lizzie
Junior Member
HI, I'm Lizzie. I just started getting interested in felting early 2017, inspired by LalaBug's hats
Posts: 12
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Post by lizzie on Jul 20, 2017 0:52:10 GMT
I test felted some of my poodle's winter coat, fibers ~3" long (he's a 40 lb black standard poodle). It felted down nice and tight, not like the hairy felt I made with a friend's leonberger undercoat donation, and not like the hairy cord I made with my corgi cross' undercoat. It's a bit silkier to touch than merino, but not as smooth on my skin - I couldn't wear it next to my neck, though I thought at first that I could. It would make a brilliant vest or coat - the curl of the coat shows up in areas of the felt, it made a lovely texture! I wish felt photographed better (or that I photographed it better!). Definitely a win. I haven't felted enough to have a sense of whether it took longer or not than the wool I've used (the leonberger undercoat was definitely nice and quick). So, totally wanted to share, as it was very exciting to get such a nice product! In other exciting news, I haven't been able to resist asking around about Poitou donkey fiber - it's an endangered donkey breed that makes long dreadlocks, and I met one on my first date with my husband about 11 years ago. I can't find any information about the breed being used for fiber production (mostly for mule production, actually), but I suspect it will felt well. People are trying to save the breed, and I can't help but think that if the fiber is feltable, perhaps the poitou can have a new major function? My first 3 attempts were not successful (asking 3 sources near me in New England), but a farm in England says they will collect some for me to test - I am very excited! I love these different fibers. I tried a yak/merino blend, and it's brilliant (though a bugger to full - felt like it took forever!) - such a tight soft surface, and so sturdy feeling. I'm mostly making test swatches at the moment, though I do have plans to try to sew the hat I felted to correct the shaping error I made, and try some funky leg warmers maybe this month.... All fun! Thanks as always for having this forum! Lizzie
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Post by Pandagirl on Jul 20, 2017 15:40:27 GMT
Wow Lizzie, you're really experimenting with some unusual fibers. Good for you. I've used yak as embellishment and it's soft and shiny. I'll be interested in seeing how the donkey fiber works.
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Post by MTRuth on Jul 20, 2017 21:33:53 GMT
Sounds like you're having fun. I always start sneezing around dog/cat fur so can't really try those out. Never heard of a Poitou donkey. Would love to hear about how it felts though.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 24, 2017 1:50:40 GMT
I haven't tried felting poodle. I know woman that spun her puddle and used it to knit the silhouette into a sweater. Sounds like great fun to try. A friend spun some regular donkey winter undercoat and it was horrible. corse and scratchy more lick rope. I hope you donkey is better.
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lizzie
Junior Member
HI, I'm Lizzie. I just started getting interested in felting early 2017, inspired by LalaBug's hats
Posts: 12
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Post by lizzie on Jul 30, 2017 3:53:25 GMT
I'm a little worried that the poitou donkey fiber will be terrible, and that's why there's no history of using the fiber! But the guy in England said that their donkeys have variation in fiber texture, and he'll see if he can get me some samples from different animals - I'll definitely let you know what happens!
Ruth, I can't say I'm fond of the hairiness of the typical dog undercoat felt I've gotten so far - though a friend managed to have her friend collect samoyed fur for me to test, and I know that that's the one dog fiber that seems popular with spinners, so it's worth a try! My husband is allergic to dogs and cats, but seems to tolerate them better when they eat all raw food - but I imagine that varies from individual to individual! I'm having fun with it, but you totally have the winning fiber in the sheep wool!
I got a tiny sample from my cat and it felted up MUCH stronger than I expected - so samoyed and short hair cat are on my list of test samples to make - but my next project is to try some leg warmers in merino, so it'll have to wait a little bit.
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Post by magzie on Jul 31, 2017 0:56:58 GMT
Lizzie, I felted a vessel using fiber from a friends standard poodle/golden retriever cross, with much success. My friend was very pleased - however his dog got a hold of the vessel and thought it was the best toy on earth and needless to say....he totally destroyed the vessel. I had success using Shetland Sheepdog fur - the felt is very fuzzy like angora rabbit. Isn't it fun to experiment and its even more fun when it turns out
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2019 12:23:33 GMT
Last summer I felted Samoyed's fibres with Slovenian native sheepbreed wool (medium coarse fibre). I used one layer of each. It felted well though samoyed's hairs shed more than sheep's. They use the felted piece regularly, ie sit on it quite a lot and love it. It still sheds some Samoyed's hairs but they don't bother. BTW, it does'n have any dog smell any more.
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Post by Shepherdess on Aug 11, 2019 21:34:03 GMT
We don't use a lot if fibers that used to be used. Horse hair for instance. I can't imagine they didn't have a use for it in the past. It will be interesting to see what it is like.
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Post by Antje on Aug 12, 2019 7:07:14 GMT
Wow, fascinating reading....Lizzie you've sparked off some interesting fibre chat with your far reaching experiments. Would love to see some photos.
My husband is allergic to dog & cat hair but not to our Cockerpoo. I should say ' Cockerpoopoo' as he as 3/4 poodle (mum Cockerpoo, Dad poodle). I did once try felting his saved hair following a trip to the groomers. I struggled with it, as it was too short, and gave up. Reading the above comments maybe I should have persevered.
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Post by ScarletThistle on Jul 29, 2021 19:29:21 GMT
I do wish I'd come across this post a couple of years ago as I would have loved to have used some of my little poodle's fur to make a special keepsake. Sadly my wee dog has passed now. I do enjoy trying out new fibres and the poitou donkey sounds very interesting. Have you managed to do anything with it yet? I have a horse but I don't think her hair would be very good for felting. Horse hair is pretty short and coarse. Might try some though. Just for fun. Will need to wait 'til she needs clipped again.
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Post by Ann @ frabjous fabrica on Jul 29, 2021 19:46:21 GMT
I do wish I'd come across this post a couple of years ago as I would have loved to have used some of my little poodle's fur to make a special keepsake. Sadly my wee dog has passed now. I do enjoy trying out new fibres and the poitou donkey sounds very interesting. Have you managed to do anything with it yet? I have a horse but I don't think her hair would be very good for felting. Horse hair is pretty short and coarse. Might try some though. Just for fun. Will need to wait 'til she needs clipped again. I see you've been down the rabbit hole. You can use up days just reading the back posts, both on the Forum and on the Studio. I hesitate to say "waste" as everything is so interesting and full of useful information. You'd be surprised what horse hair used to be used for, but that was back when horses were the only means of powered travel. I doubt it would felt, unless it is the under hair of one of the breeds from very cold areas, like Shetland, Alaska or the steppes. Alas, some dogs' fur, though it will felt, will never get rid of the "doggy" smell - golden retrievers for instance. Cat fur is so feltable, it will do it on its own without you doing anything other than leave it on a shelf for a few months. I've got some that that's happened to, and it's all I have left of a much loved moggy.
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