Merino Wool Felt Tray Kit: Beginner How-To

By Klum House: Bag making kits, bag sewing patterns, waxed | Published: 2026-11-04

Category: Guide pratiche

Make a 5-inch merino wool felt tray with brass rivets and a leather loop in one sitting. Follow these steps for a clean, giftable result.

Quick answer

The Merino Wool Felt Tray Kit is a hammer-only project that comes with everything you need—premium merino wool felt, brass rivets, and a leather loop. You can finish it in one sitting; just follow the steps below and check the rivet placement before you hammer.

Why this kit suits first-time makers

Unlike a felt tray sewing project that requires pattern cutting and stitching, this kit skips the sewing machine entirely. The merino wool is thick enough to hold its shape, and the brass rivets do the joining, so there are no seams to pucker or threads to match.

The tradeoff is that rivets are permanent: once set, you cannot easily undo them without damaging the felt. That is why the checkpoints below focus on dry-fitting before you commit.

What you need beyond the kit

The kit includes the felt, rivets, and leather loop, but you must supply a hammer. A small craft hammer or lightweight household hammer works; avoid a heavy sledge that could crush the felt. A hard, stable surface like a cutting board or scrap wood protects your table and helps the rivets set cleanly.

Step-by-step: make your felt tray

Lay out all pieces: Unpack the kit and confirm you have the felt tray base, the brass rivets, and the leather loop. Place them on a clean, flat surface. Missing a rivet? Stop and contact the store before you start hammering.
Mark rivet positions: Fold the felt tray along the pre-scored lines (if present) or use the leather loop as a guide to mark where the rivets will go. A fine-tip marker or chalk helps. Check that the loop sits centered and the felt edges align before marking.
Dry-fit the loop: Slide the leather loop into place over the felt layers and hold it with a clip or your fingers. Confirm the loop orientation matches the intended use (e.g., hanging or carrying). The loop should lie flat without twisting; adjust before riveting.
Set the first rivet: Following the kit instructions, insert a rivet through the aligned holes. Place the tray on a hard surface and strike the rivet post firmly with your hammer until it flares and holds. Strike straight down; a glancing blow can bend the rivet and crack the felt.
Set remaining rivets: Repeat for each rivet, working from the center outward to keep the layers even. Check each rivet is snug before moving to the next. If a rivet feels loose after setting, give it one more firm strike—but don’t over-hammer, which can crush the felt.
Shape and finish: Gently fold up the tray sides along the natural crease lines. Press the edges to define the tray shape. Avoid forcing sharp creases; merino wool felt responds best to a soft fold.

Kit facts

Merino Wool Felt Tray Kit: Includes premium merino wool felt, brass rivets, and a leather loop; all you need is a hammer. You can start the project immediately without sourcing extra hardware, which keeps a quick make truly quick.
Merino Wool Felt Tray Kit