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Stitching & Crafting Room:  making felted insoles  |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4190 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4190 Posts |
 Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 09:03:06 AM
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Anyone ever make felted insoles? Just wondering if it would be done with needle felting or wet felting.
Thanks Michele |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 1:31:14 PM
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Hi Michele
Both techniques work well - just depends on what you are more at easy with. I personally like to wet felt a sheet then cut the insole. Le dry and then go back in and needlefelt the edges and if you wish to plump up any areas. You can also needlefelt if the insoles get worn. Have fun.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 4:42:59 PM
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Hi Michele,
I like to wet felt a thick sheet of wool felt, then draw around each foot and cut out to go inside the boot. I like my insoles to be cushy and as I wear them, they get thinner, then I needle felt to thinner areas. So warm in the winter. Great if your feet sweat.
Sarita Coffman
The Spinning C
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 5:27:00 PM
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Michele
I almost forgot something - last year I look a very heavy sweater I found at the thrift store, thru it in the washer and felted it and then I cut out inserts for my wet willies and they were wonderful. Bouncy, thick and just the trick. The machine and scissors did all the work - I just took the credit.
Keep those toes warm and dry
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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eskimobirdlady
True Blue Farmgirl
700 Posts
connie
fairbanks
ak
USA
700 Posts |
Posted - Sep 10 2008 : 8:38:47 PM
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thanks for the ideas! i hadnt even thought of making my own insoles!! we use them in everythign in the witner. i even put them in my mukluks. i will keep a look out at the "transfer mall" for a suitable wool sweater to wash and try graces idea. thanks again!
peace connie in alaska |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4190 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4190 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 04:17:33 AM
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Thanks Grace and Sarita for the ideas. I did google it at work yesterday, and found the same ideas you had. I like to ask people who have actually done this, to see what works best. I have never wet felted before, so I think that is the method I will try.
I have been using a drum carder. Would wet felting the wool off of there work? I read you are supposed to do several layers, in different directions. Making sure there are no lumps and bumps. They said to take soapy hot water, and just press with your hands until it holds together. Then rub it on a washboard, or use bubble wrap to finish it. I also like the idea of needles felting the edges, and worn spots. So cool! Thanks for the ideas
Happy felting'
Michele |
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 04:42:27 AM
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Michele, I use my drum carder all the time preparing the wool. With insoles it is extremely important to use clean wool, the tiniest little seed that you don't get out can cause discomfort when you wear them. When wet felting, I use bubble wrap and old bamboo shades or table mats. After patting the layers of wool with hot soap and water and it is holding together,I lay out the bamboo flat and then I lay out the bubble wrap flat on top of that and then the wool that has been patted and is holding together. Then I start at one end and roll all three layers, secure with nice heavy rubber bands when it is all rolled up. I roll this back and forth putting on my weight, sometimes I even put it on the garage floor and rolling it with my feet. I unroll it off and on to check the process, add more soap and water, if I have thin spots develop, I pat on more wool to make it an even sheet of felt. I continue working with it until I get the felt to the right thickness. Did you know that in the ages past that people would pick up wool that was hanging in the bushes from the sheep flocks that roamed the area and put the pieces of wool in the shoe to make their sandals and shoes feel better and the friction of walking and the sweat and moisture from their feet over time would make felted insoles? (Sorry...an unsolicted history lesson)! After felting insoles, you may want to try boots...Spin Off Magazine has a couple of back issues on felting boots.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4190 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4190 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 12:38:59 PM
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Thanks for the info and the history lesson!
About how long would you guess that the felting takes? Or how long do you roll it around? Do you just pour some soapy water on the felt, and go back to rolling?
Sorry about all the questions. :)
I do have 2 spin off mags, but not the ones with felting boots. That sounds interesting.
Michele |
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Keeper of the Past
True Blue Farmgirl
925 Posts
Sarita
Battle Creek
Michigan
USA
925 Posts |
Posted - Sep 11 2008 : 6:04:32 PM
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Michele, how long depends on the type of wool and I don't flood the wool...just keep adding hot water to make the wool wet. I use a shampoo or liquid soap from the bottle and work up a good lather. I rinse in cold water but felt in as hot a water as I can stand to work with. I just keep working it then checking on it...you will know what works for you once you felt a couple of things. Just go for it and have fun.
www.coffmanspinningcfarm.blogspot.com
A woman is like a teabag - you never know how strong she is until she gets
into hot water. Eleanor Roosevelt. |
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4739 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4739 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2008 : 06:42:16 AM
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Michele, please let us know how the insoles work & feel when you are done! I hope they keep your feet warm this winter.
Dawn in IL |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4190 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4190 Posts |
Posted - Sep 12 2008 : 10:38:03 AM
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Well I plan on giving this a try this fall. Will see what happens.
I usually suffer from cold feet, so I hope it makes a difference!
MIchele |
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Stitching & Crafting Room: making felted insoles |
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making felted insoles
