Back in September, my first year kindergartener came
home with a wet felted ball he dyed at school in celebration of Michaelemas. It
was a shooting star that flew threw the air as he ran. This is what I remember,
anyway. It now dangles in his doorway where little and big hands both give it a
tap upon passing.
I was so enamored with his yellow shooting star that I
decided to do my own version. I kept them natural, using natural wool and added
a little jingle. The stars, roughly 3 inches in diameter, seem the perfect size for little hands. These balls are often the first
choice when in search for something to throw.
This is a project well suited for a range of ages, with
varying results depending upon age, of course. You need some carded wool, a bowl of warm water and a squirt of dish soap. Roll a wad of wool into a tight
(or not so tight) ball, dip in the soapy water and gentle roll between palms
until the fibers start to interlock. Once the ball starts to take shape, more
pressure can be applied. In many ways, this project is about experience — feeling the warm water, feeling the rough wool,
dry and soapy wet, feeling the water slide down your arms. Most likely, in the end, you will have something that resembles a ball.