Category: Textiles

Experiment in Felting part 2

Today, I tried a different approach, I needle felted and wet felted (in that order) a mushroom and a piece of cloth. And then I dyed them with a paintbrush. The dye was uncontrollable on the mushroom and on the piece of cloth, the shading was quite decent, although I could have done it better:

The mushroom, although interesting, was not what I wanted to achieve, so I put it aside in order to work with the cloth. The cloth was not totally felted so I could assemble it and give it the shape of a dome. I added a foot and this is what I got:

This is the kind of shading I want, I like that very much. I enhanced it with a bit of silk here and there, a few suspicious red dots and some sparkling angelina fibers and tada!

Now, my faith in felt is restored, I can perhaps spend the rest of the day painting. I think from now on, I will make lots of little pre-felted pieces and dye them with beautiful shadings, ready to be incorporated into my 3D felting or into goblin clothing..

I wish I had enough space to make a little felted garden. Maybe I’ll make one on a little shelf. I just have to find a space on my walls!.

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Experiments in felting

I’ve been working with different techniques this afternoon in order to restore my faith in felt.

For the first experiment, I needle felted and then wet felted with soap, and finally added more fibers with a needle.

For the second experiment, I just spread some fibers on top of some fusible paper and ironed. Then after, I added fibers with a needle. It actually felt easier because of the fusible fabric.

And here is what they look like shaped like pixie’s hats. The wet felted one:

And the fusible paper one:

The latter is a bit more fragile but I prefer it. Also, of course, it didn’t take as long. I think I prefer it but I’m not sure. I’m still not satisfied.

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Pixie’s Goblin

This is a little guardian for my Pixie. At first, I needle felted everything and I was not satisfied. I’ve been dissatisfied with felting for a long while, this is why I felted less often than I’d like because it always led me to disappointment. I wish I could take a course with a Russian needle felting master but this is not possible and perhaps this is not my thing. Instead, I followed my vision and used everything that could help me to reach my goal. I tore off the head. Very nasty, but the goblin listened to my plea and agreed.

Then I made another head with paper clay (paper maché), I inserted glass eyes, sanded the face and I varnished the head before painting on it. I reworked the crown to define it more, I applied clear varnish on the inside. I also used bits of my hand woven fabrics and I think I will definitely go in that direction, incorporate more weaving while still felting the body and adding felted elements like leaves, stars and the like. I also added bits of organza here and there. And here he is, shimmering and very pleased with my work.

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Vassilissa My Friend

As I was finishing my felted lamp this morning, I got completely carried away and forgot I had to go to work! Fortunately, there is still time to post these two (bad) pictures and pack some lunch before I leave. I also wanted to proudly announce: I got my driving license!

This Norwegian wool is fantastic! I’ll never go back to Merino!