Johns The Felted Bag Book

1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-74337-172-5
Verlag: IMM Lifestyle
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 112 Seiten

The popular craft of felting uses wool, water and soap to create a thick, strong and durable material - perfect for making a long-lasting bag. The Felted Bag Book shows how to try this exciting craft for yourself. Combining a number of different felting techniques - wet felting, knitted felting, crocheted felting and recycling - it offers 21 fun projects to experiment with wool and make truly stunning bags. Learn how to manipulate layers of wool tops for extra thickness, to knit and crochet fantastic designs and ways to embellish your bags with eye-catching motifs and trimmings. Whether you're looking for a sturdy shopping bag or a delicate evening clutch, there is a bag for every taste and for every occasion. And, with simple step-by-step instructions and inspiring photographs, it has never been easier to create one (or several) for yourself.

SUSIE JOHNS graduated from the Slade School of Fine Art and worked as a magazine editor for 11 years, specializing in crafts, cookery, and gardening. Since then she has written books on a variety of creative subjects including photo craft, jewelry making, collage, sewing, knitting, and crochet, and has contributed regular features for magazines. Susie is a qualified teacher and has run workshops in watercolors, beadwork, crochet, and knitting.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Johns, Susie

Leseproben

Wet felting

This traditional method of wet felting produces a very strong, thick and durable fabric by laying carded (combed) fibres of pure wool fleece in layers and matting them together into a dense mat, with the help of water, soap, heat and friction.

Materials

The fibres used for ‘wet’ felting are sold as ‘wool tops’ or ‘roving’ but are generally referred to in this book as ‘fleece’.

The bags in this section of the book are made with 21-micron merino wool tops: clean, carded (combed) fibres made from 100 per cent wool from merino sheep. Merino wool tops are the most widely available and commonly used, probably because they tend to be the easiest to work with. They come in a wide range of colours (see the picture of felted beads on page 19 for some of the colours available).

Buy wool tops in small amounts and try to use them quickly. Storing the fibres for long periods of time makes them more difficult to pull apart. They are also troublesome to store, as keeping them in sealed plastic bags, which may seem the best idea if you want to protect them from moth damage, has the negative effect of retaining moisture, which can make the fibres coarse.

Basic equipment

Plastic sheet: This is to protect your table or work surface. Buy plastic sheeting from a DIY store or use a large bin liner.

Towels: An old towel laid on top of the plastic sheet helps to soak up water. It is also useful to have a few towels handy for drying your hands and mopping up excess water.

Bubble wrap: Laid underneath the wool fibres, the texture of the bubble wrap helps to increase friction while you are rubbing, thereby speeding up the felting process.

Net curtain: This is laid on top of the fibres so that you can rub without disturbing the layers. The holes in the fabric allow water and soap to pass through. Use an old net curtain, a mosquito net or length of medium-weight nylon or polyester netting.

Plastic bottle: Recycle any suitable plastic bottle. You will need to make a few holes in the cap with a sharp needle, such as a felting needle, so you can sprinkle the water on the felt. You could also use a plant spray bottle or a water bottle with a sports cap.

Block of soap: Choose a large block of soap; this is used to rub over the layers of wool fibres. An olive oil soap is a good choice, as it is kinder to your hands.

Bamboo mat: This can be used underneath the felt, instead of bubble wrap. It is also used in the later stages, if the felt needs to be rolled. For large pieces, use an old bamboo blind; for smaller pieces, a table mat or sushi mat is ideal.

Plastic: This is useful for cutting templates to create the desired size and shape and to prevent the layers of wool from bonding together when making a bag in one piece. If you use a fairly rigid plastic, you can feel the hard edges of the shape as you felt. However, a thick plastic carrier bag is adequate. Buy sheets of acetate from an art supplier or look out for suitable packaging that can be recycled.

Scissors: To cut felt it is best to use dressmaking scissors. Embroidery scissors, small with sharp points, are also useful.

Markers: Use an erasable fabric marker or tailor’s chalk to mark fabric, and a ballpoint pen or permanent marker to draw templates on plastic.

Needles: You will need an ordinary sewing needle and thread to stitch handles to some of the bags and a beading needle and strong thread to sew on beads and other decorations.

