Wet felt flowers

[josiebrat]

Hello everyone,

I finally made my first flower yesterday after viewing different online videos and tutorials. I've always wanted to try and based on a request from a 4th grader in one of my after school programs I had to try. I used 2 layer method with resist and added a stem. It was a little lopsided and thin in some areas but overall I was pleased. Does anyone have suggestions on best methods for flowers as I want to try perfecting this. I also found a tutorial on Etsy that looks interesting (rensfibreart)! I love flowers and would like to incorporate into my work.

*will send photo as soon as I figure out how to upload from my phone*

[lyn]

It looks lovely! Don't worry about imperfections as real flowers are not perfect!

[MTRuth]

I totally agree with Lyn - flowers are not perfect and I think the thinner felt flowers look more realistic than some that are really thick.

When I have made flowers, I used the 2 layer method and usually lay out the fiber in a circular fashion with the fibers going out radially from the center. I just let the edges develop as they like so it gives a more natural edge and look to the flower.

[elizabeth]

Hi Josiebrat! I think you did just fine. I too use the method that Ruth describes, although I haven't made too many of them. But I want to... :-)

[Pandagirl]

Beautiful Josie! Lyn is right nature isn't perfect either.

[halay]

Your flower turned out very nice Josie. There are so many different ways of making flowers. The one I like is using wool and silk hankies www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbXFDkmADw
and another one that I have been using lately with resists is presented here www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVGw5IdKQ1U&feature=youtu.be Although it is in Russian you can easily follow the procedure.

[zed]

Lyn's right (I had a patch of conjoined twin dandelions in my garden for a while!) I think sometimes the impression of something is just as nice as being accurate, but if you want to really copy flowers exactly, I'd say study flowers before felting techniques, get some botanical and drawing books out of the library or search online, once you know what you want to copy, you probably have the info already to know which techniques to use.

[josiebrat]

Feb 11, 2016 18:54:56 GMT lyn said:

It looks lovely! Don't worry about imperfections as real flowers are not perfect!

Thanks Lyn. Will keep this in mind!

[josiebrat]

Thanks everyone for your kind comments. I have used the method described by Ruth. Haley thanks for the links. Will also look at these. Yes Zed I actually take photos of flowers in my own garden and look at images on line. thanks for all the good feedback.

[elizabeth]

Halay, I watched that first video when I had just started felting. Now that I have a little more experience, it seems to me that she's using a lot more wool than I would have. She also takes the resists out a lot sooner than I would.
I've never seen the second video, but that was interesting how she 'de-haired' the flower after. Thanks for the links.

[blythwhimsies]

Your flower looks fabulous and I think you are very brave to start with a resist version! I usually make single layer flowers and stitch them together when adding beading in the centre for brooches, but I think I'll have another go with a resist now you've inspired me

[blythwhimsies]

Nada, in that 2nd video, the Russian one, do you know what she's using the flame for near the end? She goes over the felt flower with a gas lighter.......was that the 'de-hairing' process?

[lyn]

Nada - the second video was fascinating and I think the flowers she put on the jacket looked fabulous in their grouping.

[halay]

Elisabeth, in the second vide she is actually dehairing the felt.

[Shepherdess]

Interesting videos. I like the second one better. I do wonder why she uses drab brown and green for a peony. It was shaped very nicely. I bet you could make a nice lotus flower too. Did anyone catch what kind of wool she was using?