experimenting with a friend

[koffipot]

If you stop too soon, just wet it again and full some more. I use various kitchen tools to rub the inside - wooden spoons are good as is a honey drizzler - never used in anger for honey

Though they haven't discovered my use, this link says it all!

www.seriouseats.com/2007/06/does-anyone-use-the-honey-thin.html

[zed]

Thanks Judy. I did put more thought into decoration than functionality, though

I know a lot of people shy away from Merino for pods/vessels etc because it's known as a fine/soft wool, and associated with soft, floaty scarves, but it's this which it allows it to make a firm, close, dense felt (Look at Lyn's vessels). If it's too expensive, something like a Corriedale or Finn make good firm felt, or an inside layer or two or merino and a couple of layers on top of something coarser.

Wool is water repelent, but if it isn't densely felted/firmly fulled, water will get through.

[lyn]

Some people won't use merino for vessels because it's a soft wool but I like the finish it gives and if it's fulled completely then it's as firm as any other wool.

This vessel kept its shape wonderfully - despite having a big hole in it which you would think would weaken the support for the top.

[Deleted]

Thanks Zed for the advise on the different wools and fulling...much appreciated.

Lyn that vessel is awesome, I love it. Great colors of blue and yellow.

This might sound silly but I was wondering of using Finn Wool (white) and Gotland ( gray). Tow layers of each for a bird pod. If I put the first 2 layers of Gotland Gray and then the white Finn I wonder if the Gotland would totally engulf the white and none of it would show? Any thoughts?

[zed]

Personally, I'd put the Finn as the first layers for the inside. Gotland is curly, and even if it might not look curly if you have Gotland tops, they'll 'come back' once it's wet. The Finn will felt closer together, and the Gotland will make a nice surface.

[Shepherdess]

I wanted to add that 4 layers are fine if they are substantial layers. I lay out thin so have to do more layers. I divide my wool in half for each side and then into the number of layer and make sure I use all of each piece for each layer. for me that means I usually have to cover the hat twice to use it all up. the other thing to remember is there is more wool in 100grams of merino than in 100 grams of Fin or Gotland. That sounds strange but if you weight them out and then lay them beside each other you will notice the merino top is longer then the Fin top. The bigger the project the more noticeable the difference is.

[zed]

I've noticed that with wools too, Ann, I suppose if we still used the Bradford scale it'd be something we thought about more, isn't that based on how many skeins you can get out of it or something? My 100g Teeswater Tops and Lincoln look like little balls compared to the Merino!

[Deleted]

Hello Ann thanks for the tips about the amount of layers vs what typed they are.. I have a tendency to lay out layers to thick which I have been told on several different occasions so I think I will be Ok with the 4 layers...

[Shepherdess]

Zed yes that's the Bradford count. you can get more yardage out of finer wool. they seem to go out of the way to make things complicated. Like worsted spun wool and worsted weight wool. Two completely different things.