Warm coloured vessels

[lindsay]

I’ve made a few vessels over the last couple of days as I need some new things for an exhibition (or to fill gaps in the gallery shop when I take other things to the exhibition).  

I made some with a flat resist and some with an inflatable / deflatable ball. 

As the weather’s a bit grey and chilly I decided to use some warm-coloured merino for these two.  Both were made on the ball. 

www.ipernity.com/doc/2373440/48210288

www.ipernity.com/doc/2373440/48210290

Although it’s tricky to get the wool round the ball to start with, I do like working the ball (you can roll it around and bounce it!) and I find I get a smoother finish and rounder shape than with a flat resist. 

[lyn]

Love them both! An advantage of using the ball is that you can make a smaller hole... but it is trickier to get the wool fibres in place.

[lindsay]

Mar 6, 2019 10:31:48 GMT lyn said:

Love them both! An advantage of using the ball is that you can make a smaller hole... but it is trickier to get the wool fibres in place.

Completely agree. Funnily enough I wrote this when I posted above but decided I was going on for too long - my posts are already twice as long as everyone else’s - so I deleted that bit! This is the first time I’ve completely finished the vessel before cutting out the ball. Only possible because I knew where the valve was so was able to keep letting out air as it shrunk. 

[MTRuth]

The vessels are great. I find it very tricky to get the fiber around a ball. And don't worry about going on too long. I love hearing the details.

I peeked at your stamped Angelina. Cool!

[lyn]

Love long posts Lindsay!

[Pandagirl]

No problem with long posts Lindsay. I’ve only once used a ball. It makes sense to use one with a valve. The vessels are lovely.

[pamster]

Lindsay, all the details are what make your posts so helpful and inspiring for novices like me

Where do you source inflatable balls?

[Shepherdess]

They look great. I like your long posts. They are always interesting.
I hate laying out over a ball but I have used a resist until it was just hanging together and then removed the resist and inserted a ball or balloon. But you do need a bigger hole.

[lindsay]

That’s nice, Pamster, thank you. I just use any cheap smooth children’s ball that has a valve then I inflate it with a bicycle pump. Pound / dollar stores and large supermarkets often stock them. Smaller balls tend to be easier.

It’s helpful to put the ball on a small bowl or ring of some kind to keep it stable. If you lightly spray the ball with water before you start and also spray between layers it helps the wool to stick. You can get about two thirds down the ball like that then put some netting over the top, add a little warm soapy water and start to rub the top lightly then flip it over using the net to stabilise it and add wool to the bald bits.

It is a bit tricky but with a light touch and a little patience it works well. It’s a good idea to put a small circle of contrasting scrap felt or prefelt over the valve at the start so you can find it easily. Then you rub with warm soapy water in the usual way and as the felt starts to shrink you push the bicycle pump connector (I don’t know what it’s called!) through the felt into the valve to release a little air. Rub, roll and bounce it, release a bit more air, and so on till it’s fulled. To finish you cut out a small circle over the valve, release all the air and gently twist out the deflated ball. I then packed the felt with strips of bubble wrap to help it keep its shape while it dries.

Hope that’s helpful.

[Shepherdess]

Lindsay when we did it in a class I took we used pantyhose tops. I have lots because of cutting the legs off to make dryer balls.

[pamster]

Thanks Lindsay, very helpful

[lindsay]

Mar 8, 2019 2:17:05 GMT Shepherdess said:

Lindsay when we did it in a class I took we used pantyhose tops. I have lots because of cutting the legs off to make dryer balls.

Thanks, Ann

Yes, I’ve seen that on tutorials and have tried it once but I found it impossible with one person - you need one to stretch and hold open the tights / pantyhose and another to hold / feed in the ball.  I’ve also used cling film / Saran Wrap which holds things together well but makes wetting down a bit more tricky. 

[Antje]

I'm joining late into this conversation - love the vessels they look great.

Panty hose - I’ve had such visions of arms and legs flying everywhere it made me smile. Using cut-off panty hose single handedly....I’ve pulled the top of them over a wooden kitchen chair back, then with one hand pulled out into a triangle shape. Using my spare hand I’ve then placed the object (don't put it out of arms reach!) into the triangular space and carefully closed the panty hose over. Still fiddly but I’ve made it work.

Flat felting a vessel with a small hole - use a soft flexible resist, create a very very small hole to start on one side (it could also be cut in once partly felted), and strengthen it with a flat ring of drafted fibre following around the hole. Felt as usual making sure you are not 'pulling' the hole wider, but rather rubbing at a tangent to the hole. When the resist seems to be curling twist-remove it. Full the Felt being carefull around the hole.
Drying - To ensure the shape I want I insert a balloon and blow it up just enough to allow me to manipulate it....such as standing it in a bowl with another on top perhaps. Amazing how different containers and the use of weight can create different shapes. Obviously it is not totally enclosed to allow the moisture out. I also often put it onto kitchen towel paper before putting it into the container- it helps wick out the moisture.

Hope my experience is of some use.

[lindsay]

Great advice, Antje. I love the chair back, tights, 2 hands image. Skills!

[zed]

Great vessels, Lindsay