Using felt makes it easier to lift the paper when it's dry.
A variety of finished paper.
Couching is the traditional term used for the step of placing your paper onto a suitable surface to dry. We use felt in this tutorial. Felt does not bind to the paper, so the paper is easy to lift when it is dry.
Once you have pulled your mold and deckle from the slurry, carefully lift the deckle from the mold and set it aside. Next, flip the mold over and place it on the felt. Next, take a sponge or rag and press the underside of the mold (now facing up) against the felt to soak up any excess water and to help separate the paper from the mold. Then carefully lift the mold, leaving the paper on the felt.
Let the paper dry for anywhere from six hours to a day depending on the humidity and temperature. When it is dry to the touch, slowly lift it away from the felt. Congratulations! You're a papermaker! And because you've used natural fibers, you have followed a tradition thousands of years old, and your paper will last for years to come.