Silk Noil and Wool Nepps Sample Tote- Part 1 of 2

Cutting holes in a layer of pre-felt...

                                     ...and covering it with a layer of silk noil fabric.

                                                 Making wide slits in the fabric...

                                 ...to correspond with areas of pre-felt, underneath...

                                  ...and aligning the two layers on the resist surface.

                                      Covering side one with a layer of wool roving...

                                          ...and flipping the project to side two.

                                        Drawing a design on the resist surface...

                                       ...in two different colors of pencil roving...

                                                ...then filling in the open areas...

                                                     ...with dyed wool nepps.

                                     Covering side two with a layer of wool roving...

                                                        ...and wetting it out.

                                    Adding additional layers of roving to each side...

                                  ...and wrapping them closely around the resist...

                            ...then folding the top of the tote down to make a neat edge.

                                    Next time: the finished tote (with ruching!)

"Put A Bird On It" Sample Tote- Part 2 of 2

Adding a domed pre-felt top to the birdcage.

                                                      The finished project...

                                                        ...blocked and drying.

                              Working with pencil roving is always so satisfying...

                   ...it just 'melts' (as do the thin pre-felt sheets) into the body of the bag.

                          Merino wool yarn behaves in a slightly less controlled way...

                                             ...but I like the wiggly effect, too! :)

                                                   The finished tote (side one)...

                                                            ...and side two.

"Put A Bird On It" Sample Tote- Part 1 of 2

Assembling my supplies...

...including a foam resist, pre-felt swatch and black merino yarn.

                             After writing on the reverse side in permanent marker...

                      ...the image is duplicated in pencil roving on the resist front.

                                         (Remember that I'm working inside-out!)

                                    Covering the 'caption' with a layer of wool roving...

                                                 ...and flipping it to side two.

                                             Laying out a 'gilded' pre-felt cage...

                                                    ...with merino yarn 'bars'.

  
                                          Cutting a bird from a section of pre-felt... 

                                              ...orienting it 'inside' the cage...
            

                                       ...and covering it with a layer of wool roving.

                             Additional layers of white roving are added to each side...

                                               ...the tote top is turned down...

                                                   ...and felting is begun.

                                                  Mid-way through felting...

                                         ...the project is turned right-side out.

                                     Because it looked a little 'naked' at this point...

                                   ...a pre-felt flower was added to spice things up.

                                   Side two needed a little something more, as well...

                                      ...(stay tuned for the solution in Part 2!!) :)

     
                                         Those of you who are Portlandia fans...

                             ...will immediately 'get' this birdy homage. :)

                                    Those of you who aren't...please Google

                       "Portlandia- Put a Bird on It! Youtube" for an explanation.                  

                                            Next time: the finished tote.

"Veiling" With Silk Gauze- Sample Tote

                                    I fashioned this tote with leftover pieces of finished felt... 

                                           ...wool roving, and layers of silk gauze.

                                       

                                   The gauze 'traps' the snippets of fully felted wool...

     

                                    ...as it, itself 'becomes one' with the wool roving.

   

                                  (I even 'ensnared' a few glass beads for shimmer!)

                                     

                                       Because of the transparency of the silk gauze...

                                 ...the colors of the finished felt pieces remain visible.

                               

'Bejeweled' Pre-Felt Scrap Sample Tote

Placing leftover pre-felt scraps onto the surface of my resist...

                                  ...then covering them with variegated wool roving.

                           After adding a 'pierced' pre-felt square on the second side...

                    ...the whole shebang is covered with additional layers of wool roving.

                                                 Mid-way through felting...

                                            ...the project is turned right-side out.

                                     When the tote has been blocked and dried...

                   ...beads and bits of broken jewelry are added for embellishment.

                                          Side two with its assertive, pre-felt design.

                                          A close-up of the sewn-on additions.

                                                       It's fun to see, isn't it...

                        ...what a forlorn handful of pre-felt scraps might become!?! :)

Re-Purposed "Tee-Shirt Yarn" Project

Cutting the body of a tee-shirt...

                                                    ...into 1-inch wide pieces...

                                       ...then opening up the 'still attached' edge...

                                ...and cutting the fabric into one long, continuous strip.

                                                 By merely stretching the strip...

                             ...and allowing the cut edges to curl into the middle...

                                         ...the fabric becomes ready-to-knit yarn!

                                        Of course I had to try some in orange!! :)

                                       Knitting the yarn using long, metal needles.

                                              The sturdy, finished cat mat (front)...

                                                              ...and back.

                                                Erykah enjoying her new gift...

                                    ...and a close up of its dense, spongy texture!

           Because there are always stacks of cast-off tees in my house (four daughters)...

               ...and because I recently found an easy-to-follow tutorial online...

               ...I decided to convert a couple of 'college dorm event' tee-shirts...

                                                  ...into homemade yarn!

                                  I don't much like the 'feel' of the finished piece...

                                   ...(it has an assertively synthetic character...

                           ...and it certainly wouldn't be suitable for wearables)...

      ...but it's a fun way to breathe new life into garments which have 'seen better days'! :)