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Post by Frances on Mar 1, 2015 3:42:46 GMT
I finally made slippers and they were not as difficult as I thought they might be. - made them with a resist with a layer of merino and then 3 layers of Icelandic roving
- on one side I added a layer of red merino with a thin layer of icelandic over it
- felting and fulled
- inserted the Last (made out of duct tape)
- Ran them through a washer cycle and then the dryer
- (layer = 1 vertical and 1 horizonal layer of roving). The finished slippers are a little over 1/4 inch thick. The length is perfect but the issue I have is that they are too wide by about two inches as can be seen in the photo (picture 1) with the seam guage. Since the length is correct I am hesitant to put them through the washer and dryer again and do not think they would shrink enough anyway. I have thought of these solutions - what do you think would be best. - Cut them take out the excess and add groments and laces
- Cut them and have a flap that comes over and is sewn in place or secured with velcro
- Cut them, take out the excess and try to needle felt them together - I am not very successful with needle felting.
- Or just put a seam in them at the bottom of where the clips are located (picture 2) and let the excess stick up.
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Post by MTRuth on Mar 1, 2015 5:06:24 GMT
Frances - all of those ideas would work I think except trying to needle felt the seam together. The direction you lay the roving makes a big difference on how it shrinks. It shrinks along the length of the fiber.
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Post by halay on Mar 1, 2015 6:17:53 GMT
Frances, I would first soak them in soapy water and roll in a towel in the direction you want them to shrink. If that doesn't help try cutting them to take out the excess and add groments and laces
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Post by jwugg on Mar 1, 2015 6:47:39 GMT
I'd also roll to shrink in that direction, or rub hard in that direction with soap & a washboard or similar. Then put them on your feet or lasts & keep rubbing. However if they've been in the machine it may to too late for that, they may be fully fulled. But I was surprised, when I made thick sippers that the felt really did keep on fulling & shrinking for a long time. I put plastic bags on my feet, got a bowl of warm water & wore the slippers, rubbing them to my foot shape, for ages (in front of the TV!). It worked well. In fact once they were dry they were almost too short. I've been wearing them for months & they are still a good fit, even the back has stayed up. If not, Laces sound nice  |
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Post by zed on Mar 1, 2015 10:37:38 GMT
I'd do the same as Jill, keep checking them on your feet, mine ended up a bit too small too  |
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Mar 1, 2015 18:15:01 GMT
Having only made the one pair, I am hesitant to offer advice for your too-wide slippers. But I am suspecting the Icelandic wool, as my experience with shrinking the wool was not so good, although it was several years ago. I hope you find a solution.
For my first and only pair of slippers, I used Navajo Churro and domestic 56’s…both medium to coarse wool fibers; but I must say they turned out perfectly sized. Shrinkage was even, and I was happy I had purchased the lasts. Maybe it was beginner’s luck.
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Post by Teri Berry on Mar 1, 2015 18:15:50 GMT
I agree with nada and Jill, rolling and rubbing them in the direction you want them to shrink should work but that said I also see them with contrasting laces, have you considered cutting 2 slits towards the toes so you are left with a tongue under the laces?
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 1, 2015 18:51:10 GMT
yes rolling in the direction you want them to shrink. you can worm them up in the microwave to help with it too. If no more shrinking is to be had why not make 2 cuts on the top to create a tongue. You will probably have to rub the cut edges with lots of soap and to heal the cut. Then put in your grommets and lace them or put Velcro to close them.
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Post by Frances on Mar 1, 2015 23:02:07 GMT
Thanks for all the input. I have tried rolling but they are so thick and narrow to try and roll crosswise. I am going to think on it for another day and probably make a cut or cuts to finish them with velcro or laces. If I can get the fit correct and then adjust my resist to the correct size I can make lots more - do not know why I purchased a pound of Iclandic. Must of hit the wrong button by mistake when ordering. It is so hairy - it looks like I have cat hair on me.
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Post by Pandagirl on Mar 2, 2015 0:16:29 GMT
Do you have a wooden dowel? Sometimes when I'm rolling a narrow side I use the dowel to wrap it around with something wrapped over it to hold it together. Maybe that would help.
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Post by koffipot on Mar 2, 2015 8:42:54 GMT
I agree with trying to roll them in the direction you want them to shrink, though laces and eyelets seem like a lot less work and would look smart. Icelandic sheep have a double coat - an undercoat which is soft, providing warmth, the outer coat being hairy to repel the rain. From experience, it sounds like you have the outer stuff with the guard hairs. I made slippers with Icelandic - never again -hairy, hairy, hairy, and it sheds everywhere. Consequently I have a quantity of the stuff requiring re-homing and may well use it to line some hanging baskets. Of all the slippers I've made, I found Norwegian to be the best, making a nice thick, hardwearing felt, without shedding. |
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Post by zed on Mar 2, 2015 10:33:30 GMT
I probably should have said I agreed with Jill about the rubbing, I hate rolling. Have you got a washboard or bead board? I put my slippers on and scuffed my feet back and forward on mine to shrink toe to heel, it worked a bit too well I had some really nice Icelandic once (I still have a bit left) I don't know if it was tog or thel or just the whole fleece just carded, but it was texturey and kind of wiry and made great embellishment. |
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Post by Shepherdess on Mar 2, 2015 14:34:41 GMT
I think you would know if there was tog in it. It is long and really course, think Scottish terrier coat. Shetland top coat isn't nearly as course but still makes things hairy.
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Post by zed on Mar 2, 2015 18:40:58 GMT
It was/is a pile of wiry hairiness, I'll try to take a photo
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Post by Frances on Mar 3, 2015 15:56:25 GMT
Do you have a wooden dowel? Sometimes when I'm rolling a narrow side I use the dowel to wrap it around with something wrapped over it to hold it together. Maybe that would help. Big Thanks - Your suggestion was just what I needed. I now have a perfect fit  I soaked the slippers in a tub of water to get them wet all the way through, then added a little soap and rolled them around the dowel and worked them on the bead board. I did use some plastic at first where the felt was touching felt because I was afraid they might felt together since this Icelandic is so hairy. Before  After  Rolling  |
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