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December 31, 2007

Christmas Felting

A few weeks ago I was taken along to a felting workshop run at Buckland Abbey, a National Trust house once owned by Sir Walter Raleigh and home to a number of ghosts including some hounds of hell.

Alas, no ghosts were to be seen the day I was there, but much wet felting done, all based around the theme of Christmas. We were all shown how to make a Christmas Stocking (which is massive, by the way- If I put it on, it comes up to my knee), each with the same template, but with whatever colours and patterns we wished. There were many green and red and white stockings, with snowflakes, Father Christmases and a Rudolf. I went for 'Salvador Dali goes to the Arctic' as my theme, with some after-thought embroidery with silver thread.

Afterwards, we were given a 3-D foam shape to felt a bird to whatever colours we felt appropriate. Therefore, meet Arnold the Christmas Dipper, who has sequined eyes, but I couldn't get the light to catch, so you'll just have to imagine. As you can see however, Arnold is a little partial to the 'old sauce' and hangs at a rather, umm, cheeky angle.

And just so's you know how Arnold is done- it was ridiculously easy, and as Lizzie says in comments, is started by roughly needle felting your wool tops all over the foam. The tops need to be only lightly held in to the foam. And be careful not to stick your needle through the foam with such force it goes out the other side and in to your thumb. Then you totally drown the thing in liquid olive oil soap, and start rubbing all over. Rub and rub and rub, adding more soap if necessary. Slowly, slowly it all begins to tighten and thicken and felt. Then you can start to shape the bird more- I pushed up the tail to a dipper like angle, and added some more colour with needles and tops, then felted again with more soap, and so on and so forth. When satisfied, wash thoroughly under the tap and leave to dry. Add a face and any other embellishment.

It was great fun. Would love to have another go.

Posted by scumkitten at December 31, 2007 02:41 PM

Comments

What gorgeous work! I never thought of using a foam shape as the base for felting...I love to needle felt! Must try it out!

Posted by: LizzyK8 at December 31, 2007 03:01 PM

Using a foam base is a great idea - I never thought of that, and it willl use a lot less wool! I love the stocking, it is gorgeous.

Posted by: glittrgirl at January 1, 2008 11:08 AM

The way to get a a sparkle or a catchlight is to bounce the light back towards the subject with a mirror. Yes, experimentation with angles, someone to tilt the mirror against the main light source, or something to prop it in the right general direction, that'd do it.

Let me know if that works, hmm?

Posted by: brendadada at January 2, 2008 03:05 AM

these are so cool! BEAUTIFUL. I've done some needle felting but haven't tried the soap and water version. (other than the fulling in the washing machine)

Posted by: Mtwelovett at January 12, 2008 07:43 PM