Spinning Daily Presents Guide to Felting

presents Guide to Felting: Fiber Preparation and Inspiration for Making Felt

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 1 elt is probably one of the most ancient of techniques used to make cloth from animal fibers. With surpris- Fingly simple circumstances, loose fibers can be permanently fused into a warm nonwoven cloth. Making felt has evolved into a fun, creative process that is quick and easy, too. All you need are a bit of wool, warm water, wool- safe soap, and some towels—or some simple barbed needles and a safe work surface—and you’re ready to start making cloth and fiber objects in one of the fastest, most creative ways you can imagine. Since 1977, Spin.Off has been inspiring spinners new and old to choose interesting fiber and find enchanting ways to use it. We also host the spinning community spinningdaily.com, complete with blogs, forums, and free patterns, and our series of workshop videos where the living treasures of the spinning world share their knowledge with you. We’re devoted to bringing you the best spinning teachers, the newest spinning ideas, and most inspirational creativity right to your mailbox, computer, and fingertips. We hope you enjoy your felting journey—come tell us about it at spinningdaily.com.

Happy spinning,

Anne Merrow [email protected]

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 2 Editor’s note: This article was originally published in the 2007 Special Issue of Inter- How It Felts weave Felt (available elec- tronically in the Interweave R OBIN R USSO Store, interweavestore.com).

hen I was a new spinner, I saw a piece of fl at felt someone had made from the same wool that WI was using for spinning. I was appalled that she had used such a beautiful fl eece to do that, when the wool could have been made into gorgeous yarn. That was in the 1970s when I could not see beyond my spinning wheel and knitting needles. My closets were overfl owing with the leftover fl eeces from my various spinning projects when I met Beth Beede in the 1980s. Seeing her three-dimensional felt made such an impression on me that suddenly I could see the possibilities in all of those leftover fl eeces. To this day, I buy spinning fl eeces that work well for felt as well as for yarn, and that combination has successfully kept my closets free of fi ber buildup.

FULLING VERSUS FELTING Felt is made when the scales on the individual wool fi bers are permanently interlocked through the application of heat and agitation. A little bit of soap helps the scales move closer together. The result is a fi nished fabric; the process is not reversible. Fulling is the process of tightening the fi bers in an al- ready created fabric and making them more compact— you help the fi bers in the handknitted or woven cloth bloom through the fulling process. Aging in a cold climate has made me Alpaca fiber and mittens.ittens. appreciate having warm feet, hands, and head. Since exotic fi bers tend to have less elasticity than wool, products made from these fi bers have a tendency to sag and stretch wwhen wet. To prevent this from hap- ppening, I full many of the garments that I handspin and knit. When I full items that have been knitted, I do this gen- tltlyy on a washboard withwith a little warm water and sosoap.a By using the 3 washboard, I ccan control the

1) Merino top andand 2) angora fiber withwith 3) angora hat Down fiber withwith design. (qiviut) and 2 mittens. 1

f n m

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 3 1) Angora fiber, 2) Merino top, 3) silk fiber, and 4) Norwegian helmet. 3 2 1

4 1) Angora fiber, 2) mittens, and 3 3) beret.

2 1 amount offh shrinkage k and dhd the direction es and making them tight. My of the shrinkage. I do not knit oversize fabric remains fl exible. If I put in order to be able to do this. I mere- it in the washing machine, it ly use a knitting needle that is one or would render the garment un- two sizes larger than it should be, mak- usable because the fabric would ing my fabric fairly loose. When I full, feel like armor. I am just closing up those open spac-

FIBER PREPARATION short wire teeth to open and separate Since I prefer to do my own fi ber Fiber preparation is key to produc- the fi bers into a uniform mass. This can preparation for handspinning, I buy ing good felt. The three most common be accomplished with handcards, a ta- my fl eeces directly from the farms that types of preparations available to those bletop drumcarder, or a large industrial raise the animals. I separate the areas carding machine. Tabletop drumcarders working with wool are combed top, to be used in my handspinning projects make small batts that are useful for carded batts, and roving. and send the remainder to the Zeilinger Combing removes the short fi bers small felting projects but that are chal- Wool Company for processing into felt- and impurities, leaving the longer re- lenging to put together to create larger maining fi bers lying parallel to one an- pieces of felt. The batts that come from ing batts. other. The result of this process is called the mills with large carding machines 1) Border Leicester roving, 2) Merino rov- top, and you cannot felt directly from are wonderfully consistent, and they ing, 3) Merino top, and 4) Finn carded batt. it. The fi bers must be mixed up in such are queen-size, making them useful for a way that they meet each oth- large projects. ANN SABIN SWANSON er in different directions. This Roving (as it is sold for hand- gives the scales on the sur- spinning) is a long, even, narrow strand face of the fi ber an opportu- of carded fi bers. Fine wools are usu- nity to fi nd other scales to lock ally made into a fi ne strand of carded with. You can feed combed top fi ber, and longer luster wools are made 1 into your drumcarder to make a into a heavier strand. Because they are carded preparation, or you can pull carded, they do felt well. The prob- wisps from the end of the top and lem is that the lengths of roving must stagger the wisps in different directions be placed together to get a piece wide as you lay out your project. enough to make anything. Roving can 2 Carding is the process of brush- be put quickly through a drumcarder 4 ing clean fi bers over opposing sets of to get a batt large enough to felt with. 3

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 4 Romney 1) locks and 2) navy slippers with 2 wool embroidery.

