Well... It's Felt

But I'm not sure the piece I worked on at Diane's will become a vest.  Early on in the felting, Diane and I discussed the quality of the wool I was working with.  It's merino but it's not fine merino, has a bit of rough texture to it for merino.  It didn't really want to felt easily the way good merino does.   I was having trouble getting the embellishments to felt in.  Here at home, I decided to concentrate on just one spot to see what I could accomplish and how long it would take for success.  After 20 minutes, it ... was... felting... but I decided it wasn't going to be worth the effort to make it nuno felt and I didn't want to lose the silk under the wool.  I peeled the wool off in two sections, layed out one piece on some bubble wrap and wet felted it.  The other piece is not as intact and I'm not sure I can put it back together enough for yardage to sew a vest.   And I'm not sure I want to even if I can.  There is enough that I could easily make a cat bed for Fiona.  I'll be thinking on it.   

Comments

[Maggie]

I've tried felting with Merino, and Bluefaced Leicester, and I'm not sure I like the result. I'd like to find a type of wool that gives me a sturdier felted fabric.

[Diane Christian]

Chris, I am sorry that it did not work out as hoped. But isn't it great that felt is so easy to change and re-purpose? It looks like a good piece. It would be a fun piece to over-dye using resists or shibori techniques.