The Felting Saga - Part III

Had to try Wonder Washer again!  This time, I tried a few different tricks.....not knowing what the result would be.  Here is the knitted bag BEFORE the start of the felting process- about 10" x 10."  It's mostly knit with crocheted flap edging and strap. First problem.....I ran out of the teal-colored yarn, so I had to improvise to complete the bag!

I normally leave all the cut ends of the yarn hanging out during felting.  Once felted, they (usually) can be simply cut off, leaving no trace of the cut.  I like to leave them on - especially at the corners, so I can pull on them to reshape the bag.

I placed the bag in a small pillowcase (I cut it down from a standard pillowcase), added hot water and then additional microwaved water, and a small amount of Woolite to the Wonder Washer tub.  I set it to agitating and pulled it out of the water to view the progress about every 6 minutes.  Nothing much seemed to be happening for about the first 15 minutes.  So I added two tennis balls (with holes drilled through).  Next check....some of the rubber from inside the tennis balls had seeped out from within, and there were tiny pieces of rubber merged into and through some of the felt.  In addition, parts of the bag were felting to itself, and other parts were unevenly felting.  OMG!!!  Another disaster, maybe!!!!

I removed the tennis balls and added instead two hard rubber balls that belong to our dog, Griff.  They each have 2 large holes so they bumped around suitable, I think!  I also scrapped the pillowcase bag and resorted to the mesh lingerie bag! The heck with loose fibers!  I need this process to work seamlessly - both literally AND figuratively!  After what seemed like an eternity and the addition of more microwaved hot water, the bag emerged, looking like this:

It is now about 7" x 8," so it has definitely shrunk, but the felting seems uneven to me.  It's not a perfect process or product, and I am discouraged since this type of felting has been such fun, such a pleasure, with occasion surprises.

OK, so NOW I am too disgusted to write my tips and strategies for felting with the Wonder Washer.  I promise to do that.....tomorrow maybe....along with photos of the final result - which I think will get some needle felting of yarn, roving, and pieces of silk.  Stay tuned for the final product!

3KCBWDAY7- Balancing Your Craft!

Crafting Balance 
Are you a knitter or a crocheter, or are you a bit of both? If you are monogamous in your yarn-based crafting, is it because you do not enjoy the other craft or have you simply never given yourself the push to learn it? Is it because the items that you best enjoy crafting are more suited to the needles or the hook? Do you plan on ever trying to take up and fully learn the other craft? If you are equally comfortable knitting as you are crocheting, how do you balance both crafts? Do you always have projects of each on the go, or do you go through periods of favouring one over the other? How did you come to learn and love your craft(s)?

Freeform Knitted Lace with Freeform Crochet Edging

I guess you might say that I am WELL-BALANCED!  I am both a knitter and crocheter!  I learned to knit at about age 8 from my great aunt, who was Belgian.  I believe my mother taught me to crochet - don't remember when! I am about equally committed to both, plus a little felting thrown in there to truly create the balance. And the felting consists of knitted, nuno, and needle types, sometimes all three combined!  And then I recycle and like to create something from other functional objects, as in my Upcycle Scarves and Funky Fabric Scarves, the Rag Bags, and the Plarn Bags.  

Funky Fabric Scarf

Upcycle Scarf

I like freeform!  Organic designs, contemporary styling as well as classic, or organic, freeform within traditional styles - all are part of my repertoire.  As noted throughout this week of blogging, because I sell my work, I need to constantly be mindful of my audience, my followers, and the public in general - in terms of variety of color, texture, basic design, and styling.  So you might say that I dabble in everything (master of none??)

Bloomin' Neck Garden

Plarn Bag

I find crochet allows me to be more creative than knitting - maybe because I have not tried my hand at a some advanced stitches in knitting.  I can create 3-dimensional artwork with crochet; I can pull out parts without destroying the entire piece with crochet.  I can create freeform designs more readily with crochet.  Do I like it best? Not at all!  The balance of fiber art in my life is important.  I bore easily, like to work quickly, and often like combining my two or three interest areas.  This has become my life's work and work that I truly love!  As a career counselor too, I know how important this is and am grateful to have found this balance in my life - particularly during this time of retirement!

All my work is viewable on flickr!  Please take a look if interested!