Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 4

Using a rotary cutter and mat...

                                                 ...I slice the nuno pre-felts...

                                                        ...into colorful strips.

                                          With the seam allowances facing 'up'...

                                                    ...(toward the silk side)...

                                       ...I stitch the partially felted strips together...

                    ...into sections that are just slightly larger than my purse resist.

                                 Three completed sections of pieced nuno pre-felts.

                                                 Next time: I cover the resist.

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 3

Laying out four flea market silk scarves...

                                             ...and covering them with merino...

                                                      ...or 'hairy' wool roving.

                                    The squares are wetted out with soapy water...

                                              ...and rubbed and rolled for a time...

                                               ...until they form nuno pre-felts.

                                       Next time: the cutting and piecing begins!

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 2

Using a wildly patterned silk scarf...

                                     ...(purchased at the Vancouver Flea Market)...

                                        ...I repeat the felting process from Part 1.

                                        Wool is applied to the surface of the silk...

                                           ...and wetted out, rubbed and rolled...

                                        ...to create another piece of nuno pre-felt.

                                                           Never fear (grin)...

                                                  ...as the project continues...            

                                        ...these garishly patterned nuno pre-felts...

                                             ...will become utterly transformed!

                                         Next time: I make four pieces at a time.

Pieced Nuno Pre-Felt Purses- Part 1

Pieces of printed silk from my stash...

                                      ...are covered with layers of merino roving...

                                                              ...wetted out...

                                            ...and fashioned into nuno pre-felts.

                                   To the surface of a piece of shimmery gold silk...

                                          ...lengths of silk selvedge are applied.

                                  The silk is covered with variegated wool roving...

                                                            ...wetted out...

                                                         ...rubbed, rolled...

                                                         ...and lightly fulled...

                                               ...to create another nuno pre-felt.

                                           Next time: more pre-felt preparations!

Protest Felt- Part 2

Mid-way through felting...

...the resist is removed...

                                              ...and the project is lightly fulled.

                                             The silk interior begins to pebble...

                                                 ...as the felt begins to shrink.

                                                  Once the hat is fully felted...

                                                      ...(and the proper size)...

                                         ...the bottom is trimmed for neatness...

                                                               ...and cuffed.

                                     Clips are used to shape the ears while drying.

                                                      The finished hat (front)...

                                                                    ...back...

                                                                ...and side...

                                                               ...and in situ... 

                              ...as I march in the Women's March on Philadelphia...

                           ...with two of my strong, smart and amazing daughters!

Protest Felt- Part 1

Drafting a Pussyhat resist...

...with taped-on ear flaps...

...for the Women's March on Philadelphia.

                                            Centering a piece of pale pink silk...

                                                ...on both sides of the resist.

                            Covering side one with a layer of variegated pink roving...

                               ...followed by a perpendicular layer of pale pink wool.

                                                      Wetting out the project.

                                            After flipping the piece to side two...

                                             ...the excess wool from side one...

                                          ...is wrapped up and around the resist.

                                                    Fiber is added as before...

                                                 ...first the variegated roving...

                                     ...and then a perpendicular layer of pale pink.

                                    Small pieces of painter's plastic are employed...

                                      
                            ...to keep the 'ears' from felting into the body of the hat.

                                                Next time: the finished Pussyhat!