Hi Everyone,
To answer, Ardione, there are no rules as to what you Should do in
felting. However, one way I manage to get reasonably straight edges is
to use dropsheet plastic under the felt ( on top of the blind, bubble
wrap, etc). If you place a piece large enough to fold in comfortably
over the edges, you can either a) put some more on top & felt, or b) put
your net on top to felt. I like to wrap the edges over as soon as it is
starting to hold together, & then the net can be removed.

By making a neat flat parcel, then rolling it up as usual, you will get
a good edge. It will also help to keep in the moisture. It is easy to
turn the package around to roll in a different direction.

One way that I was shown in laying down fleece, was to use a garden
spray bottle with a fine mist sprayer that has a water+ small amount of
soap mixed in it. a) Soap down the plastic on the rolling mat.
b) Place down 1st layer of fleece, then spray it with water/soap mix
until damp through( not wet)
c) Place down 2nd layer of fleece cross-ways & spray, as before. ( if it
is just damp, it will be easy to lay the second and subsequent layers)
d) Repeat as above for chosen number of layers.
e) place net on and rub soap bar gently over it. spray on some more
water, if necessary. This can all be then rolled for about 5 mins.
f) Remove the net as soon as the fibres can be pulled up into a tent,
then wrap in plastic.
nb. the net can be eliminated and plastic used instead, as the fibres
have mostly been pre-wet. The top layer will only require a light spray.
It is also possible to pre -soap + dampen the top plastic, if the area
prepared is not too large.

This method drastically cuts down the length of time to roll.

It is all subjective, really, as we find what is the way we are
comfortable with. I also find that I may do things differently,
depending on what I'm making.

Warm regards to all
Barb Mewburn.

PS it's 33 deg inside here at the moment ( West Gippsland, SE Victoria)
It's too hot to felt, so I have been spinning though, & have spun,
knitted and felted my first item ( an alpaca hat)In the washing machine
( cheated).

BTW,Kerry, i'm up & off on the Roberta. It's excellent with the polymer
bushes,the jumbo flyer & pause button. Ian at Ertoel did a great job
refurbishing it. It's like new :-) He tells me that it will go forever.
Thank you for encouraging me & allowing me to get set up so reasonably.