|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 10, 2014 19:05:50 GMT
Yesterday, I made my second version of a cat mat (they are never quite right for the cats…) and I decided to use some small pre-felts for decoration, just as an experiment (not that the cats would care!). But I had a lot of trouble with those pre-felts, which I purchased on-line and had never before used in wet-felting. They came in a stack of very thin pre-felts in glorious colors, so I snipped a few of them and added on top, with just a few wisps of white mystery fiber to hold them down. It was a struggle, because during the wet-felting process, pre-felts kept slipping around, never staying where I put them. So I wonder if anyone else has ever had this problem? In the photo below you, maybe you can tell that was not my original design. Also, how frequently do you all use pre-felts, either as a base or as decoration? www.flickr.com/photos/109753804@N05/12440805064/
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 10, 2014 19:12:45 GMT
|
|
|
Post by halay on Feb 10, 2014 19:16:07 GMT
Luvswool, I'm glad you asked this question because just today I bought two pieces of prefelt. Mine are not very thin so I assume I could use them as a base for something. I'm curious what others will say about this. Particularly I'm interested how much they will shrink.
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Feb 10, 2014 20:31:04 GMT
When applying pre-felts, it's not necessary to trap them with fibres. After placing them, net over and wet, then gently push the pre-felts down into the base fibres. Spend longer than usual gently rubbing through a soapy net until the pre-felts start to 'melt' into the base fibres then they won't slip around. If the commercial pre-felts feel a little 'hard', try roughing up the underneath with a carding brush.
Shrinkage - different wools have different shrinkages so it would be handy to know what the pre-felts are made from, and the thickness of the pre-felts will affect the shrinkage.
I use pre-felt quite a lot - it's great for adding a specific shape of colour where you need it - but I prefer to make my own. It's very quick to do - if you've never made it before, here's how: make a piece of flat felt, using 2 layers of wool (4 layers if you place wool very thinly), but only agitate the fibres until they are 'just felted' i.e. before shrinkage starts. You can make several pieces at one time in a wide bamboo blind. The pre-felt is delicate so a safe way to rinse out the soap is to leave it rolled up in the blind then run water through the blind and felt together, then gently ease the felt off the blind and put it to dry. If you're in a hurry, you can cut the pre-felt wet.
note: we all have varying preferences for how far pre-felt should be 'felted': generally speaking, if you want a pre-felt to cut easily and retain its shape well, you need a firm pre-felt, but if you want a hazy shape, then only take the felting process to the point where the fibres are just holding together to make a soft pre-felt.
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Feb 10, 2014 21:30:51 GMT
Excellent advice Lyn. I typically use prefelt as a base, but did use small bits of it in the holiday exchange cardinal I made for Paula to get those small shapes for the body, beak and head. I didn't have a problem with movement but I was very careful with the felting process because there were so many small pieces.
I've found as Lyn suggested, even using it for a base it felts quicker if you use a brush on it. It really isn't brushed because the fibers catch on the bristles, I just use an up and down motion to rough up the surface. I've also made my own prefelts because the commercial prefelts don't always come in the colors I want. It's easy and quick.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 11, 2014 0:30:21 GMT
Thanks, Lyn and Marilyn! It never occurred to me that these very thin pre-felts (handmade by a lady on Etsy) would need "roughing up." I only tried to trap them with other fibers in case they were not as described. From what Lyn describes, I think I did not spend enough time focusing on the pre-felts being incorporated. After they began sliding, I tried to avoid them. Going for my third cat mat tomorrow!
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Feb 11, 2014 0:51:20 GMT
Good for you Cathy! Don't give up. I look forward to seeing your next creation.
|
|
|
Post by zed on Feb 11, 2014 11:20:11 GMT
I like how your piece turned out, Cathy I bought some thinner pre-felt a few years ago, I never really found a use for it, but I did make a few samples for info for a felter I knew from flickr who was wondering whether to buy any. This is the set of photos: www.flickr.com/photos/zedster01/sets/72157626416385991/detailI'm not really sure it tells you anything, they didn't shrink measurably, all the layers felted easily together, and felted easily to organza, merino, polwarth, silk. I've bought some thicker prefelt, and tried that a couple of times, two layers is very thick, and I was just answering on the studio site the other day that I've seen photos from people using the thicker prefelt for dyeing patterns and the felting/shrinking from the dyeing makes them usable for book covers etc. I haven't tried it myself though. I'd follow Lyn's advice and use my own, it's always worked well for me. Softish prefelts before: Before felting 1 by zedster01, on Flickr After: Placemat and coasters by zedster01, on Flickr
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 11, 2014 14:03:47 GMT
Thanks, Zed. You've given me a world of information! Those samples are quite revealing, and I think my very small (3" x 3") and thin pre-felts match your number one sample on Flikr. They are thin enough to partially see through in the light. Your layout above is impressive and looks to have felted quite nicely! Now adding making my own pre-felts to my "To Do" list.
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Feb 11, 2014 20:51:40 GMT
I too find they need extra attention at the beginning to get them to stay put. Roughing up the underside does help if they are to smooth.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 12, 2014 21:08:37 GMT
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Feb 12, 2014 21:42:32 GMT
As long as the cats like it
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 12, 2014 23:37:20 GMT
Yes, they do! They show me by sitting on it while it's drying on the kitchen counter…bad kitties! LOL
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Feb 13, 2014 1:06:51 GMT
I like the color. I'm glad they like it.
|
|
|
Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 13, 2014 4:52:13 GMT
Thanks, Marilyn! Color reminds me of acorn squash.
|
|