Felting wool (sewing, buy, best, making)

[pinetreelover]

I saw some really fun little pocketbooks made out of felted wool recently. The artist said she repurposed old wool sweaters by washing them and then dismantling them and sewing them back into purses, ponchos...

I tried washing a 100% wool sweather that had moth holes but it didn't turn out as flat and smooth as her things had. It just seems fuzzier - close, but not quite right. I wonder what I did wrong.

[mytimenow]

I'm sure you will probably hear back from someone more proficient, I've only ever done this once back in the 70's.

May need to run it through the washer again -- I do remember using the longest wash cycle and the hottest water, checking every once in while to see if was getting the results wanted. I don't remember using any detergent, and laid the "material" flat to air dry.

[Jara]

Originally Posted by pinetreelover

I saw some really fun little pocketbooks made out of felted wool recently. The artist said she repurposed old wool sweaters by washing them and then dismantling them and sewing them back into purses, ponchos...

I tried washing a 100% wool sweather that had moth holes but it didn't turn out as flat and smooth as her things had. It just seems fuzzier - close, but not quite right. I wonder what I did wrong.

Keep two tubs ready. One for very hot and soapy water and the other for very cold water. Swished it squeezed the sweater. When you see it felting the way you want it, put the sweater in cold water to stop the shrinking and felting process. Place the sweater on towels and air dryed. When dried you can sew, cut pieces. The sleeves are nice for cell phone carriers and little girl purses. Have done lots of dry needle felting and sculps. Needle felting is neat you can make 3-D flowers for your projects. Good Luck....It's Fun....

[pinetreelover]

Originally Posted by Jara

Keep two tubs ready. One for very hot and soapy water and the other for very cold water. Swished it squeezed the sweater. When you see it felting the way you want it, put the sweater in cold water to stop the shrinking and felting process. Place the sweater on towels and air dryed. When dried you can sew, cut pieces. The sleeves are nice for cell phone carriers and little girl purses. Have done lots of dry needle felting and sculps. Needle felting is neat you can make 3-D flowers for your projects. Good Luck....It's Fun....

Thanks for the advice. Do you have any websites you recommend to learn about needle felting?

[Jara]

Originally Posted by pinetreelover

Thanks for the advice. Do you have any websites you recommend to learn about needle felting?

Good Morning from Naples Fl....

I'm surprised there a few interested in felting. I think that it has to do with the local a person lives in. Florida of course isn't sheep country.Any roving, kits, books that I buy comes from, Michigan, Wisconsin, upper state New York. These are some of the sites I like best:

(1) www.mielkesfarm.com/ladybug_dir.htm They give online directions on the basics of needle felting with making a ladybug. Nice selection of books. Nice roving's with many colors. I like this one the best. It's a family that is so unique and you can sure tell they love their business.

(2) www.blacksheepdesigns.com She carries many kits, that are nice when starting out. I like sculpting figures and animals and relief pictures; more then felting boots, shawls etc. had enough of that in Ohio.

Pat Sparks is a real needle felting maven....she knows her stuff. Mielfesfarm carries her books. Pat has a watercolor felt book/manual that is out of this world. A real must have for the serious needle felter. And another place has some inside pictures of this book. That one is:

(3) www.marrhaven.com/watercolorfeltbk.html This is also a supplier, and sells sheepskin and roving. They have a large selection of items.

Some needle felting so called experts are so negative on line the say.... Oh don't needle felt if you have poor eyesight, your going to have all kinds of jabs. Bologna! Your going to have a few that a band-aid and antiseptic won't do the trick. Not a 911 call. Needle felting needles are very sharp with burrs on the ends. The burrs pick up the roving and make the felt. These needles are very brittle. That will be your biggest complaint of all, going through alot of needles till your comfortable with them.

I wish you the very best of luck on your needle felting......

[Tennesseebound2009]

Needle felting is a lot of fun and can be combined with another art, rug hooking to make purses, sachets, brooch type pins etc. We have a group in Calif. who does it all the time.