"Snowperson" Bag Swap Gift- Part 2 of 2

The finished bag.

 

Drawstring cord made with grosgrain ribbon and leather.

 

A 'regal' profile. ;)

 

A view from the front.

 

The carded Border Leicester locks...

...give the bag a delightfully shimmery and bumpy texture...

 

...just like a 'real' snowball!

 

The drawstring can be tightened...

 

...or loosened for easy access to the bag's contents.

 

The idea behind using batts made from carded locks...

...was to create a textural felt that would mimic the rough surface of a snowman.

Working with such unexpectedly filthy locks, however...

...made me worry that the finished bag would have the 'dirty slush' look of a real snowman, as well...

...and that's a bit too much verisimilitude for my taste!!

Happily, as I continued to felt the project (using extra soap)...

...the bag became as white as...erm...the driven snow. :)

For the bag closure, I fashioned a 'bolo tie' sort of cincture...

...from grosgrain ribbon and small pieces of leather.

"Snowperson" Bag Swap Gift- Part 1 of 2

Laying out wool roving eyes and a carrot nose...

 

...then adding more bits of coal black for a smile.

 

From washed Border Leicester locks...

 

...I made several fluffy batts on my drum carder...

...and laid them over the 'face' side of the resist.



Looking through the resist from side two...

...allows me to check my design placement.

 

Covering all but the top portion of the resist with batts...

...(allowing for a more free-form top edge)...

...and adding a cloth strip for a 'drawstring channel reinforcement'.

 

The partially felted bag...

 

...now with its carrot nose in proper alignment. :)

 

I signed up to participate in a holiday swap this year...

...and, not knowing for certain 'which major holiday' the recipient observed...

...I decided to make a felt 'snowperson' bag as my gift.

Using raw Border Leicester locks...

...(which were not quite as 'washed' as advertised)...

...I carded up some shiny, fluffy batts.

Making a 'face' with black and orange wool roving...

...I proceeded to make an open-topped bag...

...with a drawstring channel for its closure.

Next time: the finished bag...

...with leather-trimmed ribbon cincture.

Another Wet-Felted Compost Bin Cover-Part 2 of 2

The back side of the finished felt.

 

Holding the lid in place.

 

After sewing the cover into a cylindrical shape.

 

Pre-felt leaf shapes were added to the lid during felting for a bit of fun.

 

I stitched the 'seam allowance' down on both the outside (for appearances' sake)...

...and the inside of the cylinder (so it doesn't 'catch' on the chicken wire skeleton or the composting materials).

  

A 'bird's eye view' of the Border Leicester locks.

 

A photo from my daughter...the compost bin in situ.

(I think it looks a little like a gnome's house!) :)



Because L's car was filled to bursting...

...we didn't insert the chicken wire skeleton ahead of her move.

Once settled, she and her boyfriend built the inner wire cylinder and lid...

...and hand-stitched the felt to it in spots to keep the metal cage from sliding out.

I was surprised to see that they didn't trim the top into a rounded shape...

...but she told me that they had mistakenly bought a thinner gauge wire than I had used here...

...and they felt that they needed the larger 'overhang' to keep the lid from falling in. :)

I'll be anxious to compare notes with her about how quickly her kitchen scraps turn to compost...

...since I've been thrilled with how the 'toasty heat' of my felt bin speeds the process along! :)

Another Wet-Felted Compost Bin Cover- Part 1 of 2

Making art batts from 'stash' roving in varied colors...

 

...and beginning the layout.

 

Since this cover is not for me, but for my daughter, L...

 

...I encouraged her to invest some 'sweat equity' by helping me with the layout and some of the rolling.

 

Adding 'clouds' of washed Border Leicester fleece...

...for fun and visual interest. 

 

The finished felt (front side).

 

My daughter's new apartment includes access to a garden...

...and she was most anxious to start making compost for next Spring's planting!

Using 'odds and ends' from my fiber stash...

...we created a large number of art batts in blended colors.

We then laid out two thick, fluffy layers of roving...

...and added clumps of washed Border Leicester fleece to the top.

Next time: we machine stitch the cover into a cylindrical shape...

...and make a smaller piece of thick felt for the lid.