Design Explorations 02 & 03 2013 - Needle Felting

My 'play group' had a workshop in dry felting. Most had an 'embellisher' - a machines that looks like a sewing machine, but it does not use thread ... just needles with barbs that push the fibres into the backing.   I used a hand held needle felter.

Our Design Explorations theme for February was 'SKYFALL'

A few years ago, at nightfall, I looked up in the sky and from the west ... a shower of meteors crossed the sky. In Vancouver, we have meteor showers in the late summer. But, this was no ordinary event! Many meteors in different sizes streaked across the sky, over a couple of minutes. We all stood and watched with our mouths open. It was unreal! One man said, "If this is the end of the world, it sure is purdy". The meteors streaked to the east and evidence was found in the south-east of the province, hundreds of miles away. 

This piece is done on sheer with tiny silver dots that represent the stars. The sky had a light streaked overcast - the result of an earlier rain.

For March, the Design Exploration theme was 3D ... but, it is hard to fit an actual 3D project into my portfolio. So ... while felting, I worked to make the pear appear to be rounded  ... 3D.

I used an old wool sweater as a base to build the final  piece.

Below is my third piece ... just made for fun!

My sunset used a thin stabilizer as a backing.

The hand needle does not create a very stable felt in comparison to a wet felt or a felt made on an emellisher. It has a wispy look and texture. To make it a little more stable, I sprayed 'skyfall' and the sunset with liquid starch.

You can see the DESIGN EXPLORATIONS blog here:
http://quiltvive3.blogspot.ca/
There is just Carla and I. We completed our first year - 2012!

Felting ... a whole new experience!

This sample was made in a workshop with Sharon from Armstrong.
Wet felting has been known for thousands of years ... probably 'discovered' accidentally by someone with good observation skills.
This sample was made by layering combed fleece in alternate directions, adding hot water and liquid soap. We then 'smooshed' the bag with our fingers until it reached the 'prefelt' stage. The little balls are made with a single felting needle with little barbs.

This sample was made with my friend Rose. Wool was felted through a more involved process. The result is a semi-sheer felt that is as light as a feather.

The second photo shows the felt held up with the sun behind - to show the sheerness. My fingers show as shadows.

The last example is an ATC made with an embellisher, a machine that has several felting needles. It doesn't use thread or bobbin. The felt / threads are held in place by the barbed needles embedding the decoration in the background fabric.