Okay, here i am day 2. My first shawl is completed and dry. Im starting my second alpaca shawl today. Im going to felt the alpaca thinner and layer more silk collage with silk ribbons, yarns, and silk pieces. Today i learned to make sure i rinse out all the soap in cool water. Making sure all water is squeezed out and then to soak the piece in a vinegar water solution that closes the fibres and brings the pH back to normal for the piece. Then lay the piece on a towel and roll it up to assist in the drying process.
At the end if the afternoon i began thinking about my third project. One of the gals brought her linen top that could be an interesting template for a felted garment. My new challenge!
So measurements were taken and plans were made.....tomorrow is day 3, my last day. I have to leave at 2:30 to make the ferry connection back to mayne. Ill have to work right thru lunch to make sure I get finished.
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Saturday, May 4, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Day 1 on Salt Spring
Today is my first day at the felting workshop I'm attending here on Salt Spring Island, BC. It is such a beautiful, vibrant island! Im here because i want to learn how to felt with alpaca onto silk. I took a bag of Buttercup's alpaca rovings with me, plus silks, natural yarns and threads.
Today i started a silk scarf. It started out
as a piece of white china silk 90 inches long by 20 inches. Im anxious to see how much it shrinks!
First step
Lay out the alpaca fibre onto the silk.
I added some threads of a blue silk yarn.
Then the labor begins.
Sponge wetting the fibre on the silk
Rolling it tightly on to the 'noodle'. Roling it to a count of 350. Unroll. Reroll from the other side. Repeat rolling to a count of 350. Repeat whole process two more times!!!
Then check to see how the fibre is felting. If too dry rewet and message with dove soap. Rewrap and roll 2 to 3 mire times. Check.
If ready you now rinse in hot water squeezing out soap. Then throwing it onto table. This agitates the fibre and gives relief to the felter! At this point i bundled up my wet piece and put into a plastic bag. I wonder how much it will
Shrink over night???
Today i started a silk scarf. It started out
as a piece of white china silk 90 inches long by 20 inches. Im anxious to see how much it shrinks!
First step
Lay out the alpaca fibre onto the silk.
I added some threads of a blue silk yarn.
Then the labor begins.
Sponge wetting the fibre on the silk
Rolling it tightly on to the 'noodle'. Roling it to a count of 350. Unroll. Reroll from the other side. Repeat rolling to a count of 350. Repeat whole process two more times!!!
Then check to see how the fibre is felting. If too dry rewet and message with dove soap. Rewrap and roll 2 to 3 mire times. Check.
If ready you now rinse in hot water squeezing out soap. Then throwing it onto table. This agitates the fibre and gives relief to the felter! At this point i bundled up my wet piece and put into a plastic bag. I wonder how much it will
Shrink over night???
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