Sunday, June 2, 2013

Creating a Seamless Nuno Felted Reversible Jacket


The intensive four day nuno felted butterfly jacket workshop in beautiful Portland, Oregon was fun, rewarding and a real learning experience. It was a joy to meet and hang out with Kristy Kun, the owner of Opulent Fibers; Jean Gauger, our inspirational instructor; and the ten other amazingly talented classmates some of whom were locals, most from out of State and one from Canada. 

I flew up to Portland directly from Long Beach on Jet Blue which was easy peasy.  I picked up a taxi from the airport which took me to the Evermore Guest House recommended by Kristy and although I never saw a worker there for the first three days, the victorian house built in 1909 was beautiful, clean and homey. My spacious room with a king size bed was luxurious(especially without my three dogs) and the old claw foot tub (there was also a shower)offered a much needed nightly soak after walking several miles to/from the workshop and standing on my feet all day.








 The finished jacket used about 12 yards of silk fabric and about 6 oz. of wool roving.  I eco printed and dyed most of the fabrics with eucalyptus prior to the workshop.  Also used a vintage sari fabric and some silks including the black and white polka dot that I purchased on our field trip to the Mill End Store in Portland.

The sari fabric contained little beads which felted in beautifully. 

The back of the jacket.

This is technically the inside of this reversible jacket.

The back of what is technically the inside of the jacket.

Working from the inside out, I first laid out silk hankies on my plastic resist.

Jean and I discussing the direction for laying out the wool roving.

The back layout is complete except for the last layer of silk which will be put on after the front is complete.  Here I have flipped it and will now work the front of the resist.

I add silk fabric to the left front flap which will be the inside flap.  Now I'm laying down the wool roving.

I finished laying out the roving on the left front which will be the inside flap.

 Then placed another resist over the inside front flap.

Working the outside front flap with silk fabric.

The final layout is the outer most layer of the back.


And then lots and lots of rolling.
Throwing and slamming -  a great way to release those frustrations!

Keep working it, it hasn't shrunk enough yet.  

My home away from home for 5 nights.  I enjoyed the walk to/from the workshop either via Division Street or Clinton Street. And what awesome eateries along the way not to mention fun funky shops and the fab New Seasons Grocery Store.







Stop to smell the roses along the way.