|
|
Post by beckyd on Sept 28, 2018 19:44:04 GMT
Hello. I'm wondering if anyone can tell me why my felt is lumpy. I'm wet felting slippers. I'm trying to get a smooth finish. It's not an orange peel look. It's more of a lumpy look. I'm using alpaca but I've also had this happen with Corriedale. Thank you for any advice you can give!
|
|
|
|
Post by tracey on Sept 28, 2018 21:02:07 GMT
Hello and welcome!
Can you post a picture of your work at all? I cannot think of an answer but others may once they have seen a photo.
|
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Sept 28, 2018 21:31:44 GMT
Hello Becky and a warm welcome to the forum.
A photo would definitely help but here's my experience of some causes of lumpy felt:
Uneven layering of wool fibres - several fine layers are easier to get even than a few thicker ones.
Initial wetting down with water that's too hot.
Working the fibres too roughly at the start of felting - gently does it.
|
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Sept 29, 2018 1:08:21 GMT
Welcome, yes, a photo might help. If you need help with photos, look in the frequently asked questions section. I agree with Lyn's ideas but with slippers I would definitely think it might be layout issues. Slippers take a lot of layers and if the layers are uneven, the results will be lumpy.
|
|
|
|
Post by lindsay on Sept 29, 2018 6:23:49 GMT
Hello Becky. Agree with the above. I think this may be the same point as Lyn’s (working the fibres too hard at the start of felting) but in particular using hot & cold water too early in the felting / fulling stage. A help with diagnosis would be to know at what point does it become lumpy?
|
|
|
|
Post by Pandagirl on Sept 29, 2018 17:38:46 GMT
Welcome Becky! I really don’t have anything to add to the other suggestions. I look forward to seeing your progress.
|
|
|
|
Post by halay on Oct 1, 2018 5:38:01 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Oct 2, 2018 22:59:59 GMT
Nada I want one of those rolling pins. They are expensive here and the shipping from elsewhere is so much. I will find one, one day.
|
|
|
|
Post by beckyd on Oct 4, 2018 10:49:33 GMT
Hello! So sorry I posted and disappeared. My work got in the way of my felting! Thank you to all who responded! I was trying to post a photo but couldn't figure it out. Ruth, I will check out the FAQ. I think I figured out the lumpy felt mystery. The layout was even and I never start with hot water so I ruled those out. Where the problem started was in the fulling stage. I was having trouble getting the shrinkage I wanted because of not having the proper tools (Thank you, Nada, for the wooden roller suggestion!) so I put them in the dryer (air only setting) to do some fulling. I left them in 10 minutes and took them out. This is where I noticed the lumpiness. My thoughts are that they fulled too quickly. Lots of vigorous rubbing helped to smooth out the lumps but didn't take them completely out. I definitely will get one of these rollers! I prefer to hand work the felt. As soon as I have the time, I'll post some pics! Thank you all!
|
|
|
|
Post by monarch2u on Jan 9, 2024 17:23:18 GMT
I am still confused by the term fulling. It seems people use it to describe various points in the felting process. beckyd what are you referring to as fulling? |
|
|
|
Post by MTRuth on Jan 9, 2024 22:26:27 GMT
That's a great question. The term fulling is used differently by different people so I can see why it is confusing. Fulling is the process where the wool fibers are agitated with more force to create a sturdy felt that cannot be pulled apart. There are many methods of fulling including rolling, throwing, stretching, rubbing against an uneven surface such as an old style washboard, putting the felt into a washing machine or a dryer etc. All of the different methods can achieve a different type of surface on the felt and felt makers all have their own preferences. The thing I notice with beginning felt makers is they stop fulling way too soon and do not achieve the most shrinkage possible or the sturdiest felt.
I don't think that Beckyd will comment as this was in 2018 and I don't think she comes on the forum any longer. I'm sure others will pipe in about fulling too though.
Please feel free to ask more specific questions or comment about how you have been felting and the results you are achieving.
|
|
|
|
Post by lyn on Jan 10, 2024 8:57:09 GMT
This is just how I think:
When the felt passes the pinch test (it passes when you can pinch a few fibres between your finger and thumb and gently lift - the fibres won't come away) the wool fibres have successfully meshed together. But at that point the felt is still weak and then needs fulling (rubbing, rolling or any other kind of agitating) to shrink and harden the felt.
|
|
|
|
Post by caterina on Jan 10, 2024 18:25:49 GMT
I tend to think that the fulling starts after the felt begins to show a regular bumpier surface and some shrinking but it is not water resistant yet and not as much bumpy as it can get and as shrinked as possible...I hope it makes sense and I am not saying silly things, as it took me a while to figure out this one, and I was mightily confused about the felting terms myself.
So fulling should be the very last stage, after it is starting to be felt but before it takes all the proper qualities of fully finished felt. Of course you may want to stop before the fulling, if your aim is not something wearable and durable through usage
If I see water droplets running over the surface and not sinking in, then it is getting to felt nicely, in my opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by Shepherdess on Jan 11, 2024 17:55:50 GMT
Fulling is shrinking and strengthening felt. So, you start out with gentle fulling and gradually use more force. Fulling too hard and too fast doesn't give the fibres a chance to move through the fabric and tangle together well.
|
|