1 1

Corriedale 1) locks and 2 2) silk embroidered boots.

WOOL BREEDS rectangular, the tips Romney I have chosen six of the breeds are fl at, and the crimp The Romney that I use most often for felting to il- (the regular wave sheep evolved in Kent, lustrate how the different properties of present in a staple) is England, where it devel- the wool affect the fi nal appearance and very well defi ned. The felt oped a hardy constitution. It is a durability of the felted project. Fine, produced from Merino is fi ne and com- medium-size sheep with a dense fl eece soft wool makes fi ne, soft, compact pact. It is readily available in many col- that has good body, luster, a well-de- felt. Coarse wool makes thicker, hairi- ors in the form of top (combed fi ber) fi ned crimp the full length of the staple, er, more durable felt. The shrinkage for and in batts (carded fi ber). and pointed tips. Sixty percent of all each of these wools varies tremendously Romney wool is used in the carpet in- and needs to be understood as you plan Corriedale dustry, and New Zealand is the world’s your projects. The Corriedale breed was developed largest producer. The breed was intro- in New Zealand by crossing Lincoln duced to the United States in the early Border Leicester with Merino. The result is a hardy, dual- 1700s. Romney fl eeces vary tremen- Border Leicester sheep originated purpose sheep. They were fi rst brought dously, and you may need to do some on the border between England and to the United States in the early 1900s. experimenting before devoting your Scotland and are the result of an English They are a medium-size sheep and pro- particular fl eece to felting. It is not a Leicester crossed with a Cheviot. The duce a fairly fi ne, well-crimped, rect- fast-felting wool. The samples are white fl eece is long and lustrous and has a angular staple with fl at tips. The felt is Romney from the United States and clearly defi ned curly staple with a silky fairly compact but with a slightly hairy gray Romney from New Zealand. hand. I like to use the younger, shorter appearance. clips for my felt. Some of the best wool I ever used for felting was a fall clip I purchased from Sue Johnson at 6 Meadowland Farm in Vermont. The ram lambs were born in March and were going to the butcher in November. The wool was a little short for spinning but was soft and wonderful for felting. 4 Border Leicester wool felts very well and makes a sturdy felt with a hairy appearance. 3 5 Merino Merino sheep were cultivated in Spain and made their way around the 2 world from there. There are many strains 1 of Merino, but in general they are an in- termediate-size sheep with fi ne wool with a high grease content that makes it challenging to work with the raw fi ber. It is considered the premier wool for use Border Leicester 1–2) locks, 3) roving, and 4) carded batt, 5) Mongolian boots, and in the fi nest woolen items. The staple is 6) Inuit parka.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 5 Gotland Gotland sheep were developed from the Swedish short- tailed sheep on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. It is a hardy, medium-size, dual-purpose breed. The wool felts easily and produces a fabric that is durable and compact. The gray fl eece is lustrous and silky with a curly crimp.

Finnish Landrace (Finn) This breed originated in Finland and is reasonably new to the United States. 3 Finns are known 1 for having multi- Finnish Landrace 1) locks, ple lambs, and they 2) batt, and 3) Finn baby thrive in rugged cli- jacket. mates. The fl eece is fi ne, open, curly, and 2 has pointed tips. It also has a silky hand. Finn is an ex- cellent felting wool and makes a fi ne, compact fabric. This sample of fi ber is from Misty Moun- tain Farm in Virginia.

5 3 1 2 4

3 1 2

Gotland 1) locks, 2) hat, and 3) purse with Russian design. Merino 1) locks, 2) roving, and 3) silk top. 4) Blue and green marbled vest and 5) Yugoslavian vest.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 6 Mohair 1) locks and 2) large bird ornament. 2

EXOTIC FIBERS than shine because In addition to wool, I tend to felt a they have not been 1 fair amount of exotic fi bers. I had an through any fi ber Angora rabbit for many years and used preparation process. Han- his fi ber in many spinning and felt- kies and caps retain the noils ing projects. I also raised my own silk- that are present in the cocoons worms and did several projects with my themselves. own silk. The exotic fi bers lend some of Down fi bers have a different scale Cashmere goat, their more appealing properties to felt. structure compared to wool, hair, or fur and the yak. There Angora rabbit fur is known for its fi bers. The animals that produce down are also some very soft quality. Used alone, it makes a fi bers grow these fi bers as insulation sheep that pos- compact, fi ne felt. Mixing it with a nefi during the cold months and shed them sess a double coat wool makes it go a little further, yet re- when the weather is not as harsh. The as well as llamas from the South Ameri- tains that soft halo produced by the fl eece on these animals is referred to can camelid family. The sample of down angora. Because angora fi bers are so as double-coated, meaning it possesses fi ber is qiviut from the musk ox. susceptible to static, I keep a spritzer both hair and down. The coarse outer Mohair is the hair fi ber produced of water close by to help keep the fi bers hair fi bers that are visible when we look by the Angora goat. These shiny fi bers under control while I set them up for at the animal are the fi bers that hold are very slippery because of their scale felting. this insulation in place. structure, and they do not lend them- Silk fi bers do not have the scale Down fi bers are very expensive, and selves well to felting. On the other structure required for felting, but that I do not use them for felting. I do, how- hand, if they are mixed with wool, they does not mean they cannot be used. I ever, spin these fi bers and knit with will make felt that has integrity. I tend often use silk on the surface of my felt them. When the garment is completed, to use mohair on the surface of my felt, as a design element. Silk top (combed) I full it on a washboard to bring out the allowing the wool beneath to hold it in is very lustrous and makes a wonderful halo of the down and make the garment place. Young goats produce locks that surface embellishment as long as you slightly more compact. Mittens and hats are fi ne, lustrous, and curly and lend have some wool under it while felting. made from down fi bers are extremely great character to the surface design of Silk caps and hankies are also fun to warm and soft. Double-coated animals the felted item. use in felting, but they add more texture include the musk ox, Bactrian camel, Llama and alpaca are members of the South American came lid family. Their fi ber is technically a hair fi ber and does have scales so it will felt. Because they Llama 1) fiber tend to be more expensive, I do not do and 2) baby large projects with these fi bers. How- booties. ever, I have seen the felting done by owners of these animals, and I am very impressed. a

