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Post by koffipot on Jul 12, 2015 7:29:39 GMT
I made some Wollknol (sp?) purchases a while ago and have found some less than inspiring. I am not at all keen on the Cap merino. It looks like fluff and I find it difficult to get an even layout. Does anyone have any tips? I can't wait to use it up and make room for something more useful. Fortunately, I only bought a small quantity of Karakul which would possibly make good exfoliators or even pan scrubs! The Ponge and silk hankies, however were a great buy. Moan over.
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Post by halay on Jul 12, 2015 10:18:08 GMT
Sorry to hear that you are disapointed with your purchase. Unlike you, I adore cap merino. I have just tried it and made a flower brooch. It felts in no time and holds the shape, the edges do not frey. However, I wold not use it for scarves. Actually it was Felicity who works a lot with this wool and she sent me a sample of Kap merino. As you know she makes a lot of objects (fish, etc.) and as far as I know she is extremely satisfied with it. I was not satisfied with Karakul either. I made a pair of slipplers and felted and felted for ages before I got something out. It is very rough.
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Post by zed on Jul 12, 2015 11:11:02 GMT
I didn't get the Cap Merino, Judith, but some of the 'batts' I got from there seem a lot like your description. I decided I would use them like I do the black Finnish and BFL noil I got from WoW, for adding texture. I bought Karakul because it was a coarse wool, and different colour to others I have, and I think it worked well on the natural hanging I made. I didn't really have any expectations from it other than it would felt similarly to other coarse wools, so that's its 'job' Why not try making exfoliators with it?!
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Post by Frances on Jul 12, 2015 11:45:55 GMT
I have not felted soap but it sound like the stiff stuff would be great mixed in - like Zed said exfoliaters - they sell those net scrubby things that are kind of rough.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Jul 12, 2015 13:08:24 GMT
Never tried the cap merino, but I recently did try some Karakul, and yes--very coarse and hairy. But I was using it for a pod and really like the effect. It’s good to moan, Judith. Reduces stress and don’t you feel so much better afterward? ;-))
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Post by Teri Berry on Jul 12, 2015 15:03:53 GMT
Great idea for the exfoliating soap bars Frances Judith, I love working with Cap Merino, I assume you took it out of bags and opened it up flat before trying to peel sheets off for laying out? As others have said it felts quickly and makes a nice tight felt. I find it is particularly good for making felt balls (you just need to gently roll a pile of fluff in your hands without water to get it started) and for "painting" with as the colours blend together really nicely during fulling.
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Post by Pandagirl on Jul 12, 2015 16:04:33 GMT
I haven't tried either, but will certainly take this information into consideration if I do. Thanks for sharing everyone!
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Post by koffipot on Jul 12, 2015 18:54:37 GMT
Teri, yes, I opened it up and peeled layers off and it does felt very quickly and it's beautifully soft, but I never seem to get the even layout I can get with roving. I suppose we all have our preferences and by the time I've used up this lot I may even grow to love it.
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Post by Shepherdess on Jul 12, 2015 21:46:19 GMT
Working with batts takes some getting used to. I am starting to like them. they are much faster when laying out a solid colour. They need to be even in thickness. I still feel the layout for how even it is an fill in thin spots. I haven't tried the cap merino. It is short staple isn't it?
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Post by MTRuth on Jul 12, 2015 22:16:27 GMT
I haven't tried the Cap merino but it sounds like the short fiber merino batts I get. I think it is the batt format that is bothering you more than anything. I peel apart and then fill in spots that aren't even on each layer. I agree with Ann that it takes less time for layout. But you still have to be careful about thin spots etc.
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Post by zed on Jul 13, 2015 10:30:54 GMT
This was the photo Judith posted of it a while ago (hope you don't mind, Judith!) flic.kr/p/qWGVKPand though I don't have any labelled as cap merino, I did get some stuff that was very similar, and to me, it isn't just short fibre or not being used to batts, the fibre is just bits and the batts I got looked like fat compressed chunks torn off some large thick batt. None of the felt pieces I made with batts from wollknoll have been as easy to lay out or have felted as evenly/neatly as other batts or tops.
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Post by koffipot on Jul 13, 2015 11:59:29 GMT
That's the one zed. Thanks for posting it, I couldn't remember where I'd stored it. Ann - short is an understatement - it little more than fluff Soft as a cloud though and almost felts itself, it's just the uneven thickness I don't like. I would add that if used for nuno felting, it migrates very quickly and provides a very fine ripple, but there is so much migration that any silky sheen is completely lost.
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sonia
Junior Member
Posts: 44
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Post by sonia on Jul 27, 2015 9:55:26 GMT
Thank you everyone for such an instructive discussion ! Am about to try the kap merino from Wollknoll, so all tips are welcome !
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Post by Pandagirl on Jul 27, 2015 14:42:36 GMT
Sonia, let us know how you like it!
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sonia
Junior Member
Posts: 44
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Post by sonia on Aug 2, 2015 9:39:28 GMT
I have tried out the Kap merino now. I found that laying it thinly on its own was useless, as it wouldnt hold together ( obvious now that I think about it !) I tried a thin layer with silk & altho I wouldnt prefer it for a scarf, I think it would be good for clothing. You would get a thin fabric with some substance. I also laid out a thick layer & think it would be excellent for bags, vessels & even a soft but strong rug ! It has a flat appearance in comparison to other wools, but that could be good for a change. I had two doubts : The Kap I have is white, so would have to be dyed after felting. I know lots of experienced people only work in white & dye their items afterwards. I have always hesitated to do all the work & then risk ruining it during dyeing ! I think I need to do a "dyeing felted clothing" seminar, if I could find one ! I love dyeing fibres, silk, cottons etc but the results can be unpredictable, which is part of the appeal ! I am sure I wouldnt be able to dye it before felting ! It sounds as if some of you are buying it already dyed, so I should try that.
And since it seems to shed little balls a bit when it is wet, I wondered if it would be inclined to do that, in the friction a bag or a rug experiences. However, I have scratched away at it & when dry, it does not shed at all.
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