Wetting out and soaping the roving side of the fleece.
After quite a bit of rubbing, it's starting to felt together...
After quite a bit of rubbing, it's starting to felt together...
...and I'm able to safely turn it to the front side for more work.
Now, on to the rolling!
The finished rug, drying in the hot, Portuguese sun.
The Kodiak bear-colored locks in close-up...
...and here, as well.
The finished rug at home...
...with a bottle of (delicious!) Portuguese wine for scale. Grin.
...with a bottle of (delicious!) Portuguese wine for scale. Grin.
Each time that I felt with a different kind of raw fleece...
...I learn something new.
Every breed of sheep has its own character, relative ease of felting...
...staple length, crimp, shrinkage and 'feel' when fully felted.
The brown fleece of this breed is especially lovely...
...and, unlike the white Bordeleria fleece...
...it doesn't look 'speckled' (from vegetable matter) when felted.
Next time: a pre-felt project...
...made with prepared Bordeleria roving in white and brown.
...I learn something new.
Every breed of sheep has its own character, relative ease of felting...
...staple length, crimp, shrinkage and 'feel' when fully felted.
The brown fleece of this breed is especially lovely...
...and, unlike the white Bordeleria fleece...
...it doesn't look 'speckled' (from vegetable matter) when felted.
Next time: a pre-felt project...
...made with prepared Bordeleria roving in white and brown.
16 comments:
This is so beautiful, thank you for sharing all that you do.
Have a lovely weekend
Warmly
Linda
xo xo
And no doubt it's lovely for bare toes to sink into...!
Linda--Thank you!! It's such a warm brown...it makes me think about Mexican hot chocolate or
gooey chocolate pudding cake! :)
Rachel--Yes! I just have to decide exactly where to put it. I keep moving it from room to room! :)
I love your BIG brown rug VERY much. I smile reading you said you keep moving it from one room to other. You do wish each room has one, right? I put my small piece on a stool in my little studio. I love it too - reminds my great holiday.
What was the blue in the first photo?
Also, I am still confused on how the locks remain on the non-roving side throughout the felting.
So much for me to learn...
I LOVE that rug, btw.
Wonderful! I'd want to move it from room to room as well, to maximize the time my toes would hit it. :)
That's great! It's like a sheepskin rug, but without the sheep having to die
Terriea--I know...I love to have a felted fleece rug to step on with my bare feet, first thing in the morning!
Andrea--The blue is just netting (not good netting, either...it should be much more open-weave than this!!) that I covered my prepared roving with in order to soap it up.
Picture this: the cut ends are up and are pretty flat, since they were...cut.:) The prepared roving is placed over the cut side, and with gentle rubbing, the roving 'adheres' to the cut side to form a piece of flat felt with the boingy bits coming out at the bottom. Tu comprends?!?
Denise--Hahaha...exactly!!
Rebecca--Felting is certainly a cruelty free endeavor, since the sheep are happier without fleece in the summer! :)
I just got caught up with my blog reading and just wanted to say I am so happy I actually got to see these and feel them in person. They are indeed beautiful felts.
That eco dyed purse is my favorite.
Wonderful, Heather!
I can so imagine the process...and how your arms felt! But now your feet get to take pleasure in your efforts! It's amazing... I love the naturally dark wool....xo Fiona
Linda--Thanks! It was wonderful (as always) experimenting with new felt projects with you!!
Fiona--Thank you! The rug IS a lovely shade of brown, isn't it? :)
I love your rug, and you made the perfect choice with the darker fleece too. Bet that is soft on the tootsies, when you step out of bed. :)
LOVE this! That's all I can say....lol
Sandie--Since I have made lighter-
colored raw fleece rugs in the past, it seemed like the perfect time to try the brown. :)
Kelly--Thanks so much!!
GORGEOUS rug Heather!! It looks perfect for curling up on, with a good book in front of a fire :)
Love the chocolatey colour and how its shaped like a sheepskin.. its a sheep friendly sheep 'skin' lol.
xx
Deborah--Yes..."No animals were harmed in the making of this piece!" :)
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