the UK south coast in Devon. I’ve been wet felting for over 15 years and running in-person felting workshops for the last 12. My passion is for creating structural and practical wool felted products, like bags, bowls and lampshades, embellished with my signature seascape-inspired textural patterns. I've developed much of my work using an innovative 3D ball resist felting method, which I regularly teach on my workshops, and in April 2021 I launched my first online course 'Felt Bag on a Ball' using this technique. I love creating new wet felted designs and sharing my felting skills and knowledge with others to help them create beautiful felt items too. To this end, in April 2022 my first book 'Wet Felting' was published by The Crowood Press. I also enjoy developing my own wet felting skills and have been a member of the International Feltmakers Association since 2008.