Wet Felted Mittens- Part 1 of 2

Flattening the foam underlayment resist prior to use.

(I find that the end of the roll always curls up a little bit!)

Beginning the lay out with 'spongy' Hog Island wool...

...then adding layers of variegated blue roving.

The finished layout, prior to felting...

...and after felting for a time...

...cutting the mittens apart and removing the resist.

While drying.

The finished mittens with cuffs rolled up...

...and again, here.

Several years ago, I made a pair of fingered gloves without much success...

...so this time, I decided to 'forego the fingers' and make mittens, instead!

The hardest part is getting the proper shape and size for your resist...

...since you must not only take into consideration the shape and size of your hand...

...but also the type of wool that you are using, the number of layers, and the shrinkage.

I was lucky enough to have an 'individual mitten' template on hand that I could 'tweak'...

...so, for once, I didn't have to 'reinvent the wheel'!!

(Thanks, Linda!)

It's important to leave a wider connecting 'wrist area' than you think you'll need...

...or else you won't be able to actually get your mittens on after they are finished! :)

(Thanks, Kim, for that helpful tip!)

Next time: pair # 2 (for a less long-fingered recipient!)

'Della Robbia Wreath' Swap Shawl

My glorious swap gift...

...with yummy, fringy details.

Knitted leaves and dyed locks...

...and 'spun-in' flower accents.

So many kinds of fibers were used in making this hand-spun yarn...

...and look at the cunning little knitted fruits!

You'll notice that it's in all of my favorite Fall colors...

...and each time I wear it, I continue to discover new kinds of fibers and little knitted surprises! :)

My sweet friend Melissa and I arranged a swap together...

...and this is the amazing shawl that she made for me!

It's WILD and colorful and full of various textures and fibers...

...and I continue to discover new surprises each time that I examine it!

This scarf reminds me of a Della Robbia Christmas wreath...

...chock-full of knitted seed pods, fruits and leaves!!!

I know that this project was a long and complicated undertaking...

...and I am so grateful to Melissa for this delicious gift!!

"Electric Bass" Purse- Part 2 of 2

The finished bag before blocking.

Sewing a leather strap.

Stitching seam lines for each pocket section.

The finished bag front...

...and back.

Adding a snap closure to keep the front section secure...

...and in close up.

A detail of one of the silk/wool blend spirals.

For those of you who couldn't quite see what I was 'up to' in my last post...

...I hope that these photographs will make things a bit clearer.

I used a large sew-on snap to help keep the front pocket secure...

...and also to keep it from 'flopping open' while one is rummaging around in the back one. :)

I fashioned a narrow grey strap from a piece of leather...

...and attached it in a way that helps to maintain the bag's integrity...

...by anchoring the bag front to the bag back at each side.

I used the last bit of one of my very favorite roving blends (thanks, Ellen!) to make spirals...

...symbols that 'speak' to my old hippie body-worker best friend. :)

"Electric Bass" Purse- Part 1 of 2

Laying out a complex resist...

...and marking the stitch line.

Covering the resist with variegated brown roving...

...and flipping it (like pages in a book) in order to cover each section evenly.

The first of several layers of roving.

The finished layout with one merino/silk blend spiral...

...and another for good measure!

I wanted to make a special purse for my dear friend, V for Christmas...

...so I decided to fashion a new kind of resist.

I devised a pattern for a multiple-resist bag...

...that would have two separate compartments in it for storing things.

My design inspiration came from an image I had in my head of an electric bass...

...you know, the kind that has an upside-down "V" cutout at the bottom! :)

To start: I sketched patterns on a large sheet of paper...

...then transferred them to pieces of foam floor underlayment.

I machine-stitched the two parts of the resist together...

...and began laying out my roving.

Felting with multiple resists is not as straightforward as with a standard resist...

...so I had to tread carefully and really take my time.

Next time: the finished bag.

Festive Felted Soaps For Giving- A Tutorial

Laying out supplies: art batts, bar soap, and felting equipment.

Swathing each soap in roving from an art batt...

...then wrapping each with a messy spiral of pencil roving...

...(choosing different color combinations for each recipient).

The finished soaps...

...drying on paper towels or parchment paper.

Et voila...the completed set!! :)

While searching for large, nicely shaped, individual bars of soap for this project...

...I was delighted to find a brand of soap that I used as a teenager!!

I didn't even know that "Yardley of London" still existed...

...but as I inhaled scents like English Lavender, Lemon Verbena and Oatmeal-Almond...

...I was instantly transported back to the 70's!! :)

If you haven't ever tried making felted soaps, you should...

...as it is a rather straightforward project yielding lovely results...

...although not entirely without its challenges. :)

To begin: Wrap a bar of soap with wool roving or part of a wool batt...

...placing one fat and fluffy layer around the soap width-wise...

...and another around the soap from end to end (making sure to cover the entire soap surface).

It's important to get enough fiber on your soap to provide a thick and cushiony 'skin' after felting...

...so 'if in doubt', add another layer!

Using any kind of pencil roving or wool yarn...

...wrap the whole shebang in a casual spiral-ish design.

(Besides being just plain pretty...

...this will help to hold the wool in place as you work!)

Now comes the only tricky bit:

Holding the soap firmly in one hand...

...carefully dribble hot water on it, turning (and gently squeezing it) as you go.

If you don't go slowly and hold the wool firmly in place at this stage...

...or if you rush to dip it in water or rub it on bubble wrap...

...you may find (to your dismay) that the wool 'coat' slides right off!

Once the coating feels like it's starting to stick together...

...you can roll it up in a sheet of bubble wrap and gently roll it around on the table for awhile...

...making sure to change the position of the soap regularly and to watch for signs of  'slippage'.

As you work, you will feel the wool layers starting to shrink and felt...

...and each time it cools off, you should dip it in hot water...

...holding the soap firmly as you do.

Once it seems to be 'all of a piece'...

...gently rub it on the bubble wrap, turning it to reach each part of the soap as you go...

...or, using cupped, bare hands, you can work it like you're making a meatball! :)

After some time, the wool will felt to a thin, even layer over the entire surface of the soap...

...at which point you should rinse it quickly in cold water, squeeze out the excess water and let it dry.

Purple Flower Purse- Part 2 of 2

The finished purse after drying.

Lining the inner pocket with green felt left over from my 'couture' jacket.

After stitching and trimming...

and adding a snap closure.

The finished purse front...

...and back.

I think it looks a little like an African violet...

...here, nestled among the leaves.

To make this purse as 'purple as possible'...

...I used four different shades of purple merino wool.

I fashioned a cell phone pocket from one of the purse flaps...

...and lined it with a thin green piece of leftover felt.

Because the purse is busy enough as it is...

I used a large sew-on snap inside the bag for closure...

...rather than buttons.

I think that this would be a fun purse for an evening out on the town...

...or for a jolt of color when you're wearing all black. :)