Saturday, April 13, 2013

'Revisionist' Feltmaking-Part 1 of 2

You may remember this cat bed that I made some time ago...

 
...and this pre-felt that I made in a shower stall in Germany last December...



...and this compost bin cover that I made on a chicken wire frame? 
 
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Well, after "Jack Frost" had made his usual winter mischief...

...I found myself in need of a new compost bin lid this spring.

The cover itself is mostly fine...

...with just a few worn- (or eaten-?) away areas near the bottom. :)

The lid, however, had rotted through near the hinge...

...probably because I made the mistake of enclosing a layer of cardboard in it for structural support...

....and I think it held water which froze and thawed all winter long...

...breaking down the felt.

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So...I laid out layers of green wool roving...

 
...and, after felting, sewed a fun pattern into the finished felt...

 
...trying to provide 'innate' structural support this time.

 
But because it still wasn't firm enough...

 
...I cut out circles of pre-felt...

...for layer number two.

 
Next time: how I make a 'stuffed pre-felt sandwich'...

...and how the cat bed saves the day in the end. :)

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10 comments:

Jeany said...

Wow, how cool is that, I love the stickhing on the lid too!

FeltersJourney said...

I'll bet you're right about the cardboard! I've found that felt in the garden that is in contact with something which stays damp breaks down much faster.

I like your new green, spirally stitched lid :) very cool!
xoxo

Kelly said...

wow! the color of that prefelt is fabulous!!! Did the kitty end up losing its bed?

Heather Woollove said...

Janine--The stitching was fun, but it didn't really 'do' what I'd hoped it would.
Deborah--It's interesting how your experience is so similar to mine. "Must remember!" :)
Kelly--Thanks! Sadly, I must report that it 'dulls down' a bit after felting...but I agree...it did start out quite spectacular looking!
...yes...afraid so! :)

Rachel said...

I'm sure the cat will be thrilled! I expect you are right about the old lid, but never mind, it gives you a chance to do some re-engineering!

Anonymous said...

I love the things you have made for your surrouding/ home.
bet the result will be again a on e Of a Kind ;-)

Unknown said...

Mój mąż uwielbia oglądać Twoje prace, zresztą jak ja sama.Ale on wyjątkowo lubi takie kolorowe wzory, wiec zawsze spogląda co tym razem zrobisz. Ja również inspiruje się Twoją twórczością. A kotek cudny. Tez mamy podobnego.

Unknown said...

The colors of the lid are nice. Lets see how you finish it up.
Grt.Mattie

Zdolność-tworzenia said...

Fajna pizza dla kota.

Heather Woollove said...

Rachel--One of the fun things about felt projects is that they can almost always become something else! :)
Kim--Thank-you! It's really more functional than beautiful this time!
Karolina--Please say hello and thanks to your husband for me! :)
Mattie--Hahaha...I hope you'll approve, but it's more of a basic fix this time. :)
Z-t-"Cat pizza"...I love it! :)