Above is a picture of part of the felting process. The table is covered with plastic, then the rubber grip grid (I used a part of left overcarpet grabber from a rug in the kitchen) Then the wool piece and its silk cover.
Then the entire wool is covered by a fine jersey... the kind that you find in sports shirts.... polyester allows the agitation needed for the felting process without becoming part of the piece! You pour your hot soap and water mix on it and begin to felt. I actually used a sander to help felt this project after I did the first layer by hand and scrunchy. You can see the scrunchy in the upper left hand of the picture.
After being satisfied that the felting was acceptable, I began the fulling process. I use a big pool noodle to wrap and roll in all four directions.
The process complete, I soak the fabric in a vinegar solution. This helps change the fibers back to their original state after being altered by soap in the process.
Then another rinse in hot water to remove the vinegar and out on the line to dry! This lovely weather is perfect drying weather.....
Once dry, it will be ironed. Some hand work will finish it. That may include trimming the edges, or some bead work.... I shall post when completed~
Summer has begun!
