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Post by Shepherdess on Nov 12, 2014 3:25:07 GMT
There is no right way. Rut is right that you have to watch for uneven batts. It sound like you had an "art" batt. They are meant to be used as a batt or what's the point of making them. I would use them as you were going to as the last layer. Some people are very rigid. I have had teachers like that too when I was beginning. They only know how to do it one way.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 11:29:05 GMT
Thanks everyone. I greatly appreciated all your opinions. I will put that experience behind me and go on and use my pretty art batts as they are created.
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Post by zed on Nov 12, 2014 11:43:19 GMT
I don't make my batts with any particular intention for use, they could be used as is, spread out a bit so they're not too thick, or pulled off like tops, it all depends what effect I'm after really.
I think a few loud expletives would have been out of my mouth if anyone had touched my work like that, Judy. How awful, so rude and patronising. Maybe she was new to felting and only had limited knowledge.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2014 11:49:07 GMT
Hello Zed. No she was Not a new teacher. She has been teaching at the fiber festival for many years and all her classes are All day classes (6 hours)...and she had 5 different classes each day of the fiber festival.. I know she has lost me as a student forever..
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Post by zed on Nov 12, 2014 12:01:01 GMT
That's even worse then, even if you stick to the same methods yourself, you should always explain alternatives. And never snatch at someone's work. What's the worst that could have happened, the batt was too thick and took longer to felt or something? Still a way to learn.
I know how you feel, I had attitude and awful customer service from a supplier years ago, I never used them again.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 12, 2014 13:32:56 GMT
Wow, what an experience, Judy! Good example of how NOT to teach a class! As for batts, I consider them a luxury purchase and use them “as is” for laying out felting projects, particularly when I want to focus on embellishments. But batts are not all created equal, so the individual does need to assess each batt and determine whether or not the thickness is appropriate for the project.
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Post by Frances on Nov 12, 2014 14:12:02 GMT
Wow - I have only taken one felting class and the instructor pointed and made suggestions but did not touch my work - have taken lots of floral design classes and the instructor always asks permission before moving any plant material. Very rude instructor!
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Post by felicity on Nov 12, 2014 16:10:42 GMT
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 12, 2014 21:33:07 GMT
What do you think of the prices, Felicity? Thanks for the link--I have to give the “batt girl” credit for giving Etsy a go!
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Post by felicity on Nov 12, 2014 22:14:57 GMT
I don't know Cathy, I think it's reasonable... Not sure about quality, it looks very much "homemade". I am buying carded wool in Germany or Bulgaria. German quality is well known and Bulgarian wool is unexpensive.
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Post by koffipot on Nov 12, 2014 23:56:26 GMT
The Etsy batts look very uneven. Makes me wonder if you'd have to start pulling them apart to get an even layer, defeating the purpose of buying a batt!
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Post by koffipot on Nov 12, 2014 23:58:17 GMT
Where and who in Germany and Bulgaria are your suppliers Felicity?
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Post by zed on Nov 13, 2014 11:25:04 GMT
They're all listed as Spinning batts though, Judith. I've noticed from flickr contacts that more texturey batts with locks and other stuff are popular for spinning art yarns from.
The prices aren't too bad really knowing personally just how long it actually does take to make one, and if the wool is from their farm, they probably had to clean it themselves too. If you charged just a living wage for the production of one made from commercial Merino and fibres blended together, you wouldn't charge less than £8 for an 80g batt. That's without the £3 or £4 cost of wool/fibres.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Nov 13, 2014 13:49:42 GMT
I’ve never made a batt--and I obviously do not have a carder--but I appreciate the fact that making batts is time-consuming. However, I agree with koffipot in that when purchasing a batt, I expect evenness, otherwise why bother? I tend to favor plain batts of one color to use as background for landscape designs or wearables.
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Post by felicity on Nov 13, 2014 15:28:23 GMT
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