daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 14, 2018 19:10:09 GMT
Hi, Glad to have found this forum! I'm new to felting and interested primarily in wet felting. I fell in love with felting via a book on scarves and wraps. I've managed to make some too! Even done a bit of (sort of) nuno & cobweb felting so was congratulating myself that I was making progress... However, I decided to have a go at the everyday bag in Christine White's Uniquely Felt and, although I was using merino and followed the dimensions for her template, my bag is more like an overnight bag than a shoulder bag. Even though I fulled it to within an inch of its life (or do I mean mine?! ). So. I'm guessing the problem isn't with Christine's dimensions but more to do with the fact that I haven't fulled enough or the right way maybe. Or something. It occurred to me that perhaps the water I use is more than usually acidic (it's well water with a high iron content) so perhaps that's getting in the way. The finished product looks pretty firm and stable to me. I'd appreciate any thoughts/ideas about it. Perhaps I'm just not doing it for long enough but it sure feels like I am.
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Post by tracey on Jun 14, 2018 20:38:54 GMT
Hi and welcome to the forum, can you show us a picture of the bag?
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 14, 2018 20:48:50 GMT
Welcome Daisymoon! Glad you joined us. Merino usually shrinks around 30%. Is the template now bigger than the bag? If not, then it hasn't shrunk as much as planned. You can let it rest, then re-wet and full more. Many times, it will shrink more on the second go around. Also, layout sometimes is the issue if you didn't have the wool close up against the template. You could always throw it into the washing machine/dryer to shrink it down more. Harder to control that way though.
Do show us a photo if you can. There are instructions for photos in the FAQ section.
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 9:03:42 GMT
Hi Tracey and Ruth, Thanks for your responses. I'm attaching photo of template and bag together and bag. Feeling a little embarrassed as I did what I should have done in the first place and actually measured my bag which fits the finished dimensions in the book - pretty much. A bit longer but then I was mainly interested in reducing width. But I've also attached a pic of me with bag. Surely this can't be right? Ok, I am short, but it's huge! And has no structural stability so I have a bit of bamboo in the fold, holding it straight. I did have another go with a smaller template and again it has shrunk but is still huge although closer to the size of the picture in the Christine White's book.
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 9:04:06 GMT
Not sure i have managed to attach photos
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Post by tracey on Jun 15, 2018 11:59:45 GMT
No I cannot see photos. Technology is there to annoy you on the whole!
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 14:01:43 GMT
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Post by MTRuth on Jun 15, 2018 14:53:04 GMT
Your bags are great but definitely on the big size for you. I love the vines you have added to the second bag. It looks like you have gotten the correct amount of shrinkage. I would just downsize the template to make a smaller bag. It looks from the photos that you are fulling just fine. Your felt ropes/straps look good too.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 15, 2018 15:12:42 GMT
Welcome Daisymoon! Your bags are lovely. Definitely big. It does look like it felted and shrank fine. When I made a handbag, I used a purse I liked as a general size and added 30%.
We learn by doing and experimenting. Have fun on your creative journey. You’re off to a good start.
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 15:12:55 GMT
Thank you Ruth, and for your kind words about my efforts too. It's really helpful to know that I'm on the right track I was thinking that they should be turning out smaller so good to know it's not my felting(in this respect at least!) that's at fault.
Good wishes
Daisy
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 15:17:13 GMT
Welcome Daisymoon! Your bags are lovely. Definitely big. It does look like it felted and shrank fine. When I made a handbag, I used a purse I liked as a general size and added 30%. We learn by doing and experimenting. Have fun on your creative journey. You’re off to a good start. They are definitely big, no doubt about it! But that's a good idea about getting the right size for me, so I'll give it a go and carry on with the experimenting. Really appreciate that you have taken the time to help. Thank you
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Post by Pandagirl on Jun 15, 2018 15:44:26 GMT
Welcome Daisymoon! Your bags are lovely. Definitely big. It does look like it felted and shrank fine. When I made a handbag, I used a purse I liked as a general size and added 30%. We learn by doing and experimenting. Have fun on your creative journey. You’re off to a good start. They are definitely big, no doubt about it! But that's a good idea about getting the right size for me, so I'll give it a go and carry on with the experimenting. Really appreciate that you have taken the time to help. Thank you That’s what we like to do here. Help each other and keep learning from each other. I look forward to seeing your next project. Have fun!
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Post by tracey on Jun 15, 2018 16:10:12 GMT
I think it is a lovely bag, great colours, a lot of bag for when you need to carry a lot of stuff! (beware you may topple over though)
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daisymoon
Junior Member
I'm a newcomer to felting
Posts: 12
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Post by daisymoon on Jun 15, 2018 20:08:17 GMT
Yes indeed! I could wear one on one side and one the other, to balance the weight out. Not sure it'll be a good look though... . Thanks to everyone. I can proceed to next project with a bit more confidence .
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Post by elizabeth on Jun 15, 2018 20:14:37 GMT
Welcome, Daisymoon! I agree with the above. Your bags are great and look well-fulled. I doubt you could get much more shrinkage in them. Just call them 'Messenger bags' and they'll be perfect! Keep experimenting and posting!
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