Laying out raw locks.
Note the differences in fleece quality and color...
...this was a 'mixed bag' of fleece from several different breeds.
Covering it with a layer of black wool roving...
...until the fleece disappears from view.
Covering the whole shebang with a layer of cotton gauze.
Using an electric sander atop a bamboo blind...
...for extra vibration!
My daughter, L, taking a turn with the sander.
Time to start rolling!
Just days before my daughter, L, left for graduate school in August...
...she helped me to make a 'fleece-in-the-grease' rug for myself!
You may remember that we made one for her earlier this year, here...
...when we knew that she was heading to Minnesota...and her first really cold winter!!
We used the same mixed bag of fleece that I had gotten from an area farmer...
...and exactly the same technique.
It was a little bittersweet, though, working on this project...
...since I knew that she would be so far away for so long this time. :(
The good news is that I have this lovely rug in 'pride of place' in my living room...
...and the wonderful memories of another long and hard, but mostly fun day spent working together!!
Next time: the finished rug.
21 comments:
Having spent the last two winters and now facing my third commuting to MSP, I totally understand the fear of facing your first Minnesota winter.
The good news is that when it's THAT cold, it's not THAT humid and you quickly get used to -10F. ;-)
I got myself a big down coat I call my St. Paul Parka, a pair of glittens (they look like they're made for a Vulcan) and plenty of woolies to keep my head and feet warm.
Really the worst part about winter in Minnesota is that the sun almost never comes out. The best part is that the people just continue life outdoors... skiing, snowshoeing, ice-fishing, hockey... whatever they do, they just keep doing it. :-)
I hope your daughter enjoys it. :-)
wowzer, it must have been a hell of a project to finish this rug, but with the help from tour lovely daughter.....great work:)
Oh come on, it's not THAT cold up here :) hehehe
Hurry, where's part two,I'm excited to see how it looks!
That bugger must be HUGE!! Did the sander help it felt faster? I cannot wait to see it.
Wow! What a neat project. I bet it's really warm on the toes too!
Fajne metody, ja tupię.
What a wonderful day spent together. I don't know what I'll do if my bears want to move far away. I didn't wander too far from my dad and just can't imagine my kids not being within a reasonable drive.
It's nice to create fun memories with keepsakes to remind you of each other.
Kathryn--It's true! I have a friend in St. Paul who moved there right after college and she said that everyone is so athletic there...esp. with water sports!
Riet--Thanks-yes,it's a pretty big (and heavy) rug!
Rayna--Hahaha...I grew up in Cleveland, so I know a little about snow, but my poor child grew up in Baltimore and Philadelphia where they 'don't know from snow'!! :)
Melissa--:)
Kelly--The sander just kind of gets it compressed and starting to felt so we could roll it safely (without it falling apart). We did a LOT of hand rubbing, first, too! (You just have to prepare yourself for a long day with one of these!)
WCS-Yes--very warm and 'textural'!! :)
Tupie--Thanks!
Andrea--You are such a great mom...you will prepare your children and yourself for whatever career/life choices they will make...I promise!
cool! cant wait to see it finished!
Mariana--tomorrow morning...early! :)
What wonderful memories that rug will bring to you for the rest of your life. And every time you step or set upon it, you will feel your daughter's touch in the making of it. What an amazing memento to warm your heart during all the long and cold Winter nights to come. :)
Me neither... would love to see the result and great to have such a nice memory with it :)
It does look wonderfully warm and cosy!
Sandie--How beautifully phrased! Yes!!! :)
Kim--Check again in 3 hours! Grin.
Rachel--It really is!
Ooohhhh...I'm late in responding... Behind in everything at the moment... Love this post though and seeing "L" felting is an extra bonus. I know that she's going to become a fiber addict just like us, having to hurdle over the wool and into any given room in the house. The good news: She's young and will be able to hurdle higher...So she'll be able to have even more wool!!!!
Big hugs to you,
Dawn
Dawn-- You're right...she can still sit on the felting table for an hour, hunched over...without feeling it the next day! :)
Oh Heather, I feel quite emotional reading this..
xx
Oh Deborah--You are such a sweetie! XXO-
did you scour the wool before or after felting
Teresa--Neither, actually. It gets clean during the felting process with the soapy water and agitation you use during felting. A really good rinse afterward usually does it! :)
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