Prefelt and Batting

[Frances]

I want to make something with precise shapes. Looking at prefelts here www.outbackfibers.com/profusion/profusion.htm and www.feltingsupply.com/shop/fiber/prefelt/web-black/. 

I have used batting before but not as cut outs for a shape. Is their a big difference between the two. If so, which would be best for making shapes and holding the shape while felting it?

Thank you Frances

[halay]

I make my own prefelt, simply by laying two thin layers of wool in vertical and horizontal direction. Then I wet it with soapy water and start rubbing just on one side, not to much though, just until the fibres hold together. Then I dry it and cut out different shapes. I place the shapes on wet felt base. It works fine for me.

[elizabeth]

I've done that, too Nada.
I have some purchased batts that I don't really know how to use. I guess I thought I could separate them into layers and use them that way, but they don't separate.

[Pandagirl]

Prefelt is best if you want precise shapes. I've made my own and have purchased commercial, from outback and Dreamspinfibres.com. Dreamspin has a thicker prefelt than the others.

Good luck with your project.

[zed]

They seem incredibly expensive, Frances, about twice the price of World of Wool, it'd only cost you a couple of dollars more to actually get it shipped from World of Wool.

There is a big difference between prefelt and batts, prefelt is usually needle punched, but like Nada says, it's easy to make your own.

I have trouble too, Elizabeth, I end up carding them into roving or pull them apart to use like tops.

[elizabeth]

Zed, am I missing or miscalculating something? I once priced WOW and shipping was $20.
I know it depends on what and how much you order.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

As a timesaver, prefelt is nice because you can quickly cut it and start making your design; however, it tends to be more expensive than batting. And remember, not all prefelt is created equal, as others point out. Here’s another thought--if you purchase the prefelt in small squares, you will end up buying less if you want a wide variety of colors.

[Frances]

Jan 28, 2016 17:59:00 GMT zed said:

They seem incredibly expensive, Frances, about twice the price of World of Wool, it'd only cost you a couple of dollars more to actually get it shipped from World of Wool.

There is a big difference between prefelt and batts, prefelt is usually needle punched, but like Nada says, it's easy to make your own.

I have trouble too, Elizabeth, I end up carding them into roving or pull them apart to use like tops.

I do not understand your comment 

World of Wool is $33.00 for 1 meter square

Outback Fibers in US $38.00 for 80" x 58" which is approximately 2 meters by 1 & 1/4 meters 

I may try making my own first 

[MTRuth]

I usually just make my own. Then you can make it as thick or thin as you want it.

[Teri Berry]

Making your own prefelt definetly opens up a wider range of possibilities like how thick the felt shapes will be and therefore how "proud" they will sit on the surface. If you are about to start a big project Frances I recommend making a few samples with prefelts of different firmnesses (cut a piece off the continue rolling / throwing the rest, cut a piece off and so on), the more softly felted the prefelt, the more fuzzy the finished edges will be and the more it will sink into your fibre base. THe firmer the prefelt, the more effort you will need to make sure it attaches firmly but you will get sharper edges.

Also - flip over your samples, I really like the "halo" effect you get as the fibres from the cut edges of the prefelt migrate through to the back.

Looking forward to seeing your mysterious project

[zed]

I made a mistake with outback, Frances, I looked at their smaller ones. Still it says it is 75g a sq metre, WoWs is 150g, so even if you triple WoWs to get the same size, it's a similar price, but twice the thickness.

Feltingsupply is slightly wider than WoWs and 140g, but still $25 compared to $12.78

Making your own is definitely more flexible as you can make it as many shades as you like