Saturday, October 24, 2009

I Felt It

It has been a nightmare of a week. My DH had a medical emergency Monday and we've had two trips to the ER, trips to doctors. He is going to be ok in the end, but right now he requires a lot of care. It has taken all I can do to take care of his needs.

I'm trying to get supplies together for the Felted Wool jacket workshop next month. The way my life shakes out, I don't wait until the last minute because if I do, surely something comes along that takes my time.


These are my fabrics, all felted, ironed and ready.


The light gray wool I got off the grab table at a sewing meeting. There was 3 yards. To felt it, I washed it in hot water/cold rinse 4 times. Then, I threw it in the dryer. It felted beautifully. The red and the black are smaller pieces needed for embellishment. They are blazers I bought at Salvation Army Thrift Store for $4 each. I ripped the blazers apart and felted them. After they were dry, I steam-ironed them. The fabric is felted properly if you can cut into it and it doesn't ravel.

The teacher, Barbara Skimin, likes Sulky 12 wt. cotton thread to do the decorative stitching. I ordered black, dark gray, red, red variegated, black variegated from http://www.speedstitch.com/. I won't use all of them, but I have enough to make a choice when the time comes.

Barbara Skimin is well know in Michigan. She wrote a book for Brother sewing machine company. She's been featured in Threads magazine. I took a photo of her "Felted Wool Jacket with Seamless Piecing Techniques" for reference. Here it is:

Note: This is the work of Barbara Skimin, not me. I didn't get a chance to examine this closely. But, I think what she's doing is cutting pieces of felted wool, butting them together, and doing a decorative stitch where they butt together. Then taking the pieced embellishment and laying it on the jacket and stitching down with a decorative stitch.

I may be wrong about the procedure, but that is what it looks like to me.

There's a couple of things I have to pick up at the local Jo when I'm out that way. Also, I am taking my cheap, little Brother machine with me to class, instead of my heavy Bernina(s).

Make some beautiful things this weekend!


17 Talk to me:

Rhoto said...

Dear Gwen, glad you're taking time to take care of you, too!!
Soft hug,
Rhonda in Montreal (PR)

Trudy said...

Gwen, I am so sorry to hear about your husband. I sure hope he's okay soon. I'll be saying a little prayer for him.

Jean said...

Good to hear your husband will be ok. Your felting workshop sounds like it will be a lot of fun --- just the kind of creative break you'll need.

Unknown said...

Have fun at class, sounds like a great way to spend a rainy Saturday. Keeping you and your DH in my thoughts and prayers.

Linda T said...

I share the same philosophy as you Gwen...don't wait to the last minute. Might be something we learn as we age. I am so sorry your DH is ill. Don't forget to take care of yourself while you look after him.

I bought a Janome felting machine a year or so ago but haven't had time to do much with it. I will be interested to see and hear about your project.

Vernon Fashion Studio

Fran said...

Workshop sounds great. Sorry for your stress, but glad that things are going to be okay. Best, Fran

The Sewing and Knitting Loft said...

Gwen, I hope your DH mends quickly. Please take care of yourself too. Look forward to seeing what happens with the felted wool.

Linda L said...

Gwen, hope your DH is mending. I know about those emergencies with my husband. Take care of yourself also. Looking forward to seeing your felted jacket.

Anonymous said...

I hope you and your husband are doing okay. Thank goodness you have sewing to take your mind off of things. Hope everything is okay.

Karin van Dam said...

I am sorry to hear your husband has been ill. I hope everything will be well again very soon!

Carol said...

Hope DH is doing better today. As the others have said, be kind to yourself as well as him. he needs you well. I love the idea of a felted jacket. I've never felted anything, although I am sure I would love it! There are so many things I want to try and so little time!!

Sharon Sews said...

I'm sorry to hear about your DH. I'll keep in - and you - in my prayers.

The felted jacket workshop sounds like it will be a lot of fun as well as a stress reliever.

Linda T said...

Hope life is "calming down" at your place!

Faye Lewis said...

I know your jacket will be wonderful! How did you felt the fabric - do you have a felting machine? Glad you husband is ok. Thanks for the wonderful complement you gave me on my jacket.

~ Kimberlee B ~ said...

Looks like alot of work, but fun, can't wait to see your finished coat and your strength and your husband's health will be in my prayers.

Audrey said...

I am glad to hear your husband will be okay, but I know how stressful and tiring it can be dealing with situations like this. I can't wait to hear about your felting class. I have some wool I have felted and would love some inspiration on how to use it.

Faye Lewis said...

You emailed me earlier about the felting process. I emailed back asking if the results yielded a texture similar to boiled wool? Now another question. I have a large piece of wool that is really rough, I'd compare it to the texture a horse blanket but it is such a pretty color. Do you think it could be felted, or at least washed 5 times in hot water to make it softer so I might consider making a coat out of it?

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