Pull a Sheet

Time to make a sheet

You have a bucket of squishy pulp. Now the magic happens. We turn that pulp into a flat sheet of paper. This is the most fun part of all!

You know what to do first. Wash your hands! And keep your grown-up close by.

Meet the mould and deckle

To catch the pulp, we use a screen called a mould and deckle. It sounds fancy, but it is just a frame with a flat screen across it, a bit like a small window screen.

Water can drip right through the tiny holes. But the pulp fibers are too big to fit through. So they stay on top and lie flat. Clever!

You can make one with a grown-up using an old picture frame and some mesh, or use one from a paper-making kit.

Fill the vat

Pour your pulp into a wide tub or dish. This tub is called the vat. Add clean water and give it a good stir with your hand.

Swish, swish, swish! Stirring spreads the fibers out so they float evenly. If they all sink, just stir again.

Pull the sheet

Here is the special move:

Hold the mould flat with both hands.
Dip it straight down into the vat, under the pulp.
Slowly lift it back up, keeping it flat and level.

As you lift, the water pours out through the holes. A thin blanket of pulp is left sitting on the screen. That is your paper being born!

Wiggle it gently side to side while the water drains. This helps the fibers link up and lie nice and even.

Sheet too thin? Add more pulp to the vat.
Sheet too thick? Add more water and stir.

Soak up the water

Let the screen drip for a moment. Then press a sponge onto the back of the screen. Squeeze, and the sponge drinks up lots of water. Do this a few times until the sheet stops dripping.

Your sheet is still wet and floppy. Do not try to peel it yet! It needs pressing and drying first. We will do that next.

Amazing work. You pulled a real sheet of mushroom paper!