Robin Russo lives in Bradford, Vermont, where she spins, felts, dyes, and works with exotic fi bers. A fi ber enthusiast for over thirty years, she has taught at numerous gatherings of spinners, knit- ters, weavers, and historical societies.

RESOURCES Spark, Patricia. Fundamentals of Feltmaking. Coupeville, Washington: Shuttle Craft Books, 1989. Fournier, Nola, and Jane Fournier. In Sheep’s 1 Clothing: A Spinner’s Guide to Wool. Loveland, Colorado: Interweave, 1995. 2 Sjoberg, Gunilla Paetau. Felt: New Directions for an Ancient Craft. Loveland, Colorado: Inter- weave, 1996.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 7 Pom -Pom Bunny An introduction to working with fiber

BY M ARY E LLEN D’AURIZIO

AKE A POM-POM bunny using wool top and the in- Mterlocking C-shaped pom- pom makers available in craft stores. “What!” you may be thinking, “That doesn’t have anything to do with handspinning!” But this is a great project for those new to spinning to learn some of the basics of how to work with wool. After completing this bunny, you will have a working LLIOT E Y IMBERL K BY HOTO P A French Angora bunny owned by Deborah Wolfe. knowledge of the staple length of wool as well as drafting and wet-felting techniques. Many types of fleece such as Rom- ney, Icelandic, or Jacob work for this technique; softer, finer wools such as white Merino or Cormo make a love- ly tail. The natural colors of sheep’s wool convert nicely to rabbit colors. Fleece prepared as top works well. Top is wool (or other long fiber) that has been combed so that the short fibers are removed and the remaining long fibers are aligned in one This quick-and-easy project is a great way to introduce nonspinners to the delights of working direction. with wool.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 8 Project Notes small amount of fiber and pulling it out ing comes into play. Draft fibers by eas- of the top. Staple length is the average ing them slightly apart and pulling them Finished Size: 2" by 4". length of the individual fibers and, in top, partway out of the fiber supply in a Fiber: 1 ounce of wool top; small can range from 3 to 8 inches or more de- smooth, even manner without separat- amounts of black for eyes and pink for pending on the breed of sheep. Pull out ing them from the top. This will elon- 1 nose. enough so that you can measure the av- gate and narrow the top (to about ⁄2 inch Notions: Pom-pom maker kit (Susan erage length of the staple. As you begin wide). If you have trouble pulling fibers Bates Easy-Wrap Pom Pom Maker); 4" to draft and pull the fibers apart, you’ll from the fiber supply, move your hands doll maker’s and tapestry needles; 3–4 need to keep your hands more than a farther apart so that the distance between yards upholstery thread; sharp scissors; staple length apart so that the fibers your hands is slightly more than a sta- 12" square of small bubble wrap, pink chalk paste. will move past each other; otherwise, it ple length. will be difficult to divide up the top. Making pom-poms Take the C-shaped pom-pom form and wrap it with the drafted fiber. Cover the form evenly, taking care not to twist the fibers or make the layers too thick or lumpy. The goal is to have several thin, even layers on the form. Repeat with the other part of the form. Following the directions that come with the pom-pom maker, interlock the plastic pieces and complete the pom-pom by cutting the fleece and tying the center with doubled upholstery thread. Leave the tails of the thread 8 to12 inches long. These will be used later to connect the completed pom-poms. After completing the body, repeat the procedure using the next-largest form for the head and then the smallest form for the tail. Don’t be alarmed if the pom-poms are lumpy and misshapen. Use combed top and a pom-pom maker found at your local craft supply shop to make an You can trim the fiber to sculpt the rab- adorable bunny. bit into its proper shape. You’ll need 1 ounce of wool for this Begin with the half-ounce portion of Using the threads that secure the project. The bunny is made of three pom- wool. Three-quarters of this portion of pom-pom centers, tie the head to the poms—the largest for the body, the next- the top is for the body and the rest is for body with a couple of overhand knots. largest for the head, and the smallest for the tail. Even if you choose to use finer Thread the ends into the 4-inch doll the tail. wool for the tail, divide the top in this maker’s needle and run the threads manner to maintain the proportions and through the body and out the tail end. Staple length then replace the tail portion with the Tie the body to the tail taking care not Divide the top into three pieces: holding finer wool. Divide the wool for the body to bunch the pom-poms too much or to the top longwise, pull it apart at the cen- into two separate pieces, one for each leave them too far apart. Trim the 1 ter of the strip and then divide one of the section of the pom-pom tool. The largest threads ⁄4 inch from the knot. segments again at its center. Half of the pom-pom maker in the set is used for the Use a pair of sharp scissors to trim the top is needed for the body and tail, one- body. rabbit. A photograph of a real rabbit will quarter is for the head, and the remain- help you get an idea of the oval head and ing one-quarter is felted for the ears. As Drafting body shape you are looking for. Trim the you divide the fiber, take a moment to The pom-pom tools come with directions underside of the rabbit flat so it will sit determine the staple length of the top for use with millspun yarn. To use fleece securely on a tabletop. that you’re working with by pinching a in making pom-poms, the skill of draft-

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 9 ZURIZIO D’A LLEN E Y AR M BY HOTOS P Divide the top into three pieces. Half of the Simply wrap the predrafted top around the Try your hand at wet felting to make the top is needed for the body and tail and one- pom-pom maker to make the body, head, and ears, nose, and eyes. quarter is for the tail. The remaining quarter tail. is used to make the felt for the ears.

