Learn how to make a Venetian mask with this wet felting tutorial. This is a great beginner wet felting project to learn how to use a mold to shape an object. And of course Venetian masks can technically only be made in Venice, which is why this is a Venetian mask inspired mask. The true Venetian masks of Venice are also referred to as carnival masks for the Venetian carnival.
Pull off thin sections of the wool and lay them in one direction on some bubble wrap. Then place another layer of fibers on top in the opposite direction. Repeat this so there are 4 layers of fiber.Make sure to lay your fibers bigger than the actual finished item. Wool typically shrinks between 20-50% when felted so you have to factor that in. To make it easy, you can use the wet felting shrinkage calculator I made or download the handy cheat sheet.
0.5 oz Wool Fiber
Add the embellishments
Embellishment Fibers
Cover everything with the mesh fabric. Then mix the olive oil soap into some warm water and spray it over everything. I like to use a ball brause for this, but you can also add it with sponge or even by hand.
Carefully press the water into the fiber. The goal is to push water in, but push air out.Then get your hands soapy with the olive oil soap and very gently rub the top of the mesh. Then continue to rub to begin felting the fibers together.
Roll everything around a pool noodle (bubble wrap included). Then wrap a towel around that. Roll it 100 times, giving the log a quarter turn every 25 rolls. Then unwrap everything and roll from the other side. You want to roll from all four sides and then flip the wool over and roll it from all four sides again.
Place the wool fabric over the plastic carnival mask. Cover it in plastic wrap if it's made of porous material.Then get your hands nice and soapy and start rubbing the fabric over the mask.
Once you feel good about the shape, remove the fabric from the plastic carnival mask. Then rinse it under warm until it doesn’t feel soapy anymore. Rinse off the plastic mask as well or wipe the soap off of it.Then soak the fabric into water that has been mixed with a splash of vinegar.
Squeeze out the fabric without rinsing it and then place it over the plastic mask again. Make sure all of the details line up again.
Next use the plastic mask a template to draw the eye holes and outline.
Cut around the outline of the Venetian mask.Then fold the fabric over and cut a slit in one of the eye holes. Make sure not to go past the outline.
Use this hole to put the scissors in so that you can easily cut out the eye holes. Repeat for the other eye.
Mix Aleene’s Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid with a little bit of water to thin it out.
Use a brush to apply the stiffener to the back of the mask.
Place it back on the plastic mask covered in plastic to make sure it hardens to the shape you want.
Cut the ribbon to two pieces measuring 15″ each.Then place some school glue on the top corner of the mask and attach the ribbon. Repeat on the other side.
You can either hold them in place for a few minutes or if you’re impatient like me, use some binder clips or sewing clips.
Let the glue dry and remove the clips.Then your wet felted Venetian mask is complete!