Using a Sander with Wet Felting

[Shepherdess]

Those look great. You can buy special textured rolling pins for fulling and they are expensive. It kind of like using a wash board but you rub with it instead of on it. I would take one apart and use them individually for spot fulling.

I will try to take some pictures. perhaps it will motivate me to make something. I have been very lazy lately.

[Pandagirl]

I've used bamboo mats, blinds, solar cover but usually end up with bubble wrap especially for Nuno. The solar cover I bought I think was too heavy and stiff. If I got any more, I'd definitely get a lighter weight. I prefer rolling, but because I had back surgery last April I knew I wouldn't be able to do that for a long time.(still not supposed to ;-)) My husband encouraged me to buy a felting machine I had seen advertised. I was fortunate to get one on sale. It's not the same. You still have to roll and unroll then readjust the machine which for me is still challenging and I have to be careful. I try to roll at least the first 4 to 8 turns since you start lightly. I feel I have more control over the design. The woman I bought the machine from swears by it. She hates to roll. It has definitely filled a need for me for this past year, but I'm looking forward to being able to roll a whole project again. There is something about the process for me that has a zen quality. :-)

[luvswool and dyestuff]

It's so fun to see how differently everyone approaches the felting method--with plastic and rollers and even a machine! Guess the key is finding whatever you are comfortable with. For me, I'm looking forward to trying my "foot massager" on my next felting project (a cat mat, I think!) Still interested in hearing about the dryer felting/fulling method.

[koffipot]

I use the rubbery shelf liner on a towel for fulling. I've also used Ann's cold tumble drier method for nuno which works very well.

Put some music on (not blues ) and 'rock and roll'!

You don't have to do it all in one go - when you're tired take a break.

[halay]

For nuno felting I start with bubble wrap, bubbles facing down (this is what I saw somewhere on the Internet)and at a later stage I turn them up. I cover the piece with a curtain and use an improvised roller (a tube they are selling for insulation of wires).I use my own hand and arms for rolling and make frequent pauses. Five minutes is maximum I can do. I try to roll for 40 minuets in total. having read your comments on using a sander I believe there are no short cuts.

[lyn]

Agree Halay - with 'delicate' felting it's got to be 'bubbles down', but when making felt with several layers, 'bubbles up' seems to work quicker. I do lift and replace the bubble wrap (top and bottom) several times so that the bubbles are not always in the same place.

And yes, felt cannot be rushed. It knows when you're impatient and responds by misbehaving!

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Halay, OK, so if you are rolling for a total of 40 minutes, 5 minutes at a time--do you ever continue the felting process to the next day?
Lyn, never thought about moving the bubble wrap…do you use the net over the bubble wrap and if so, for how long?

[Shepherdess]

I leave stuff and come back the next day all the time. You can even let things dry and rewet them.

[lyn]

luvswool - I lay the fibres out on bubble wrap, then cover with net to wet down, draw bar soap over then agitate very gently through the net. When the fibres have 'settled', I remove the net and replace it with bubble wrap.

[Pandagirl]

With Nuno or an intricate design I lay it down on bubble wrap, spray it down first, cover it with tulle, rub the soap over the netting like Lyn then after a few rolls I replace the netting with Saran Wrap until it starts to felt. When I do a double sided piece, I use Saran Wrap under and over along with flipping boards. I have also stopped and started projects when necessary. I usually cover it with plastic to keep it moist. Although if I wasn't going to finish it within a day, I'd let it dry out. I do try to plan for a full day, but it doesn't always work out. :-). I think everyone experiments until they find what works for them and the energy and space they have to work with.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Thanks Lyn and Pandagirl! Yes, I have been using the tulle and rubbing with olive oil soap, and then removing later….but always a bit nervous when replacing with bubble wrap. Sometimes I will start a project in the afternoon and then lose steam, so nice to now the process can be "put on hold."

[Pandagirl]

If I'm picturing what you're saying right, you're putting the bubble wrap on after you use the net and soap? If you lay the project out on the bubble wrap first you're not moving the design around a lot. Just removing the tulle to check out the progress.

[koffipot]

It's an art rather than a science. No strict rules - do what works best for you.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Good point, Koffipot. I tend to agonize over it right now, but am sure I will loosen up as time goes by!

[halay]

There are so many different approaches as I can see from your posts: I place a towel first, then a bubble wrap, lay wool, spray it with soapy water (cold) and cover with very thin plastic sheeting which we use here for protecting furniture when painting, press down so as not to disturb the pattern, remove the sheet and put on the netting. Then I start rubbing using warm water and olive oil soap.