Natural wool top

[tracey]

As I have only really felted using Merino, (and a failed attempt with alpaca), to experiment more I have some Corriedale on route from WOW.  Am I right in thinking natural wool tops are slower to felt? Would appreciate any other tips or downsides, thanks.

[simplynaturalfarm]

forgive my ignorance, but you are asking if tops will felt slower than what? I find tops are not hard to felt, just have to orient them properly as their fibers are all aligned. 

[tracey]

I am asking if on the whole natural tops are slower than Merino to felt, and if they have any drawbacks. Sorry I did not understand or could answer your welcome questions, but hang fire, someone will I'm sure.

[MTRuth]

Tracey - the ease of felting in my opinion depends on the wool breed rather than how the wool was processed. Breeds felt differently. Make a small sample first to figure out shrinkage and how it felts. Corriedale felts easily in my experience. I like to use different breeds other than Merino but if you are used to Merino only, give the other breeds a chance. They might felt differently or take longer or shrink differently but they are all useful and fun in their own way.

[koffipot]

Tracey - It depends on the breed, some wool fibres felt more quickly and easily than others. Merino is one of the quickest and easiest though Corriedale is easy to felt too. Alpaca is more problematical as it's a smooth fibre, unlike wool which has tiny scales which grab onto each other.

zed has sampled more fibres than you could shake a stick at and is undoubtedly the best source of information.

[tracey]

Jan 7, 2017 22:06:24 GMT MTRuth said:

Tracey - the ease of felting in my opinion depends on the wool breed rather than how the wool was processed. Breeds felt differently. Make a small sample first to figure out shrinkage and how it felts. Corriedale felts easily in my experience. I like to use different breeds other than Merino but if you are used to Merino only, give the other breeds a chance. They might felt differently or take longer or shrink differently but they are all useful and fun in their own way.

Thanks very much for that Ruth.  Yes I am just trying to tear myself away from Merino for once. I asked for WOW's advice and they suggested Corriedale. I will definitely make a small sample first though to get a feel for it, thanks for that prompt, I would probably have gone big straight away.

[tracey]

Jan 7, 2017 22:08:07 GMT koffipot said:

Tracey - It depends on the breed, some wool fibres felt more quickly and easily than others. Merino is one of the quickest and easiest though Corriedale is easy to felt too. Alpaca is more problematical as it's a smooth fibre, unlike wool which has tiny scales which grab onto each other.

zed has sampled more fibres than you could shake a stick at and is undoubtedly the best source of information.

Thanks a lot Judith,  looking forward to trying something different,  with no qualms now.

[felicity]

In general natural wool of the same breed felts better then processed(dyed)one. Before dyeing wool usually is bleached sometimes exceedingly (depending on technology used)and it affects the way wool felt. As for Corridale breed it felts easy indeed but a bit hairy to my taste !

[Pandagirl]

I frequently combine merino and Corriedale. Both felt easily. I've not had good experience with alpaca unless it's been in roving form. Many other breeds are hairy or spongy, it's all a matter of experimenting. You can search here or on our blog www.feltingandfiberstudio.com. There are many examples of sampling different breeds.

[Shepherdess]

I like corriedale for making pots and birdhouses. It felts easily and holds it shape well.

[halay]

I've noticed that some colours of merino tops do not felt equally well. I assume they have all been pre-treated in the same way before being dyed. Have any of you experieenced the same?

[koffipot]

Yes Nada. In fact dyed Merino tops can even feel very different from colour to colour.

[lyn]

I agree Nada - the dyed wool tops do seem to behave differently. Also, there are two merino whites available and I find the brilliant white more difficult to felt than the creamy white.

[felicity]

Nada, Lyn this is because of bleaching wool underwent before dyeing. Which is especially strong to achieve brilliant white colour.

[wolgelukkig]

I understand what you mean Tracey. Merino is such a nice wool to felt with that it is easy to use it again and again. But it is good to come out of your comfort zone and try something different. I used Gotland wooltop last week for legwarmers and making long ropes and it was so nice to work with and gave good soft though strong quality felt. I also experimented with alpaca and although I hear many people having not so good results I like it very much for toplayers. But I always use natural colors for the inside and middle part of the felting piece and if I want color I lay 2 layers of color on top. The colored wool mingles with the deeper layers and after fulling I often dye the felted piece with just a few drops of a corresponding color.