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Post by flights on Apr 5, 2021 8:13:01 GMT
The first item I even made when I was learning felt was a flower. The second was a cobweb scarf. I was advised to place the roving down the middle of the table and very gently and systematically pull the fibres outwards until the entire bubblewrap was overed - this was an area of approximately 2m x 1m. This was just wool roving, no other fibres involved. The finished wrap was ultra light and surprisingly strong but I don't have this sort of space at home so have never made one since! Obviously with this method of laying out one long length of roving once can't employ the method of laying out 1/3 and folding over for the next third etc.
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Post by caterina on Apr 5, 2021 9:19:03 GMT
The first item I even made when I was learning felt was a flower. The second was a cobweb scarf. I was advised to place the roving down the middle of the table and very gently and systematically pull the fibres outwards until the entire bubblewrap was overed - this was an area of approximately 2m x 1m. This was just wool roving, no other fibres involved. The finished wrap was ultra light and surprisingly strong but I don't have this sort of space at home so have never made one since! Obviously with this method of laying out one long length of roving once can't employ the method of laying out 1/3 and folding over for the next third etc. Wow, that is a very interesting technique to try! I don't have as much space as that, but maybe I can manage a little less..or,let me see, maybe do it on the floor? I am not familiar with the other method you are mentioning: laying out 1/3 and folding? Are there tutorials about both those 2 methods that you mention that I may have a look at, please? Thank you for your ideas! |
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gillh
New Member
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Post by gillh on Apr 12, 2021 17:03:14 GMT
Caterina,
If you have a smaller space and table it is possible to work in sections. say you have a small kitchen table. Decide on your item and desired length and width. as long as the width fits onto your table you can work on it in sections, rolling the finished layout on a pool noodle so that you can then work on the next section.
I suggest you plan your desired layout, make sketches showing direction of you wool shingles, viscose, perfelts etc.,and photograph each stage so that you remember what you have done and what the next section should look like ( it saves a lot of heartache, believe me). wet and soap each section & cover with plastic drop cloth, rub as usual to a prefelt stage then roll it up and move on to the next section. Just make sure that your plastic, bubble wrap etc., is the correct length for the whole project.
Have a look at Lena Archbold's website. She's based in the UK and has some really good classes with excellent videos and support, she will answer any questions. I'm a member of her monthly classes "Felting with Lena". I don't always make the monthly project but I do watch the tutorials and always learn something.
I hope this helps a bit, I find it's better to see someone doing it! Glad to help if I can. Have fun.
Gill
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Post by caterina on Apr 13, 2021 12:47:14 GMT
Caterina, If you have a smaller space and table it is possible to work in sections. say you have a small kitchen table. Decide on your item and desired length and width. as long as the width fits onto your table you can work on it in sections, rolling the finished layout on a pool noodle so that you can then work on the next section. I suggest you plan your desired layout, make sketches showing direction of you wool shingles, viscose, perfelts etc.,and photograph each stage so that you remember what you have done and what the next section should look like ( it saves a lot of heartache, believe me). wet and soap each section & cover with plastic drop cloth, rub as usual to a prefelt stage then roll it up and move on to the next section. Just make sure that your plastic, bubble wrap etc., is the correct length for the whole project.Have a look at Lena Archbold's website. She's based in the UK and has some really good classes with excellent videos and support, she will answer any questions. I'm a member of her monthly classes "Felting with Lena". I don't always make the monthly project but I do watch the tutorials and always learn something. I hope this helps a bit, I find it's better to see someone doing it! Glad to help if I can. Have fun. Gill Thank you, Gillh. This seems a very interesting thing to try in my limited space. I will check out Lena Archbold, thank you for the suggestion! Caterina |
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gillh
New Member
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Post by gillh on Apr 13, 2021 19:59:33 GMT
Caterina,
I think you would get a lot out of joining Lena Archbold's monthly felting tutorials. It works out cheaper than buying individual classes and, as I said, she gives a lot of support.
One of the things I try to do, especially when testing a new layout or technique, is to make a sample using the materials and techniques specified. It doesn't have to be too big; 10" x 10" or 20" x 20" works well. If you do this you can work out your shrinkage ratio and from this calculate how large your work has to be to begin with. Remember typically, the thinner the layout the more it will shrink. Rubbing your wet/soapy layout with a thin sheet of plastic on the top will spread the water and make sure that all the fibers are wet and soapy, the soap allows the wool to open and then bind together. Too much soap and they won't attach, in the Uk I have used Fairy liquid but I prefer to grate olive oil soap and make a slurry of it which I then add to water.
A tip to tell if your fibers have felted is to look at it; it should look like lots of tiny hills and when you rub it between your thumb and forefinger it should feel as if there is a small piece of grit inside. Unfelted wool can look straight and slightly fluffy, check both sides of your work. Remember not to use too hot water as it will felt the wool before any other fibers/silk etc., have had a chance to bond. I have a table that has bubble wrap (a swimming pool cover) on top. I layout my fibers on a sheet of plastic and cover it with another. If you use two sheets of bubble wrap on a thin layout you may find that it makes holes when you rub. I like the bubble surface for fulling the wool, using it like a washboard. I hope some of this is helpful.
Gill
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Post by caterina on Apr 14, 2021 11:05:04 GMT
Caterina, I think you would get a lot out of joining Lena Archbold's monthly felting tutorials. It works out cheaper than buying individual classes and, as I said, she gives a lot of support. One of the things I try to do, especially when testing a new layout or technique, is to make a sample using the materials and techniques specified. It doesn't have to be too big; 10" x 10" or 20" x 20" works well. If you do this you can work out your shrinkage ratio and from this calculate how large your work has to be to begin with. Remember typically, the thinner the layout the more it will shrink. Rubbing your wet/soapy layout with a thin sheet of plastic on the top will spread the water and make sure that all the fibers are wet and soapy, the soap allows the wool to open and then bind together. Too much soap and they won't attach, in the Uk I have used Fairy liquid but I prefer to grate olive oil soap and make a slurry of it which I then add to water. A tip to tell if your fibers have felted is to look at it; it should look like lots of tiny hills and when you rub it between your thumb and forefinger it should feel as if there is a small piece of grit inside. Unfelted wool can look straight and slightly fluffy, check both sides of your work. Remember not to use too hot water as it will felt the wool before any other fibers/silk etc., have had a chance to bond. I have a table that has bubble wrap (a swimming pool cover) on top. I layout my fibers on a sheet of plastic and cover it with another. If you use two sheets of bubble wrap on a thin layout you may find that it makes holes when you rub. I like the bubble surface for fulling the wool, using it like a washboard. I hope some of this is helpful. Gill Thank you for sharing your experience, Gill. I feel that I have so much to learn, monthly felting tutorials would not be wasted 😊. I will try making samples, to understand wool better. Thanks. Caterina |
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shay
New Member
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Post by shay on Apr 15, 2021 16:12:55 GMT
For light plastic sheeting, I buy disposable table cloths (the plastic kind) from the Dollar Store. They are very inexpensive and you can buy in clear or coloured (depending on your needs). They are also good if you are wanting to try the shake-felting techniques. I reuse them.... a lot.
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Post by caterina on Apr 17, 2021 9:24:16 GMT
For light plastic sheeting, I buy disposable table cloths (the plastic kind) from the Dollar Store. They are very inexpensive and you can buy in clear or coloured (depending on your needs). They are also good if you are wanting to try the shake-felting techniques. I reuse them.... a lot. This seems very inexpensive and easy to find. Thank you, Shay. Caterina |
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