Felting so does a normal bottle) with a solution of yarn. Making felt for the ears, eyes, and nose of warm soapy water. A teaspoon of dish- Dip a ball into warm, soapy water. Gen- is the next step. Felting occurs when washing soap in 8 ounces of warm water tly toss the ball from hand to hand for 3 wool is immersed in hot and then cold is a good proportion. Sprinkle the batt to 5 minutes. When it begins to felt you water and soap and agitation are applied. evenly with the soapy water, without can then roll the ball between your palms. The hot water opens up the scales on the shifting the layers and creating holes. Take care not to be too forceful or you individual wool fibers, the soap and agi- Make sure the batt is wet but not drip- will get a felted “brain” with ripples in- tation help move the fibers closer to- ping. Press down on the wool with a gen- stead of a nice round ball. Repeat for the gether, and then the cold water closes tle circular motion with bare hands for other eye. Use pink wool to create an oval the scales and the wool fibers become 5 minutes. After this, the wool should bead for the nose with the same process permanently interlocked. hold together enough that you can begin as for the eyes. 1 The remaining ⁄4 ounce of wool will moving it around on the bubble wrap, now be used to make a batt. A batt is sim- turning the wool over occasionally, but Finishing ply a way to organize the wool in layers. always leaving the bubble wrap under- Use a tapestry needle and doubled thread The layers need to be thin and even for neath. Movement of the wool over the to sew on the eyes, inserting the needle successful felting. Pull small pieces from bubbles creates enough agitation to deeply into the pom-pom to anchor each the end of the top and lay the pieces on begin the felting process. Rub the wool securely. Pull the eyes so they go into the the bubble wrap with the fibers running in this manner for another 5 minutes or plush of the pom-pom for a realistic ef- from north to south in a row that mea- until the piece holds together quite well. fect. Secure the nose in the same way. sures 6 inches across. Make more rows, As the wool begins to felt, turn it over to Again, refer to a photograph of a real rab- slightly overlapping the previous row like felt both sides equally. As felting occurs, bit for placement of the ears, eyes, and shingles on a roof. When the first layer the piece will shrink, so stop rubbing nose. Use the scissors to make the final covers a 6-inch when it is about 5 inches square but no adjustments to the shape of the bunny. square, place a less. For finishing touches, you can color the second layer on Rinse the wool at the sink, alternating insides of the ears with pink chalk pas- top of the first hot and cold water while scrunching the tel applied with a paintbrush, as long as with the fibers piece. This results in a firmer piece of felt you keep the bunny out of reach of small lying east to that should now measure 5 inches square. children who might chew on those ears. Bunny ear Lay the felt on a towel to dry. When it is You can also make a white highlight in pattern west. Finish with a final layer dry, cut out two ear shapes using the pat- the eye using a sharp needle and white placed north to tern provided. Fold at the dots to meet at thread to make a tiny stitch. c south. the center of X. Stitch to secure this fold Fill a water and sew the completed ears into place. MARY ELLEN D’AURIZIO is a spinner, felter, doll Create the eyes and nose by making maker, and knitter. She and her husband live by bottle (if you the Niagara River in New York State. They have have one with a felt beads. Using the black wool, create two grown children. When not working with squirt top, that two equal-size balls. The balls should be fiber, she is a speech therapist. works well but somewhat tight, wound like a tiny ball

Spin.Oƒƒ ’s

M’Lyn creates bowls of all shapes, sizes, and colors out of Bowled handspun yarn and unspun roving—she felts the bowls in the washing machine. Thanks to The Cupboard of Fort Collins, ver Colorado, for providing some of the Knitting feltedO bowls from unspun roving props. b y M ’ L y n W a L t h e r

ast summer I met Veronica (ronnie) Cox selling unspun roving at our local farmers’ market in L Vancouver, Washington. Her roving looked like brightly-colored cotton candy twisted into braids. I was delighted and bought several braids. after knitting with them, I discovered that I also love their unique softness. Next, I took a felted bowl class at the Yarn Garden in Portland, Oregon. Having knitted all my life (mostly argyle socks, sweaters, hats, and afghans) I discovered the pleasures of working with unspun roving, handspun wool, and felting processes. a creative mode kicked in and I was soon knitting bowls that looked like flowers, fruit, and baskets as well as many versions of my first-ever bowl, the Yin Yang Bowl. along with ronnie’s colorful wool roving, I let nature, culture, and my favorite books (the Harry Potter series, for instance) inspire my novelty bowls. my favorite spiral bowl was knitted in ronnie’s Nevada handspun yarn that gradually changes colors from red, to yellow, to purple, to brown, to orange. I call it the Sedona Vortex M’Lyn discovered knitting with unspun roving and handspun yarns when Bowl because of a visit to the sedona red rock country in she became crazed with making felted bowls. She’s been collaborating with Ronnie Cox—a spinner and a dyer—to make these fabulous bowls arizona. and baskets.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 11 library. and I make sure to bring all my knitting supplies to class in felted bowls. (they are easy to wash and remold when they get dirty.) I introduce my students to handspun wool and unspun roving as well as to the process of felting. I also bring in

