Experimenting with wet felting and more space dyeing

2nd August 2013

 I have been enjoying wet felting and experimenting.

Yesterday I made this piece and love the colours.

This was made using 3 layers of Merino Fleece then adding some curly pieces of fleece.

I used 4 different shades and was pleased with the effect. I love the fact that this can never be reproduced, it is totally original and unique!

I might make a Kindle cover with it but haven't decided yet.





Today I started the day space dyeing as I wanted some more green/ blue fabric. I used 2 shades of blue Procion dye and a small amount of yellow. Layered my fabrics in folds in the tray then spooned on the dye. As soon as I added the yellow to the blue the green emerged.

I left this for about an hour while I went to the supermarket!!

I rinsed the fabrics until the water was clear and this is the result. The colours make me think of the sea.

I used magenta dye next. The first glass was full strength, the second half strength and the third a quarter strength. I thought these shades might look good in a layered flower but am not sure yet.

I used linen and cotton fabrics.

I then tried wet felting using a large piece of 'half felt' as a base and adding 2 layers of merino fleece.

The purple half felt was placed on a layer of bubble wrap as rubbing the fleece on this surface causes friction which aids the felting process.

The weather was so lovely I did this felting outside!

This first layer was laid out from left to right using merino and silk fleece.

The second layer was laid from top to bottom in a different shade.

The fleece is 'teased' before layering.

When the layering is completed a piece of net is placed over the fleece and water and liquid soap are sprayed over the surface and  rubbed  with a piece of screwed up bubble wrap for about 15 minutes!!

The next step is to roll the 'fabric' in a bamboo mat.

This then has boiling water poured over followed by cold. 

This really helps the felting. 

 The mat rolling and rinsing in hot/cold water  is repeated until all the soap has been removed. 

The felt is left to dry. 

I had to cut the fabric in half when I began the rolling process so I learnt that I will have to have a much bigger mat if I want to create a large piece of felt! 

I will also but 3 layers of fibres on the base half felt for a thicker piece. 

I have enjoyed  experimenting and learned a lot!

Watch this space to see what I do with my felt...