The Gentle Roller - wet felt rolling machine
The Gentle Roller is a new device for an ancient craft -a wet felt rolling machine invented for fibre artists of the 21st Century. The Gentle Roller is a break-through in the exhausting and repetitive process of hand rolling, helping you to create better felt or nuno felt — without hard work.
This compact, safe, and attractive tool will complement your studio and work quietly beside you, freeing you for more important activities like planning your next piece or enjoying a well-earned break.
It may be compact in height and depth but we haven't scrimped on the important dimension - we've delivered you a large roller platform. The smaller Gentle Roller comes with a roller width of 1100mm (43 inch) allowing you to comfortably handle 36 inch wide fabric. The larger roller width of 1400mm (55 inch) will easily cope with 48 inch wide fabric. If you work with narrower pieces, you can make multiple items at once.
With its oscillating (forward and backward) action, The Gentle Roller is the only true replacement for hand rolling. Of course you can roll in one direction only if you need to.
The Gentle Roller provides nuanced control over the speed of rotation, the number of forward and reverse rotations and number of cycles, programable from a simple to use touch pad and user display. The high torque, low voltage motor uses only 24 watts average power and the power pack is suitable, and certified, to use world-wide. And we guarantee it for 2 million cycles or 2 years.
The Gentle Roller is the only wet felt rolling machine to come with its own fulling drum. The unique and stylish fulling drum completes the felting process shrinking your pre-felt by as much as 75% surface area. Fulling is often usually performed by hand, agitating and kneading (sometimes throwing and bashing) the pre-felt and aided by warm soapy water. The Gentle Roller Fulling Drum performs this agitation for you.
The Gentle Roller also comes with drive rollers specifically designed for your felting needs, whether doing soft, light weight felts or heavier sculptural pieces. And if you are a highly productive felt maker, a second drive roller allows you to increase your felting efficiency by up to 100%* by allowing you to work on two pieces at the same time. (* compared with using only one Gentle Roller drive roller.)
The Gentle Roller - wet felt rolling machine has numerous patented features including the drive roller and oscillating drive covered by:
Australian Patent Application No. 2017368450
European Patent Application No. 17876105.2
USA Patent Application No. 16/464,754
International Patent Application No. PCT/AU2017/051308
What makes it unique - and the right choice for you?
Just follow any of the 'Read More' links below and see for yourself why The Gentle Roller is a unique wet felt rolling machine.
Be Inspired ...
If you are looking for inspiration you can find hundreds of images of items created by Gentle Roller owners by following the links in the section below.
The Gentle Roller - almost any type of felt
Whether you make ...
* the finest nuno using superfine wools and sheer delicate carriers,
* heavy felts like a wall hanging or even and eco sheep fleece rug,
* playful pieces or functional wearables,
* sculptural display pieces or 3D objects like shoes, hats, bags and other vessels,
* textured felts with scrunched fabrics such as paj, sari or Margilan, with surface embellishments such as silk naps or cellulose fibres,or chunky inclusions,
* laminating Mulberry or Kozo papers to merino wool
.... it is all possible on The Gentle Roller.
The Gentle Roller Collection
No glossy production ... just the facts
We don't care much for 'bling'. The short video below gives you a quick insight into how the Gentle Roller works. It's not a glossy production - it's just real footage of the very first Gentle Roller from our 2017 'crowd funding' era.
Quick Demonstrations
Below we give you just a few examples of the the of work we make with abridged video demonstrations of The Gentle Roller in action.
Looking for a complete demonstration video?
We can't demonstrate in detail every type of felting as the scope is way too large. But if you are looking for a basic guide to using The Gentle Roller that shows all the typical processes look no further.
The Gentle Roller Collection
Just a few of the positive comments received in recent months
That was crazy fast! Very impressive! Thank you for the information links!
— Susan USA July 2021
With quite a lot of help from Philip at The Gentle Roller Company, I have made good progress … AND I have avoided spending countless hours and expense of re-making all the mistakes it normally takes when doing something differently. So, A Big Thank You to Philip for Making the Gentle Roller.