Yin Yang Bowl

Sunflower

I have to admit that at used since our gatherer first it was hard to figure days and that we can out just what to use the be very creative about bowls for. some people using them and dis- even went so far as to put playing their unusual the bowls on their heads, artistic character. as if they were hats! I for- Friends have put the gave them, understanding bowls on the wall to that they had seen knitted, show the color contrast felted hats before and were and design on the spiral merely a little confused. their bottoms. I name all my mistake motivated me to create bowls and consider them bowls that are sized not to fit works of art—they are the heads, and that “correction” made Petaled Spiral Bowl product of both my hands and the true uses for the bowls apparent— my heart. they are baskets! Fill them with plants, I’m not a spinner yet, but I’ve found small fruits, decorative squash, candy, that the bowls felt best with unspun nuts, dried flowers, skeins of handspun spinners like ronnie to demonstrate roving or handspun yarn with very yarn, hot or cold dishes, or a fresh bou- how yarn is spun. little twist. to make my bowls I usually quet in a glass jar. the bowls are also I remind my students that bowls purchase handspun yarn from my great for holding knitting projects; and baskets of many kinds have been friend ronnie or use unspun roving spinners can at- that I prepare my- tach a bowl to a self. I have tried stick and use it spinning—but in as a distaff. a very unorthodox I now com- way. I “spun” the bine two life- roving for the tan long interests and brown basket (teaching and by attaching two knitting) by lengths of unspun teaching begin- roving to my hand ning knitting 2 1 mixer and gently and felting combined the classes at our Before M’Lyn felts her bowls they are very soft Harry Potter Cauldron rovings to make local communi- and open (1). After she felts them in the washer a plied yarn. ty college and the become compact and firm (2).

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 12 spinning diameter. Draft each strip by holding the fiber with your for hands spaced slightly apart felted (a bit longer than a staple length), and pull gently so b wls that the wool fibers slide ob y r o n n i e c o x past each other. Draft even- Felting a knitted piece is easier if ly until the strips are about the yarns are spun with a lot of loft, so the size of a bulky-weight I spin on my ashford Kiwi using a long worsted yarn. draw spinning technique with little to make a basic bowl, cast twist. I also like to use wools like meri- on 70 stitches of bulky weight no and targee that take dye and felt unspun roving on u.s. size 13 well. to make the yarn for an entrelac circular needles. Join without basket, I spun a single-ply, thick-and- twisting and knit in the round thin yarn that provides a woven texture. for 8 or 9 inches. start decreasing for the base. Dyeing the wool Double Rose Bowls Next round: K8, k2tog, and repeat my favorite way to dye wool is with to end of round. food coloring and vinegar in a crock- Next round: Knit. Next round: K7, k2tog, and repeat pot. Occasionally, I do immersion dye- Project Notes ing, using Procion mX fiber reactive to end of round. dyes such as Gaywool, Pro Chem, sa- Finished size: Medium bowl (before switch to double-pointed needles felting: base = 5 inches, sides = 4 braset, and Country Classic. about when it gets difficult to knit on the inches, diameter = 22 inches; after circular needles. Continue decreasing once a year, I get out my natural dyes felting: base = 4 inches, sides = 3 every other row, but each time reduce and spend a week having fun with inches, diameter = 21 inches). them. I’ve also started hand painting the number of stitches between Fiber: 2 ounces of dyed Merino or Tar- decreases by one st until 12 sts remain. my roving, although it is a time con- gee wool roving. suming process so I don’t do it as often Break off the roving, leaving a 12-inch Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows over as the other methods. I’m looking for- length that you thread through the 2 inches. ward to having enough avocado pits remaining stitches with a tapestry saved up so that I can try Carol Lee’s Needles: U.S. size 13 circular knitting needle. secure and weave in the end. needles and U.S. size 11 circular dye methods from the Fall 2002 issue knitting needles. of Spin.Oƒƒ . Abbreviations: Using roving k–knit If you don’t like to weave in the ends k2tog–knit 2 together when you’re working with yarn, con- p–purl sider using unspun roving. all you have to do with unspun roving is gen- psso–pass slip stitch over tly draft together and twist the ends sl–slip when you join new pieces. It’s like join- st(s)–stitch(es) ing fiber in the spinning process and is yo–yarn over just as seamless. You’ll never have to weave ends in again. c Basic bowls are made Veronica cox of Battle Ground, Washington, is of handspun yarn, roving, the president of the Fort Vancouver Knitter’s and combinations of both. Guild. She has been spinning for twenty years to use the unspun roving, and sells her hand-dyed wool and handspun yarns at the local farmers’ market and through divide it lengthwise into her website, www.stores.ebay/ronnieshand several smaller strips of equal spungiftsandmore. Aqua Bowl

