Hello, What an ambitious undertaking! Wool can certainly stand up to the elements as demonstrated by the yurts built by Mongol nomads. Obviously you have experience making human figures--your wooly shepherd is marvelously handsome! I think there is a life-sized human figure in Sherri Wagner-Hunter's first book MAKING CONCRETE GARDEN ORNAMENTS. I can't put my hands on my copy at the moment but I recall that it is a combination of media, concrete, terra cotta, mosaic a straw hat and perhaps other things. If I recall correctly there are no directions, just photos. Some time ago some members here made a number of those type figures and referred to them as "garden ladies". Maybe try searching the forums here and elsewhere, especially the hypertufa and mosaics forums. Sometimes one can find links in odd places for ideas and suggestions. It sounds like you are at the planning stage and looking mostly for ideas? I would certainly make up a sample felted piece and leave it outside to see how it will hold up. If it is hard, tight felting it should weather well. What is your weather like? If your location is fairly dry it will weather even better. I would think that the Pacific Northwest area would have the felt growing green stuff that would eventually weaken the fibers. I hope you will keep us all up to date on your progress with your wonderful ambitious project. Best regards, spiderwoman (I'm a handspinning shepherd, not an arachnid lover in case you're curious)

Try googling "felting by hand". My sister in law felts by hand in her kitchen sink with hot water. But, I have no idea if she scrubs the wool item between her hands, or how she does it. Are you putting a couple pairs of jeans or something in the washer with them to help with the agitation process? At least in the sink, doing it by hand, you can control the areas you want to felt more. I'm sorry I can't help you more. I don't know if you asked on the knitting forum, if anyone there can help you more, or not. It can't hurt to try. Tami

another beautiful craft! gosh sure looks like alot of work, dont do much with felt but this is one I would like to make! TFS and all the hard work you put in to showing us how to make the crafts you show! oddie

Keep in mind, too, that you can dye your object and felt it at the same time. I purchased huge bags of wool yarn at a house sale...the only problem with it was it wasn't in colors I liked, but who could pass up a garbage bag full of skeins of wool yarn for $4.00? Not I, that's for sure. So, I knit something to be felted, then add wool dye in the washing machine and felt away....thus, I get the object I make in the color I like.