Laying out wool for the bin lid.
The finished compost bin with hair elastic closure loop.
The finished compost bin with hair elastic closure loop.
Adding beads for the fastener...
...and in close-up.
Lily of the valley.
The compost bin in situ.
Don't you just love this color?!?
My new compost bin, 'planted' at the site of my old one.
Luckily, my neighbor (whose garage you see)...
...is also a fan of composting!
My new compost bin, 'planted' at the site of my old one.
Luckily, my neighbor (whose garage you see)...
...is also a fan of composting!
I really wasn't sure how to make a hinged top...
...that would stand up to the rigors of daily use.
In the end, I fashioned a lid that had a straight edge in the back...
...and using a curved needle, hand-stitched the top to the edge of the bin...
...making sure that I sewed through the chicken wire layer, as well.
For the closure, I stitched a 'hair elastic' into the front edge of the lid...
and sewed a line of large beads together for a 'clasp'...
...stitching them to the front of the bin through the felt.
To make a rigid lid, I first tried felting around a circle of chicken wire...
...but it was awkward and 'spiky', and I gave up.
In the end, I felted around a circular resist...
...and then filled this felt 'envelope' with a layer of heavy cardboard...
...sandwiched between two layers of foam underlayment.
Many of you are curious about the bin's potential longevity...
...and, to be honest, I am, too!
Will things compost more slowly than they did in my open-air bin (lack of oxygen?)...
...or will the added heat (from being in an enclosure) actually speed things up?
Let the experiment begin!! Giggle.
...that would stand up to the rigors of daily use.
In the end, I fashioned a lid that had a straight edge in the back...
...and using a curved needle, hand-stitched the top to the edge of the bin...
...making sure that I sewed through the chicken wire layer, as well.
For the closure, I stitched a 'hair elastic' into the front edge of the lid...
and sewed a line of large beads together for a 'clasp'...
...stitching them to the front of the bin through the felt.
To make a rigid lid, I first tried felting around a circle of chicken wire...
...but it was awkward and 'spiky', and I gave up.
In the end, I felted around a circular resist...
...and then filled this felt 'envelope' with a layer of heavy cardboard...
...sandwiched between two layers of foam underlayment.
Many of you are curious about the bin's potential longevity...
...and, to be honest, I am, too!
Will the felt (especially the lid and hinge) withstand use...
...or will I be doing periodic repairs?
Will things compost more slowly than they did in my open-air bin (lack of oxygen?)...
...or will the added heat (from being in an enclosure) actually speed things up?
Let the experiment begin!! Giggle.
16 comments:
oooh, I'm excited to find out too! It looks lovely nestled in the flowers. Regardless of longevity, it's natural and the earth loves you for it.
Andrea--Thanks! I just hate throwing skins and peelings in the regular trash!!! I hope this works out as I intended! XXO-
What a wonderful idea! I am reading backward, so I will have to check out the 2 parts before. I'm glad to see that some things are still the same, as in your many part posts!!!! Hugs to you! I so with I was able to have come to MSWF this year. That's what I get for buying a new home!
Kelly--It's so good to hear from you...I know how busy you've been! XXO-
That has GOT TO BE the MOST fashionable compost bin on the face of the earth!!!! I still don't see how an open-air one could have been offensive, but I guess you have to do what you have to do. I'm just tickled pink that you have out-smarted them, and I hope it works even better than the original! Would serve them right. :)
Your creativity and originality never cease to amaze me, Heather! I can't wait to hear how this works for you.
Oh, Heather, I did never see! Our wool is expensive, and we can not afford such a bold experiment. But I really like, it looks beautiful in the garden and it was fun to look at your work.))))
Вы прекрасный мастер и веселый человек, это было здорово! Svetlana
I love it in situ - it's a very natural color and really blends in with the tree.
Can't wait to get periodic updates on this. However it fares, I think you should make another one for inside use as a regular trash can - just add a disposable, compostable bag and away you go!
Thanks, ladies! I'm so glad that you like my 'felt solution'!! Whenever I need something new, lately,
I think, "Could this be made of felt?" Giggle.
I hope you'll give us an update of the compost's progress!
I think its lovely Heather - well done you!
I'm sure it will degrade over time.. I have found with felt in the garden that's left exposed to the seasons starts to get a little 'old' after a couple of years (fit for purpose but feels different).. My garden tap cozy which protects the pipe from freezing in the winter lasted 4 winters and finally fell apart this year.. BUT that was not a particularly hard piece of felt.. it was made from an experimental piece, which was a little spongy.
I have decorative things made from merino and how they have fared seams to be dependent on how exposed they are..
I might be a bit weird in this.. but to me the fact that its a natural material and that it does degrade when left out in the weather adds to its character..
xx
Rachel--You bet!
Deborah--It's good to hear about your 'outdoor felt' experiments! I agree that it seems 'right' for compost, somehow.
The contents sshould be wetter so that will probably help with composting. I think it'll age beautifully. I put a merino piece in the garden 2 years ago where it's been fully exposed and although the colour has faded it's still very sturdy but then - it isn't full of compost
Angela--It was wonderful to see the photos of your 'outdoor felt experiment'! Now I'm glad that I went with a paler color to start. Maybe it won't be noticeable when it starts to fade! :)
Jestem pod wrażeniem kapitalnych tutorials i za to bardzo serdecznie Ci dziękuję :)
Sanddra--You are very welcome! I'm glad that you're enjoying the tutorials!
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