"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 8

The finished tote...

         

                                                      ...with leather straps.

                                                            The bag interior.

                                               During the 'freeing' of the resist...

                      ...the felt could have been trimmed to make smaller 'scales'...

                                    ...revealing more of the dark, background wool.

                                                                           
                                                           On the grid side...

                    ...the yarn inclusions could have been made more visible...

                                 ...if the scales had been trimmed a bit smaller, too.

                                                                For my part...

                          ...I prefer having only a wee glimpse into the darkness. ;)
                                                  

I'll be away again for a few weeks.

Look for new posts from me in mid-May.

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 7

The interior of the bag...

                                             ...and the exterior during fulling.

                                            The grid side of the fully felted bag...

                                                       ...and the 'lacy' side.

                                       The project is stuffed with cloth placemats...

                                                             ...for blocking.

                                       A strip of leather is cut from a large sheet...

                                                     ...fashioned into handles...

                                          ...and stitched to the mouth of the bag.

                                 The finished surface texture on one side of the bag...

                                                         ...and on the other.

                                          Next time: (finally) the finished tote. ;)

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 6

Small, sharp scissors and a chopstick...

                                                 ...are carefully employed...

                                       ...to gain access to the painters' tape resist.

                                                        As the tape grid...

                                                           ...is displaced...

                                      ...the textured surface of the felt is revealed.

                                         When the tote is turned to the 'lacy' side...

                                                      ...special care is taken...

                                        ...to follow each and every turn and twist...

                                                    ...of the detailed resist...

                                                          ...during removal.

                                                  The 'resist-less' tote, resting...

                                                ...in preparation for final felting.

                                                   Next time: the bag is fulled...

                                               ...and a leather strap is attached.

"Two-Faced" Cracked Earth Tote- Part 5

As the felting progresses...

                                                  ...the wool begins to shrink...

                                                       ...and become firmer.

                            The tote is placed in various orientations during felting...

                                                     ...including inside-out...

                                               ...to help ensure even shrinkage.

                                                You'll notice that during felting...

                                 ...the dark under-layers of merino and hairy wool...

                                             ...migrate through the white merino...

                                          ...and change it to a heathery brown.

                                     The wool that is placed atop the 'lacy' resist...    

                                                   ...and the painters' tape...

                                                          ...remains white...

                                 ...(because no fibers are able to migrate through it).

                                            When the project is fairly well felted...

                       ...a chopstick and pair of small, sharp scissors are employed.

                                                     Details next time! :)