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Stitching & Crafting Room:  Felted Wool  |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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quiltedess
True Blue Farmgirl
296 Posts
Nancy
Priest River
ID
USA
296 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 04 2006 : 12:52:05 PM
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Kay: just be sure to check on the amount of wool that's in it. But, really if it isn't going to get a lot of wear, it shouldn't matter too much. There's ALL kinds of felted wool and if you like the look of it, go for it.
Nancy
http://quiltedprairie.blogspot.com/ |
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jenny louise
True Blue Farmgirl
166 Posts
jennifer
cass city
MI
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2006 : 02:37:01 AM
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| I would love to see that, and i was just in the city yesterday. It is an hour drive one way, so I only make it about every couple of months. I went right by a JoAnnes, too. Did it say felt, or felted wool? I agree with Nancy, check to see the wool content. I love the 'feel' of wool. But it does depend on your project, the cool felted purses that are in are actually knitted pure wool yarn ,and then felted. Neat think to get into, and so much fun. Love and Light, jenny |
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Tatiana
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Tania
Boise
ID
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2006 : 10:09:17 AM
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The stuff I have seen at JoAnn's is a blend. It is also made like the ordinary felt in that the fibers are fused together, but could start to get thin and holey with wear. It is so easy to felt your own wool fabric that actually has a weave to it. I just started going to the second hand store and buying wool clothing, tearing out the seams and felting it in the washer and dryer. Just don't tell them what you are going to do with it, they get a bit unnerved  . I took apart this cute little size 4 red wool skirt. There was a bit of satisfaction there... It will be great for the wool applique quilt I am working on.
Tania in Boise |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jan 05 2006 : 5:56:16 PM
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Tania -- thanks for the info. I looked at the bolts but didn't check the content. And it did look like felt so bet it wouldn't wear well. I've got so many projects going on in my mind right now that I can't even remember which one I was thinking of when I posted this question!!! I must be having a menopausal moment!! Could someone explain what felting wool is?
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/therusticcottage |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 12:34:05 AM
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"Felting" wool means washing it in hot water and drying in hot dryer. This makes the wool's density change, it in fact "knits" the fibres closer together. So if you do it enough times the fabric actually becomes waterproof. That is how people in olden days stayed dry, like in Ireland.
So if you want to create your own felted wool, just do that to any wool yardage you purchase.
Quilting with Fons and Porter magazine had a big article about it not long ago, I'll see if I can find it for you, Kay. |
Edited by - Fabulous Farm Femmes on Jan 06 2006 1:02:49 PM |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 08:41:54 AM
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Diane -- if you know which issue of Fons & Porter I can look it up to see if I have that copy. That is my favorite quilting magazine. Ok, now for the next dumb question. For what purpose would you use this felted wool? I think the reason I asked this question in the first place was because I have a project that asks for small felted wool pieces as accents. But I'm sure people use it for big projects too.
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/therusticcottage |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Jan 06 2006 : 1:15:51 PM
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The project I have seen is from the Jan-Feb issue 2004, and the you know I may have seen them talking about felting the wool on their show, as it lists a needle punched felted wool show #A604 on their web page. I may have the 2 mixed up. But if you have that issue, it has some cute ideas of what to make with the felted wool. My girlfriend makes slippers, hats, purses,and quilts with it, and appliques cute cookie cutter type shapes on them. You can cut out shapes and applique them on with no turning under, the wool doesn't ravel after it has been felted.She just button hole stitches them on the sewing machine.
By the way Kay, my hubby will be teaching a class in Battleground on Feb.6-8...isn't that near you, and where your daughter lives? I may come too, would you want to get together and show a farm girl around town? I'll buy lunch! |
Edited by - Fabulous Farm Femmes on Jan 06 2006 1:17:45 PM |
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Tatiana
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Tania
Boise
ID
USA
98 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2006 : 5:02:24 PM
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Kay:
That's what I did to my wool. I bought yardage or took apart clothing and threw it in the washer with very hot water. I put a bit of woolite in too to get some of the oils out. Then I dried them in a hot dryer. If it didn't look like it had shrunk enough ( cut some off the edge and see if it frays), then repeat. I also had this cute sweater I knitted about 18 years ago with cows, fences, ducks, and sheep on it. It was starting to get a lot of holes in it and I didn't want throw my old friend away, so I felted it. It took a lot more washing and drying but it finally looks good. I am going to make a little backpack with the body, and straps with the sleeves. That way I can keep my old raggy friend a while longer.
I am collecting felt wool fabric to do the "Quiltmaker" magazine series quilt from last year. Check it out.
Tania |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jan 07 2006 : 5:30:40 PM
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Diane -- Missy lives in Battle Ground and I'm 6 miles away!!! We'd love to show you around and maybe you can meet our other Farmgirls. Email me and we'll make plans. How cool!
Back to the wool subject -- do you have to do anything special to it after it's washed and dried? Guess I'll do some research on the internet then hit the Goodwill for wool clothes. YEAH -- another project to try! As if I don't have enough.
