Felted Earth Globes

A Simple Craft in Natural Fiber

In the Montessori tradition, celebrating a child's birthday is more than just a party—it's a mindful acknowledgment of the child's journey through time. One beautiful way to honor this passage is through the "Birthday Walk." A mat or an Around the Year Playsilk indicating the months or seasons is placed on the floor and a candle is placed in the middle to represent the sun. The child walks around the sun, once for each year of their life, singing a song like, "The Earth goes around the sun, and now you are one," adding a year with each trip around the circle. This tradition is not only a celebration of life but also a gentle introduction to the concepts of time, space, and the solar system.

To make this tradition even more special, you can create your own felted earth globe. Crafting a globe together can be a bonding experience and a sensory delight, engaging children in a hands-on activity that teaches them about the earth in a tactile way.

What You'll Need:

• Wool roving in grey, green, blue & white

• Dish soap

• A bucket of warm water

• Felting needle
  
  

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Creating the Base: Start by rolling and wrapping your wool roving into a large ball. Remember to make the ball about twice the size of your desired finished globe, as the wool will shrink during the felting process. This is an excellent opportunity to teach children about the properties of wool and how it changes with moisture and pressure.

2. Shaping with a Felting Needle: Before you begin the wet felting process, use a felting needle to shape and secure the wool. This step helps to create a solid base and keeps the wool fibers in place. If you're working with younger children, this part should be done by an adult or an older child, as felting needles are sharp

3. The Wet Felting Process: Submerge your wool ball in a bucket of warm water. Hold it underwater until all the air bubbles are released, ensuring the wool is thoroughly soaked. This step can be particularly fun for children as they watch the wool transform in the water. Once your ball is saturated, drizzle a small amount of dish soap over it and start to agitate the ball in your hands. The combination of soap, water, and agitation will cause the wool fibers to lock together—a process known as felting. Continue agitating and shaping the wool into a ball until it begins to hold its shape firmly.

6. Drying Your Globe: To dry your globe, you can leave it in the sun, which adds a natural element to the drying process and can be a great opportunity to talk with your child about the sun's warmth and energy. Alternatively, you can place your globe in a sock and put it in the dryer on a gentle setting. Either method will leave you with a beautiful, tactile representation of the earth.

Happy felting, and may this project bring joy and wonder to your family as you explore the world through your hands and hearts. Creating with natural fibers is a deeply satisfying and enriching experience that connects us to the earth and to each other. As you work with wool and water, remember that the process is just as important as the finished product. Embrace the time spent together, the creativity sparked, and the memories made. 

xoxo,

Sarah and Madlyn