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 13 Felt the bowls in the washing inspired me to make flower petals. machine with hot water and wool-safe With unspun roving and u.s. size detergent, at high agitation, adding 13 circular knitting needles, cast on jeans or other hard-surfaced clothing multiples of 10 sts (10 sts = 1 petal) —make between 5 and 8 petals to begin with. make the petals by working back and forth. Row 1: K3, yo, k1, yo, k3, sl1, k2tog, psso. Row 2: Knit. repeat these two rows five more times to establish the petals at the top edge of the bowl. Roving Spiral Bowl then join ends without twisting the knitting and finish the bowl as Baskets indicated above for the basic bowl, using the simplest afghan patterns I with decreases to shape the bottom. can find, I knit baskets with high sides, Felt the finished bowl. wide tops, and sewn-on I-cord or spiral to make a double rose bowl, I use cords for handles. to create a bas- two strands of yarn and 70 sts (for ketweave pattern repeat these rows, working in the round: Rows 1–3: K3, p3. Rows 4–6: P3, k3. When you have reached the desired depth, follow the directions for decreasing in the basic bowl instructions and then felt the basket. Pineapple Bowl Cat toys to the load. after the machine’s spin a bonus to making the cycle, pull the bowls into shape and felted I-cord feet for the place over hard bowls or stuff with bowls and baskets is that paper towels to dry. Knitted bowls will they make great cat toys. shrink, stiffen, and felt more with Our family cats are each washing. thrilled with the shapes, I add feet to bowls by so I always make extra knitting four-stitch I-cords feet to keep them happy. (see page 52) of varying I’ve even had friends call lengths, felting them with to frantically ask if I have the bowls, forming each into any leftover feet because a circular ball, and then their cat has lost all of his sewing them to the Sedona Vortex Bowl under the furniture. c bottom of the M’Lyn WaLther knits bowls in Ridgefield, bowl. seven petals) on u.s. size 13 needles Washington. She teaches knitting for the outer rose and then make a and felting in the Vancouver- Petal bowls second bowl by working exactly the Portland area. M’Lyn invites you a hat pattern same pattern on u.s. size 11 needles. to email her about her bowls at with a crown the smaller bowl fits snugly inside the [email protected]. turned up on larger one, but they can still be used the outer edge separately.

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 14 Spaced-Out Felted Scarf for harness loom or rigid heddle loom

b y J a n e P a t r i c k

Editor’s note: From the Winter 2008 Fabric description: Spaced warps and Threading guide: wefts, plain weave, felted. News You Can Ewes (Schacht On-line You can also use a ruler as you weave to see Free Newsletter), reprinted with per- Finished Size: 5½" x 72". if you are weaving the correct number of mission from Schacht Spindle Co. picks per inch. If there is any unevenness in Equipment: Table loom, floor loom, or the weaving, it will be completely masked rigid heddle loom with at least a 9" weaving when the fabric is felted. This is one of the designed this scarf for the Weave- width. Two 1" x 9" strips of cardboard. a-Scarf-in-a-Day workshop I reasons this project is so great for beginners. I Warp and weft: Brown Sheep’s Nature Once you have it woven and felted no one taught at the TNNA conference in Spun Sportweight Wool (184 yards per ball). will ever know if your selvedges were Long Beach in January. It is easy for 1 ball each of purple, Boysenberry (color uneven or your beat somewhat irregular. beginners, but has appeal to more 157S) and green, Limestone (color 144S). Any similar size wool yarn that felts will work. Weave in this way for the length of seasoned weavers as well. Here’s the the scarf: weave an inch, leave an inch basic idea: spaced warps and wefts Warp length: 120", which allows 18" loom unwoven, weave an inch, leave an inch unwo- waste and take-up on a rigid heddle loom. If ven, and so on. I alternated stripes of purple are woven in an open weave to cre- you are weaving on a floor loom, you should and green throughout. To leave an inch unwo- ate a grid. The scarf is then felted in allow another 12", or whatever you generally ven, I inserted a 1" strip of cardboard the the washing machine. I love the way allow (you may need another ball of yarn of width of the weaving and then wove the next each color, depending on the additional felting makes a fabric that is inter- inch and inserted a second strip of cardboard. length). After weaving the next inch, I took out the esting and never the same from one Width in reed: 9". first cardboard strip and inserted it in the end of the scarf to the other and shed, in essence leapfrogging the two pieces from crafter to crafter. Believe it or Total warp ends: 50 (30 purple and 20 of cardboard between each inch of weaving. green). not, I designed, warped, and wove Note: In a rigid heddle reed, you will either Ends per inch: Use a 10-dent reed or this scarf in an evening—and threw thread or skip both slots and holes, for a 10-dent rigid heddle reed. width of 1". it into the wash as I went to bed. Weaving: Weave a balanced weave. That is,

Threading Guide

1 inch 1 inch 1 inch Purple 10 ends 10 ends 10 ends 1 inch 1 inch Green 10 ends 10 ends Skip 10 Skip 10 Skip 10 Skip 10 Open dents dents dents dents

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 15 short fringe with the warp ends. I left my fringe too long and it matted up more than I had expected.

