An easy pouch, with resist

[caterina]

Hello!
I am still on holiday and meeting my sister-in-law tomorrow, after 2 years of videocalls: ops, I forgot to bring anything for her birthday, so I had to improvise with the meager stash that I brought with me in my luggage! :-)
Great, I had the chance to practice with a resist!

I have wetfelted her a pouch with merino 23mic: she loves the colour blue, luckily that is one of the few colours that I brought on holiday. My sister-in-law loves playing padel and sport in general, so I went for something flattish that can hold a change of underwear or a pair of shoes or toiletries or...anything she wants to keep safe in a backpack when she goes to the gym.

Here it is:
www.dropbox.com/s/m6rif0x7c6qb0pq/img_20210904_171539.jpg?dl=0

When it's open:
www.dropbox.com/s/x8zwv47xvey5g96/img_20210904_170744.jpg?dl=0

The inside is eggshell colour, for contrast (and because I did not have enough of the blue wool :-))) :
www.dropbox.com/s/1rias2kog4wdg24/img_20210904_170751.jpg?dl=0

My father-in-law has provided a sander for me to use, so my work has been much aided by technology: I liked the opportunity to try one, and I will think about buying one in the future, if I will have to felt big projects or many layers.
The noise is a bit unnerving in the long run, but I only used it for a short time (my toddler nephew was going to have a nap, so I had to stop), and it really cuts the rolling time amazingly.

I made some mistakes due to rushing the layout and a lot of distractions, but I doubt she will notice: having more experience now, I will make her something even better when I will be back home, maybe.
So, I guess I am ready for tomorrow and my sister-in-law! :-)

[lyn]

I'm glad you had one photo with your hand in it as it shows the size of the pouch.

It's very pretty and I'm sure she'll love it - all the more because you made it for her!

[caterina]

Sept 4, 2021 20:26:02 GMT lyn said:

I'm glad you had one photo with your hand in it as it shows the size of the pouch.

It's very pretty and I'm sure she'll love it - all the more because you made it for her!

Thank you, Lyn. I hope so :-)

[MTRuth]

I'm sure it will be appreciated, it looks great.

[caterina]

Sept 5, 2021 0:16:23 GMT MTRuth said:

I'm sure it will be appreciated, it looks great.

Thank you, Ruth.
I liked trying it, and I was very pleased with how the finishing layer design came out, with no foreplanning on my part and a lot of pressure to finish as soon as possible to clear the table for lunch! Very sporty design, and with different blues: I think my sister-in-law will like it.

I made some mistakes, that I hope to learn from.
I did not draw the resist before cutting it, so the shape was not perfectly symmetrical, and I had to shape it a bit during drying. I will think it out better next time, drawing a regular shape is important!

Also, my layout was not regular enough on the edges, because I was afraid of thicker edges. Some if the wool was starting to felt a bit, probably due to the travel and being roughed out in my luggage inside plastic bags for a month, so it was not easy to keep the layout very regular. I have a couple of thinner patches, not holes yet, but not okay. I am still finding a middle way between too thick and too thin edges. Practice should cure that. :-)

If I had more time and wool, I would add a couple of layers and a pocket as well. It's so easy to add a pocket, and they are so useful, that I would definitely make one.
I am always in doubt about layers, I am always afraid that I will have too many and will not be able to felt it all by hand rolling. In this case, it was part because of that (had I known that my father-in-law would lend me his sander, I would have been more confident) and part because I knew that I did not have enough wool for another layer. I guess I always need to lay one more layer that I would instinctively add, and I will be fine, especially if I buy a sander and use it judiciously.

Now I am eager to go back home and make some more to improve! 😄

[caterina]

This photo shows the resist compared to the final result.
www.dropbox.com/s/brthd0p3bpaez61/img-20210905-wa0003.jpeg?dl=0

The resist is clearly not symmetrical and irregular: I realised it only afterwards :-)

[Shepherdess]

It is a great improvised present. I am sure she loved it.

[MTRuth]

I like the asymmetrical look of handcrafted or hand drawn items as it shows the "hand" of the artist. We can buy the "perfectly" symmetrical items at Walmart or whatever store that sells items that are imported cheaply. I would rather see the "imperfections".

[caterina]

Thank you for the encouragement, Ann and Ruth. :-)
You have a point, Ruth: for myself, I would like an asymmetrical handmade object better than an anonymous regular one. Maybe I know that this time it was truly a rushed job, and I wish I had more time to think before doing. :-)

Anyway, my sister-in-law immediately grasped its function and versatility, she seemed pleased to received it and was impressed that I had made it, so I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder :-)

[Pandagirl]

I’m sure your sister will be thrilled! Handmade is always a good idea.

[caterina]

Sept 10, 2021 17:03:43 GMT Pandagirl said:

I’m sure your sister will be thrilled! Handmade is always a good idea.

Thanks!
Yes, and it beats buying more plastic or techno gadgets as presents hands down! Particularly because I hate the time wasted looking for gift ideas online, whereas I enjoyed myself making the felt pouch: total win! :-)