Felt Sample Resource Study Group

[MTRuth]

Jan and I have been having a discussion about developing a felt sample resource. We would like to form a group to help develop ideas on how we can do that, what the logistics are etc. We would like to have it online so it can be accessed by anyone with photos of each sample, descriptions, micron count, staple length, shrinkage etc for different breeds. 

Would you be interested in joining the group or perhaps you already have a few samples that could be included? I think that everyone probably has different types of wool/other feltable fiber and if we pool our efforts, we can have a very good resource for felt makers. And since it will be online and updateable, we can continue adding to it as we would like. 

I have written a short bit about it in the upcoming newsletter. If you would like to receive the newsletter and you aren't currently, you can sign up on the website here just scroll down and in the right side bar is a sign up box.

[Shepherdess]

This sounds great. The forum is such an easy place to reference things later so they aren't lost.

[mariestdenis]

I would be interested in joining the group for making samples for different breeds of wool and their felting. I think it might be interesting to include a needle felted sample though I have not done much of that.

I have gotten involved after learning to felt through the intro class on here with a program in the US to conserve sheep breeds called Shave Em' to Save 'Em (SE2SE). The basic premise is that fiber artists purchase 4 oz or more (112gm) of sheep fleece or yarn from specific rare breeds and then they post what they make from each breed's fleece. So it gives farmers an outlet for wool and other products to encourage them to raise rare breeds. This is through the Livestock Conservancy www.livestockconservancy.org/index.php/resources/internal/heritage-sheep

[maryfaitfelt]

This sounds really useful and a great resource. It's definitely something I'd use.

[MTRuth]

Thanks 😊

Marie, I will have to look up the Shave to Save group. Perhaps we could combine efforts.

[MTRuth]

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on parameters for the felt sample idea.

What size? How much fiber? How many layers? Specifics on how to felt or full? What information you would like to see such as micron count, staple length, natural color, breed name, country of origin etc.? How to write a description i.e. firmness, drape, hairiness, ease of felting.

Whatever other ideas you might have.

Thanks 😊

[felicity]

It's a great idea Ruth and it could be a very useful resource. My opinion is that breed and micron are the main factors which define the result and I usually consider them when decide on the choice of wool. But another important point is the way the wool was felted and to what level of firmness etc. It's much more difficult to make the samples consistent in way of felting but it could change the appearance of the sample significantly. Unfortunately I work with merino mainly and a bit of Blue Faced Leicester and Bergschauf. But I can make samples of Kap merino and 16 mic merino which are not that commonly used I believe.

[MTRuth]

Thanks Galina, yes, felting method will make a big difference. We are going to work out parameters of the samples and when we have that decided, we would definitely love to have you make samples to include.

[Pandagirl]

I’ll have to take an inventory of what I have. I’ve already posted a couple of blogs on samples. Feel free to use that, too. I can always pull them and add information.