Felting the ScarF If you’ve ever accidently thrown your beloved wool sweater in the washing machine and found that what went in a size 12 came out a size 6, then you’re an experienced, if accidental, felter. This is what you are going to do to your scarf—on purpose. To prepare the scarf for washing, roll it up in cotton dishtowels, being careful not to let it bunch up on itself. Make sure that there is a layer of towel between each layer of scarf, otherwise the parts will felt together. When you reach the end, make sure you have the entire end of the scarf contained within the towel. Tie the bundle in several places with string and place in a laundry bag. Wash the scarf bundle on the hot water set- ting in your washing machine. I used a front-load washing machine and didn’t check it during the wash. For top-load machines, I suggest you use a gentle cycle and check your scarf midway Jane Patrick’s through the cycle as top-load machines handspun version are a bit less gentle and the felting pro- of her Spaced-Out cess can happen quite quickly. Once Felted Scarf. you feel that it is sufficiently felted, remove the scarf from the machine, rinse in lukewarm water, and lay flat to dry. Steam-press using a lot of pressure. Trim ends and fringe as necessary. Project Notes weave as many weft rows (or picks) per inch Fiber: 4 oz. mohair/wool batt, novelty Yards per pound: 2,500. yarns spun from millspun yarns, 2 fine as warp threads per inch. In this project, ten Yarn classification: Fingering weight. picks per inch should give a balanced weave. 20/2 worsted wool yarns, and a metallic The spaces between the warp and weft yarn. Yardage used: 547. threads should be square. Drafting method: Woolen. Loom: Flip rigid heddle loom with a 10-dent reed. Weave until you can’t weave any longer. Your Wheel: Schacht double treadle. weaving will seem overly long, but once it is Width on loom: 6". washed, it will shrink about 20% in length Wheel system: Scotch tension. Warp Length: 1½ yards (allowing for and about 40% in width. Ratio (singles/plying): 11:1/13:1. 18" of loom waste). Finishing: Remove the fabric from the Singles direction spun: Z. Sett: 7–8. loom and carefully lay it out on a table or Singles wraps per inch: 17. floor. Trim all weft tails to about 1" (if you Finished size: 5½" x 66" (after leave them too long, they will mat and felt Total yardage: 625. washing). into the scarf). I recommend a twisted, fairly

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 16 Making a Needlefelted Fairy Doll Project Notes b y L a u r a b u r c h

Fiber: 1 oz core material (inexpen- airies fascinate me. I imagine pockmarked from the needle. sive noncolored wool or fiberfill), 1.5 them living among the flora and Use a needlefelting surface, such as oz peach carded Shetland or Romney F foam, to protect against the needle. In- wool (body, face, arms, and legs), fauna of the forests, hiding from 0.5 oz each of dark green (shirt and me, and blending in with the mag- sert the needle into the wool straight up shoes) and light green (skirt and un- ical beauty of their surroundings. and down; if you jab at angles, be sure derwear), and pinches of pink, yellow, Children are especially drawn to the not to change the angle of the needle and orange (lips, cheeks and decora- beauty of these diminutive beings, abruptly as you can easily break the tion for shirt). playing dress up to become fairies, needle. Notions: Two 2 mm glass doll eyes flittering around in their own world Shapes that make up the doll on a wire from www.glasseyesonline of naïveté and imagination. (dimensions before felting): .com; green sewing thread to match To needlefelt is to sculpt with wool. Sphere (head): 5½" diameter. the green felt; 9" peach marabou (a Big oval (body): 4½" × 7". fuzzy string of turkey down feathers Your tools are sharp, barbed needles Long wool tubes (arms and legs): for hair); two strips 50" long x 5" wide that permanently interlock the wool green tulle for underskirt (option- fibers each time you push them through arms: 3" long × 1" diameter; legs: al); purchased green 8½" x 11" 100% the surface of the wool. You can get sub- 4½" long × 4¾" diameter. wool felt sheet (leaves, headband). tle results by varying the type of wool Small ovals (hands, shoes): hands: Needles: Eighteen 38-gauge felting you use and the size of needles. Start by 1" × ½" diameter; shoes: 2½" long × 1" needles with handles. roughing out your shapes and then felt diameter. them together to create your doll. Base shapes: With sewing thread, Tools and supplies: 2" thick foam bind the base shapes of the head and work surface, sewing needle, doll I recommend using a medium to coarse needle (long needle for sewing the wool such as Shetland or Romney rath- body, rolled to dimensions above with parts of the doll together), sharp er than finer wools that will appear core wool or fiberfill, by wrapping sewing scissors, fabric pen, fabric glue, and sewing thread. Note: Choose handles that hold multiple needles; the more, the bet- ter. I use a handle with 10 needles for wide areas of felting such as the fairy’s clothes, a handle with 4 needles for the head and body, a handle with 3 needles for the arms and legs, and a single needle for details such as the eyes. Having many different handles and needle sizes is like having many different paintbrushes. They give you different results and it helps you complete your piece faster. You could needlefelt this fairy with 1 needle, but it would most likely test your patience. 1 2 3

©F+W Media, Inc. ■ All rights reserved ■ F+W Media grants permission for any or all pages in this issue to be copied for personal use Spin.Off ■ spinningdaily.com ■ 17 Choking Small pieces such as the balls for the hazards shoes, glass eyeballs, and felt leaves around the skirt could be choking hazards for small children who put things in their mouths.

