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| Various colourful wool tops |
It
was great spending an afternoon teaching wet felting to four talented
beginners. Everybody started with felting a bead to experience the
process of felting and the transformation from fluffy wool fibres into a
well felted object.
Then
templates were chosen or cut to create a seamless pouch, vessel or
wrist cuffs. Now the question, which colours to choose from a vast
variety of colour shades.
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| Merino wool tops |
Then everybody was ready to start laying out the fibres in scales, covering the first layer with a net and sprinkling hot water on the surface, adding glycerine soap and eventually gently padding down the fibres which were absorbing the water. Trust in the process and my reassurance that all was going well was needed. Some little mistakes helped to demonstrate how to improve for a better outcome.
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| One layer of wool fibres |
Two or three criss-cross layers on each side of the template were felted into beautiful felted objects. Embellishments were made with creativity and accuracy and well designed colour combinations. Then the rubbing started to connect and interlock the fibres into a felted fabric. Eventually the pinch test showed that the fibres were matting together and the rolling and waulking could start which helpsed to shrink and firm the felted items. "Yeah, it has shrunk!", was the happy and amazed expression I've heard a couple of times.
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| The fibres have bonded |
-I still find it magical when the fibres bind and a firm fabric develops
under my hands. The following photos show the finished items from this
wet felt workshop. Four happy participants left with a new experience
and their beautiful felted items. The little bags still need a cord and a
lining for the finishing touch.
The next dates for wet felt workshops will be on
Saturday, 19th March and 16. April 2016, 2.00-5.30pm. Costs: £22. Please book your place
asap.
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| Wrist cuffs from Shetland wool |
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| Felted vessel |
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| Little merino wool bag |
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| Little felted bag |