Gratitude turns what we have into enough.
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
Edited by - therusticcottage on Jan 07 2006 5:32:03 PM |
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jenny louise
True Blue Farmgirl
166 Posts
jennifer
cass city
MI
USA
166 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2006 : 04:45:44 AM
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I have been felting for while and teach at a lamb and wool show every year. We do wet felted bags, and that is from the raw fiber off of the sheep. The old wool you can find at the thrift stores is great also. You can felt the whole item in the machine and then cut it apart and use it for almost any pattern.
I have a project of making it into a comforter which is heavy as all get out but solid and toasty. I am trying for a king sized one so it is taking alot of time and sweaters.Just a matter of finding like thicknesses and then felting them and then cutting into squares and rectangles;sewing together and then i am putting a decorative stitch between the pieces. Yeah, It has been two years in the making so far!
The back pack sound adorable and fun, post a picture of it so we can all admire your creativity!
Jenny |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2006 : 11:18:44 AM
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Hi Jenny louise,
How would you wash your comforter.? Wouldnt it be really heavy trying to get it from the washer to the dryer.
shirley |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Jan 08 2006 : 11:29:56 AM
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I knit and felt lots of purses and hats, which I sell at our Farmers market.
I run them through the washer, but not the dryer. sometimes it take several times throught the washer, but if you put them in the dryer, it mis shapes them . I watch how they are felting ,because different breeds of sheep felt different, some felt really fast others not so fast.Then I take them from the washer and put the hats on a head and play with them to mold how I want the hat to look, then let them dry,
The purses I kinda play with , get them the shape I want and let them dry.
Its not the hot that felts the wool. its the Hot and Cold with a little soap and the agitation that felts the wool.
The changing of the temps. I wash my raw wool in hot water before ever spinning it and it doesnt felt,but if I put it right into cold water it would
just my 2 cents worth :)
shirley |
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lgm1270
Farmgirl in Training
36 Posts
Lorrie
Fairview
TN
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2006 : 8:59:04 PM
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Wow I was looking for a place to post this information I promised the ladies on the apron page. You girls are full of wonderful info. I was just asking the question yesterday what felted wool was, because I had seen an article talking about wool aprons and I was curious how that was done in the pioneer days. You answered my question before I even posted it. Thanks.
For those who are interested in the info for an upcoming seminar in my area here it is.
SHEEP TO SHAWL SEMINAR
Sheep to Shawl
A one day seminar of the process of making a shawl from the beginning to the end as it was done 150 years ago.
1. Shearing the sheep with hand shears
2. Washing the wool
3. Dyeing in natural dyes
4. Carding by hand and or a drum carder
5. Spinning on a wheel or a drop spindle
6. Weaving the shawl, or knitting or crochet
We would like to think of this as a living history demonstration and at the same time a great learning experience. If you are a beginner or if you know how to do some of these things, but not all and would like to learn, this is a great time to learn some new skills and at the same time have good fellowship with people with like interests. We will provide a lunch and all necessary tools & materials. You will be able to purchase tools and materials so you can do this on your own at home. You will not take home a finished project, but the skills necessary to do this on your own. A finished project for each of you would take more than one day. Additional classes will be available if you feel you need extra instruction. We would like to see mother and daughter teams & home school groups. Just come and enjoy this time of learning.
Date: Saturday March 11
Time: 8:00 am until 6:00 pm
Place: 151 Denson RoadLawrenceburg, TN. 38464
Price: Adults $80, students $50
Please R.S.V.P Wendy Reimer & Jill Woodbackwoodsforever@aol.com or yarnspinner4@aol.com
Home of Fun, Fashionable, and Functional Aprons
www.ameliasaprons.com / www.ameliasaprons.com/blog |
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Shirley
True Blue Farmgirl
734 Posts
Shirley
Olympia
Wa
USA
734 Posts |
Posted - Jan 09 2006 : 11:49:09 PM
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WOW Lorrie,
sounds like a lot of fun, to bad you are so far away from me :)
I used to be the "sheep to Shawl" supt at the Puyallup Fair that runs for 17 days.We did alll the things you listed, except shearing and dyeing, which they could come with that all ready done. Its a 1 day contest, so the wool wouldnt get dry in time to be able to finish, and it had to be completed in 12 hours.
Its a lot of work but very fun
shirley |
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lgm1270
Farmgirl in Training
36 Posts
Lorrie
Fairview
TN
USA
36 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2006 : 07:34:14 AM
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I am very excited about this seminar. I am failry new to all this "living of the land" stuff, but I am very interested in learning all I can. I do not have land right now, but my family(brothers and mother)and I are looking to all move in the next couple years to land together. So my sister-in-law and I are trying to gain as much knowledge as we can on every aspect of counrty living. I grew up living in the country, but not country living if you know what I mean. :)I thought the only way to make stuff with wool was to spin it, and then weave it or knit it. silly me :)
Home of Fun, Fashionable, and Functional Aprons
www.ameliasaprons.com / www.ameliasaprons.com/blog |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: Felted Wool |
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