Safety While needlefelting precautions is simple and fun, felting needles are very sharp! They are not appropriate tools for young children. Take care not to jab your fi ngers with the needles and keep a fi rst-aid kit close by in case you are injured. Work only with clean, washed wool and wash your hands if you prick yourself. Sterilize the needles before and after each use.

thread around core to maintain the shape needed (fi g. 1). Cover the base shapes with thin layers of peach wool; needlefelt until smooth and fi rm (fi g. 2). Arms and legs: For legs, start with a tuft of peach wool 8" long (fi g. 3). Roll the wool vertically and felt; keep roll- ing (about 2 or 3 times) and felting until you’ve made a long, thin, fi rm stick of wool (fi gs. 4a–c). Do the same for the arms, but use a

4b 4c 4d

SO_Fairy dolls F.indd 61 5/5/11 9:54 AM 05052011095917 tuft of peach wool 4" long (fi g. 4d). Trim the arms and legs with scissors, arms: 3" long, 10a 10b 10c 11a legs: 6" long (or in proportion to the body) (fi g. 5). 5 Roll the arms and legs between your palms to smooth them. Sew the head, arms, and legs to the 11b 12 13a body with doll needle. Sew deep into the head and neck 6 area until the head is secure (fi g. 6). Face: Felt a small oval for the nose and felt it to the face (fi g. 7a). Cov- er the face with a thin layer of peach wool to seamlessly blend the nose to the face (fi g. 7b). Felt indentations where 13b 13c the eyes should go and sculpt the nose, cheeks, and face. The face should be head, beads can be sewn onto the wool, (fi g. 13a). The dark green shirt wool shaped into an oval. Place eyes at half- or black wool can be felted into the should fi ll an area about 5"× 8". The way line of the oval and use a fabric pen head (child-friendly choice) as options. light green skirt wool should fi ll a space to mark the eyes and mouth so they Eyelids/mouth: Fold very small piec- about 8" × 16" (save a bit of light green look proportional. es of peach wool; felt. Place an eye- wool for the underwear). Using a needle Eyes: With a large felting needle, lid onto each eye, halfway down on the handle with 4 or 8 needles—the more make holes for eyes (for glass eyes on eye, folded edge down. Needlefelt into the faster—felt the wool on one side, a metal stick) (fi g. 8). Insert the met- place, shaping around the eye to make turn it over, and felt the other side until al stick into the head and twist wire at it look natural (fi g. 9). Felt a small piece smooth (fi gs. 13b–c). Take each piece of the back of the head to secure the eyes. of orange for the mouth and felt into fl at felted wool and wash it in the sink Plastic doll eyes can be glued onto the place on face. with very hot water and soap. Rinse and Shoes: Fold a wisp of dark green put into the dryer until dry. The wash- wool into the shape of a leaf shoe. Felt ing process will further felt the wool for until smooth and fi rm (fi gs. 10a–10c). a fi ner fi nish. Sew the shoes to the ankles with Shirt: Cut the shirt from the dark small stitches as invisibly as possible green felt. Cut a small hole for the head (fi g. 11a). Cover stitching with berfi and felt into place (11b). Hands: Felt two small ovals as 7a 7b hands, leaving one end unfelted (fi g. 12). Felt the hands onto the wrists. 8 9 Clothes: Flat felt two squares of wool (one dark green for the shirt, one light green for the skirt). Lay out tufts of wool in a row, slightly overlapping each tuft with the next; place a second layer of wool over the fi rst with tufts arranged in the opposite direction (as you would lay out wool for wet-felting) 14a

SO_Fairy dolls F.indd 62 5/5/11 9:54 AM 05052011095918 and a small slit at the front neck and then fold the piece in half (fi gs. 14a– 14c). Sew the shirt down both sides, leaving armholes and opening for head unsewn. Turn shirt right side out (fi gs. 15a–b). With a needle and thread, gather the bottom of the shirt using running stitch 15a 15b 16a (fi gs. 16a–16b). Skirt: Cut the light green square for the skirt in half so you end up with two pieces of wool 4" × 16". With a needle and thread, gather each piece along the cut edge. Wrap the gathered light green wool around the doll’s waist (fi g. 17a). Sew the two pieces together placing the seams at the sides of the doll. Cut fi f- teen ½" × ¼" leaves from purchased 16b 17a 17b green felt (change dimensions if needed to stay in proportion) and glue the felt leaves around the waist (fi g. 17b). Felt light green “underwear” onto the bottom of the doll (fi g. 18). Gather two strips of layered tulle (50" long × 5" wide) with a needle and thread. Wrap tulle skirt around the doll’s waist under the wool skirt and trim the tulle if it is longer than the skirt; the tulle should not be visible— 18 19 20 its purpose is to puff out the felt skirt (fi g. 19). hands to smooth them; roll into long Laura Burch, who lives in Tel Aviv, Israel (orig- Hair: Use three strips of marabou strands for embroidery. Needlefelt the inally from Greenfi eld, Indiana), is an artist and (3" each piece); sew the pieces onto the colored pieces of wool onto the fairy’s mother of three girls who makes needlefelted toys and dolls that are meant to delight the head around the face and at the neck. shirt in spiral shapes to make fl owers. young and the young at heart. You can see more Instead of marabou, you could use Me- Once the fl ower design has been felted on her website, www.lauraleeburch.com. She rino wool or yarn. Cut a strip of pur- onto the front of the shirt, felt the shirt enjoys using natural materials such as wool and chased green wool felt for a headband onto the doll’s body. Roll two small cotton that children will delight in holding. She (½" 12") and tie around the hair to pieces of orange wool, felt each into loves to create these contemporary touchable × works of art, which she hopes will be passed on keep the fuzz out of the face (fi g. 20). a ball, and felt to the tips of the fairy to siblings, relatives, and friends. Details: Roll small wisps of pink, shoes. Make small circles on the fairy’s yellow, and orange wool between your cheeks with pastel pink wool. a cut slit cut slit

foldfold hole foldfold forhole forhead head

Fairy doll shirt pattern Fairy doll4.5" shirt x pattern 4" 4.5” x 4” 14b 14c

SO_Fairy dolls F.indd 63 5/5/11 9:55 AM 05052011095918