— Alex (fellow inventor repurposing the GR) NZ July 2021
Layed out a few nuno scarfs on
different fabrics and got the gentle roller going. Lots of fun, learnt a lot, the machine is excellent, and my husband thinks so to.
— Donna USA July 2021
My partner who is into tools and machinery is really impressed by the technology. Thank you for all your hard work and inspiration.
— Joan USA April 2021
My gentle roller arrived and was set
up yesterday. Just wanted to thank you for the excellent service. So much sooner than expected. Now for a day of experimenting!
— Jen USA Feb 2021
Thank you so much! Thank you for the time you invested in this. Excellent customer service. I am loving your company more and more!
— Sara April 2021
I love the gentle roller especially for very large projects. I don't know what I did without it. I will be at the symposium for felt feutre in August they will have one there. I will recommend your excellent product and service …
— Eleanor Canada Feb 2021
Great, you are absolutely the hero of customer service - thank you so much!
— Eleanora France Feb 2021
I’ve only used the GR 3 times so far and really loving it. Here are a few quick pics of the wall hangings I’ve made using the GR
— Cheryl USA April 2021
I ordered my Gentle Roller on Tuesday at 3.20pm and it just arrived (Friday). What fabulous service, thank you! I've already used the machine twice. Works great, though still learning stuff about how to use it best. Your videos and instructions are a big help!
— Robyn USA March 2021
Just to say that I have done a trial
piece of felting on the Gentle Roller and am very pleased. The first attempt isn't brilliant but I can see that with practice things will improve. I am delighted how much physical effort the machine will save me, particularly as I have shoulder problems and manual felting is too painful now.
— Diane UK June 2021
My hubby helped me to assemble the Gentle Roller and is very impressed with the design of the machine, approving my purchase of the GR. I am looking forward to getting my teeth into using the GR. Thank you for inventing it - brilliant.
— Diane UK June 2021
My Gentle Roller is arrived yesterday. Everything works perfect. Thank you. I try felt something today. I will send you foto.
— Monika Slovakia May 2021
The new motor arrived a few days ago and I was able to get to it. It fits perfectly. I had zero issues assembling. Everything works perfectly I am loving it.
— Katherine USA May 2021
You have been fantastic to work with me on payments. I'll let you get back to being busy, I know people are loving your roller. Always much thanks,
— Karen Australia 2021
Thanks very much for your work. You're the most popular (and productive) folks helping fiber artist today!! With thanks,
— Jane USA Apr 2021
I received my machine and gave set it up and so far love it.
— Selema USA April 2021
My Gentle Roller just arrived! That was amazingly fast. Thank you.
— Pat Canada March 2021
You have created a wonderful machine.
— Rhoda UK 2021
I love the machine! Its changed my life (literally – I have so much extra time now and no bad back!). All the best to you.
— Julie UK Jan 2021
I've already used the machine twice. Works great, though still learning stuff about how to use it best. Your videos and instructions are a big help!
— Sandra USA Feb 21
Hee! Why, thank you, Phillip! I'm in the middle of watching the demo for the nuno scarf (I don't do nuno, but it's still helpful). I understand that you are the inventor of this machine, correct? My sincere compliments! There are few things I love more than clever mechanical invention (daughter of an engineer, here, who had me repairing cars with him as a child, and let me use any and all of his tools!). I also love that your partner is your muse: what a team!
— Leslie USA
Hi Joni and Philip! I can’t say enough good about my Gentle Roller which has enabled me to keep on felting. I use it for every project that I do- vessels, wall pieces, clothing, accessories. I can have it rolling for me while I work on dyeing or broidering...or having a cup of tea and dessert. I feel very confident about leaving it to do other things, which wasn’t the case with another rolling machine that I had. As time goes on I keep learning more and more new ways to use it. In addition, the customer service is absolutely the
best! Joni and Philip are always willing to help with any problem that comes up. I feel like I’ve made a couple of new felting friends- a nice bonus.
— Judy Australia March 2021