I now run small informal felting workshops around my farmhouse table in Co Leitrim, Ireland. The next course for complete beginners is on 21st April 2007. Come and join us ...
Please view Workshops & Courses on my other blog for more details at www.sallygardens.typepad.com
or email me at danbecky@iolfree.ie
You will need to buy some carded (brushed) fleece from a supplier, there are many great mail order shops, Google 'felt' or 'fleece fibres'.
Choose your colours and have to hand a bar of soap, a little jug of hand hot water, a square of net curtain (try the charity shops), a bamboo blind or bamboo place matt, and a pair of hands!
Hold the end of your fleece loosely in one hand and gently tease/pull off a section with your other hand (holding your four fingers against the pad of your palm and trapping the fleece there) Lay this down in a line. Proceed to lay another overlapping line and continue until you have covered the area.
Next begin to lay a second layer in the opposite direction to the fibres on the first layer.
Continue laying layers at alternate angles until the fleece is about an inch thick. Feel for any think patches and pad these up with extra layers.
Place the net curtain over the top of the fleece and gently pour warm soapy water onto the net. Hold the net in place and spread the water through the fleece, add more water to ensure all the wool is wet but not sopping.
Place a soapy hand on top of the net and slowly begin to rub lightly in small circles, working your way over the entire surface of the net. Rub gently at first, once the fleece has started to felt you can rub a little harder. If the net catches and moves, add more soap to your hands to lubricate them.
At regular intervals lift the net and untangle any fibres that are beginning to stick to the net. When the fleece looks sturdy enough to be turned over without tearing apart, turn it gently, and rub the other side.
When the second side is similarly sturdy place it on the bamboo mat and roll it up. Roll the mat back and forth about 40 times then unroll it, turn the felt at right angles and roll again. Keep turning the felt around to various angles, rub, and repeat. Turn the felt over and repeat on the other side.
At this stage you will notice it is shrinking considerable as the fibres mat together. You can fold the felt and rub it on itself quite effectively, or if you find this distorts your work, just keep using the mat. Once it starts to wrinkle slightly you are nearly there. Keep rubbing and rolling until you reach your desired effect. For garments the felt should be totally matted and flat, for decorative work you can leave it more fluffy if you prefer.
Depending on your desired finished you can 'rub' the felt on itself, this causes the surface to ruffle. I like this effect on wall hangings, other people prefer to avoid it. Its up to you.
By choosing your desired colours and layering them with various yarns, threads, beads or even fabric scraps, you can build your creation. The possibilities are endless. This is an example of a bogland landscape, inspired by the Bog of Allen in the Irish midlands. Experiment with colours and materials, begin with abstract experiments. You can cut up your results and sew them back together to make toys, slippers, brooches and corsages.
