Spring Bunny
Spring is very much here, and although so much about this one feels different from springs past, the magnolias outside are dutifully in full bloom and first tulips are appearing like a dependable friend who always shows up on time.
These sweet little bunnies are a celebration of spring. Soft, fuzzy, and made out of 100% wool, they’re a cute addition to nature tables, baskets, puppet shows, or just for having around as a furry little friend. To make them, you basically dunk some wool in soapy water, mold it in your hands like you’re making a snowball, cut two ears, and voilà…BUNNY. This craft is especially soothing to make because it uses soft wool and warm sudsy water. It’s a sensory activity for little ones — AND you come out with FRESHLY WASHED HANDS!
You will need:
Felting wool
Scissors
A bowl of warm sudsy water (dish soap works best)
A bowl of cold water
A dish towel
What’s felting wool? It’s 100% wool for making crafts, and you can get it undyed or in a rainbow of colors. We got ours from our farm kindergarten (hence the little bits of nature still in the wool.) I usually buy ours onAmazon, but you could also try Waldorf toy sites like bellalunatoys.com.
Step 1: Separate out a small handful of wool.
Step 2: Dunk it in your warm, sudsy water. (How sudsy? About how much liquid dish soap you’d use to wash some pretty dirty dishes.)
Step 3: Let the soap get into the wool fibers, and gently start to roll it around like a snowball. You’ll want form a slightly oblong ball in the end.
Step 4: Keep rolling. Occasionally redunking. Occasionally squeezing. For flufflier bunnies, do less squeezing.
Step 5: When you’re satisfied with your “egg,” dunk into the cold water bowl. This will help shrink the wool and remove some excess soap. (We’re basically replicating what happens to your favorite cashmere sweater when it winds up in the wash.)
Step 6. Roll on a clean dish towel. This will help soak up some soap, and help form the shape even more. There might be some cracks, but don’t sweat it.
Step 7: Using your scissors, make little V-shaped snips to make the ears.
Step 8: Form the ears with a brief redunking and finger sculpting…
Step 9: Hold your bunny, and love it.