Method

The technique of creating ‘wet’ felt varies in small details but basically involves creating layers of carded fleece and, with the aid of soap, water and friction, causing the fibres to bond together. The first part of the felting process creates pre-felt. This means that the fibres are bonded but not yet completely felted. The pre-felt can be cut and used to decorate other pieces, or you can proceed with the second part of the process, to create the finished felted fabric.

Felting

1Prepare your work surface by protecting it with a plastic sheet and laying a towel and a layer of bubble wrap on top.

2Tease out tufts of wool fleece. To do this, hold a long length of merino wool tops in one hand and, with the other hand, grasp the ends of the fibres tightly and pull.

step 2

3For the first layer, lay the fibres side by side on the work surface (or on the template, if you are using one), making sure that all the fibres lie in one direction and there is an even thickness all over. The felting process will cause the wool to shrink, so make sure you allow for this by adding about 15 to 20 per cent more fabric all round than the desired measurement of the finished piece.

step 3

4For the second layer, lay the fibres at right angles to the first layer, again making sure that the layer is of an even thickness.

step 4

5For the third layer, the fibres should lie in the same direction as the first layer, and so on, until you have the desired number of layers.

step 5

6To make the pre-felt, cover the layers of wool fibres with a piece of net and, using the plastic bottle with holes pierced in the top, sprinkle with water, making sure the piece is evenly wetted but not soaking.

step 6

7Pat it all over with your hands; this helps to settle the fibres, allowing a greater degree of control before the felting.

step 7

8Gently rub the block of soap over the net curtain. This will start to felt the wool fibres. Do this as gently as possible in the early stages in order not to disturb the layers too much.

step 8

9Press down all over with your hands, to make sure any air bubbles are removed before starting the felting.

10Rub with both hands, using a circular motion, for about 10 minutes.

step 10

11Peel off the net, turn the piece over, place the net on top again and repeat the process on the other side. From time to time, lift the net and replace it, to make sure it does not become embedded in the felted fibres.

12To complete the felting process, place the pre-felt on a bamboo mat and roll it backwards and forwards for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the felt hardens, periodically wetting it with soapy water. Check the size from time to time and roll as required in different directions until you have achieved the desired shape and size.

step 12

13Rinse the felt with really hot water. To do this, boil water in a kettle, place the felt in a bowl or sink and carefully pour the water over. Repeat several times, then rinse thoroughly with cold water under a running tap to remove soap residue.

step 13

14Pull the felt gently into shape then lay out flat and allow to dry.

How to make felt beads

These can be used as fastenings or embellishments and are a good way of using up small amounts of leftover wool tops.

1Twirl a small piece of fleece around your fingertip, then begin to wrap more fibres around it, to make a ball.

2Wet the ball by dipping it briefly into a bowl of water or spraying it with water; squeeze out any excess water as it should be wet right through but not dripping.

step 2

3Rub your hands with soap, then roll the ball gently in your palms, without using too much pressure. Continue until the ball begins to harden – about 10 minutes.

step 3

4Roll the ball on a bamboo mat until it becomes very firm.

5Place the ball in a sink or bowl and pour on very hot water from a kettle. Rinse thoroughly with cold water to remove soap.

How to make a felt cord

Felt cord makes useful handles; short lengths can be used to make button loops and decorations.

1Pull off a length of fleece about 15–20 per cent longer than the required finished length of the cord. Lay it on a work surface and sprinkle with water.

step 1

2Wet your hands and soap them thoroughly, then draw the fibres through your hands, rolling them backwards and forwards. Keep rolling and wetting the fibres until they thicken.

step 2

3Roll well on a bamboo mat or bubble wrap until the piece has hardened.

4Once the cord is the required length and thickness, place in a bowl or sink and pour on really hot water from a kettle, then rinse with cold water and leave to dry.

Scarlett

Made in one piece, this little handbag is quick and easy to make. You can make your bag bigger or smaller by altering the size of the template. Leave it plain or embellish it with felt beads – it’s up to you.

Materials:

180 g (6 oz) merino wool tops in red

180 g (6 oz) merino wool tops in pink

Equipment

plastic sheet

old towel

bubble wrap

piece of plastic, approx. 30 x 30 cm
(12 × 12 in)

net

plastic bottle of water

soap

Finished size

width: 22 cm (8¾ in)

height: 26 cm (10 in)

Method

1Place a sheet of plastic and a towel on your work surface with a sheet of bubble wrap on top. Cut a template from plastic to...