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Post by teriann on Nov 4, 2012 22:07:56 GMT
Has anyone worked with Icelandic fleece. Last weekend I bought a whole, raw, Icelandic fleece at a local fiber expo. It's the first dual coated "primitive" style fleece that I've worked with. It is black except for a white strip on the chest area. It's from this years fall shearing and the longer fibers are about 8". Now that it's all washed and fresh I'm enjoying gently pulling the locks apart to separate some of the "tog", long "hairy" fibers from the "thel" short wooly fibers. I will set some of it aside for needle felting. I've read that it's good for wet felting but most of what I've found is for commercially prepared roving. Any advice on how to use the fleece for wet felting? Thanks, Teri
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 4, 2012 23:43:12 GMT
I have used icelandic before for wet felting. The thel works great especially if you have it all sorted from the tog. I would just lay out the fiber in a couple of layers and start felting. Were you thinking of making anything in particular?
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 5, 2012 1:03:36 GMT
Tog doesn't really felt. its really smooth hair. the them works well. if you leave the tog in it seems to work its way out as you use the felted item. for something that won't be handled a lot like a vessel or a wall hanging if is of mixed. I have needle felted tog into a other felt. I used it the the wire hair on scottie dogs
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Post by teriann on Nov 5, 2012 1:14:38 GMT
I thought I would try the thel for a scarf.
And I want to try to make some slippers/croc liners for my winter crocs with the various fibers carded together.
I guess I should do some test samples.
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 5, 2012 3:06:55 GMT
Yes do some sampling to see how it goes and how it reacts to being used. The thel is really nice.
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Post by MTRuth on Nov 5, 2012 3:15:28 GMT
Samples are your best bet, then you'll know the shrinkage and how it will work for you.
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Post by Karen on Nov 5, 2012 7:24:30 GMT
I've havent used Islandic before so tog and thel are names ive never even heard of
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Post by felicity on Nov 5, 2012 10:49:09 GMT
I've havent used Islandic before so tog and thel are names ive never even heard of Me too, so enlighten me, please! I've used Icelandic wool (not fleece!) once and liked it very much but I am not sure about the scarf... It's not fine enough to my taste.
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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 5, 2012 12:02:06 GMT
Sorry ladies. tog is the long strait guard hairs and thel is the soft fluffy under coat. Primitive breeds have this double coat, icelandics and shetlands are 2. They also shed their wool. So you harvest the wool by plucking it off as they shed it. they usually let it all go at once. Some of the modern Shetlands no longer shed and some no longer have a double coat.
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Post by teriann on Nov 5, 2012 12:02:29 GMT
I have some guys on my scarf list and I'm trying to figure out what to use. I have some gray alpaca that's a nice true black. But I need something to help hold it together. I had planned to use some gray cormo but the color is a little bit toward brown. It's next to the skin soft but it's not quite tough enough to hold up to even a little bit of beard stubble. The Icelandic fleece is mostly black but there are some parts of the fleece that are a very clean cool gray. If the thel isn't quite as soft but a bit more durable than the cormo maybe it will be a good compromise.
Ann, I think I know what you mean. I made some slippers with a corriedale and mohair blend roving. The longer mohair fibers kept trying to escape from the felt and it was a crazy amount of work to get the whole thing to felt.
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Post by felicity on Nov 5, 2012 13:41:14 GMT
Thank you, Ann!
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Post by koffipot on Nov 5, 2012 14:10:48 GMT
I've made hats and slippers with Icelandic -togs included. It does take a long time to felt, but it's hardwearing. Wouldn't use it for a scarf.
I've made some slippers yesterday with a mixture of fibres to use up bits and pieces. Norwegian on outside, the Icelandic and lined with merino. They're still drying.
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Post by Karen on Nov 5, 2012 21:21:38 GMT
Thanks Ann Pictures please Judith xo
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Post by koffipot on Nov 5, 2012 21:54:59 GMT
Just working on pics, unfortunately the camera battery ran out midway. I'm pleased with my results so far. All still drying as I overdyed them to tone down the white. Camera recharged, so promise pics tomorrow! Just love felted slippers can even wear them in an English summer without getting hot feet!!!!!!!
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Post by mrsplop on Nov 22, 2012 7:46:28 GMT
lol! tog? thel? this is another language! I'm completely lost
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