Yesterday, I spent another lovely day felt-making under the guidance of Lorraine of Greenweeds. We learned how to incorporate a variety of objects into our felt – sequins, shells, beads and other three-dimensional objects – as well as how to make a pocket inside a bag. We spent the morning exploring techniques:
And then in the afternoon, most participants made a bag using one or more of the techniques. I didn’t… I just wanted to continue playing, so I worked on a flat piece. I really enjoyed the act of creating something without a particular end in mind – it was rather liberating and meant that when I’d had enough I was just able to stop and know that I have achieved all I wanted to.
When I got home I decided that I didn’t want to do much more work on my creation, so I put it in the washing machine and it felted to a nice thick piece, which I am going to cut into a square and use as a table mat. Here are some details:
The next piece of felting I embark on will be a long-planned bag that I now feel ready to tackle thanks to techniques learned yesterday.
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ March 29, 2015I just love the magical nature of felting, how the soft, loose light fluffy fibres suddenly ‘hold hands’ and become firm, durable fabric, with the simple intervention of water, soap and hands. Sounds as if you had an engrossing day!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 29, 2015It was great – and all the better for deliberately avoiding putting myself under pressure
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Nice piece of work
/ March 29, 2015I’ve never tried this – it looks WONDERFUL. Like clay but better 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 29, 2015It is a great craft. The wool wants to turn into felt, so you feel like you are working with your material’s nature rather than fighting against it… unlike basket-making which I hate and can only describe as wrestling with sticks!
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Nice piece of work
/ March 29, 2015Can’t say basket-weaving has ever caught my fancy. The best sticks are chopsticks.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ March 29, 2015The detail shots show fabulousness! Are the tiny pieces easy to see, or do you have to peer? I love felting – haven’t done it for years though. Seems like your process was a good one.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 29, 2015The shiny things catch the light and are quite visible, but some of the shells are difficult to spot. The more you look at it the more you see. I really feel that I have learned a lot about this process but I want to play around more with different fabrics and objects. I have a large piece of hand-dyed cotton scrim that I am going to have a go with instead of the silk as it has a looser weave and should expose more of the treasures.
I love felting and I don’t do it nearly often enough.
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susanlogan21
/ March 29, 2015I love felting, it has been a long time since I created something beautiful with roving… its time I made a new picture😊thanks for the inspiration
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The Snail of Happiness
/ March 29, 2015I hope you do some soon… it’s a lovely craft.
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davidprosser
/ March 29, 2015Have Fun !
xxx Cwtch xxx
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insearchofitall
/ March 30, 2015Doing anything with a bunch of other crafters is bound to be a great time. It certainly looks like you were all having fun. It’s not a craft I’ve ever done but I know how much fun it can be to learn with others. You inspire each other.
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Lori Fontanes
/ March 30, 2015I just love that you all get together as a group & do this stuff–must be so soothing/restorative!
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narf77
/ March 30, 2015Never tried to felt before but I remember being intrigued when I saw Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall peeing on wool to dye it prior to felting it and using the material to make clothes and hats with. I am equally as intrigued with this sub chapter of “the life of felt”. A most interesting share Ms Snail. Can’t wait till we get to see your finished felted bag 🙂
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gentlestitches
/ March 31, 2015I am spending a delightful day skirting, washing and carding wool. I looked at your post during my lunch break and enjoyed it very much. I am glad you combined a lesson with working outside perimeters. That space is where pure creativity lives. ❤
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KerryCan
/ April 1, 2015What an amazing day this looks like! I love the idea of hidden treasures–your work makes me think of ancient stones with ammonites and other fossils and mica embedded within. It looks mysterious and intriguing. And I agree that, sometimes, it’s more fun not to make something but to just MAKE.
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