Monday, March 23, 2020

Making prefelts using the dryer method



My finished prefelts are blowing in the wind. I'll use them to enhance felted garments.  I'll cut them up and use them both under and on top of my silk fabrics or even directly on the wool roving. 
You can layer them on top of one another since they have a wool base.  

Here's my method for making prefelts using the dryer. For more on the dryer method for felting go to:
https://www.studio907.com/2020/01/renewed-no-roll-felting-dryer-method.html

And prefelts are such a great thing to make when you're not feeling particularly creative but still want to spend time in the studio.  And when you need that little extra embellishment later on...voila, it's already done!
On a large piece of painter's plastic, lay out your wool roving in one layer using a herringbone pattern.  Wet it out with a ball brauser or similar using room temperature water and some liquid soap (I use 7th Generation).

Cover the wet roving with a second piece of painters plastic.  Wet the plastic and compress with your hands.  Then carefully remove the top plastic.

Add silk fabric, hankies or viscose or even pieces of yarn.  The white is 5 momme silk habotai that I will later paint on using sumi ink.  Rewet like you did above.

Again cover it with the top plastic.  Wet the plastic and rub for about 2 minutes.  Put a rolled up towel at one end and roll up the package like a sausage.  

Secure the roll with cut off panty hose or similar.

Put the package in the dryer for 5 minutes with no heat.  Remove from the dryer and open the package on your felting table.  Move the towel to the other end and roll up the package. Again secure with the panty hose and put back in the dryer for an additional 5 minutes. 

Remove the painter's plastic and give it a quick rub on your bubble wrap. 

Remove the excess water using a spin dryer.

My  prefelts are drying in the sun.  Once dry, I will use sumi ink to embellish the white silk section.

Have fun, stay safe and healthy during this self isolation and crisis period in our lives.  Happy felting!




7 comments:

  1. Thank you Beth. Very clear info.
    Appreciate your taking the time to do this!

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  2. Thanks Beth! Very concise instructions.
    Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

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  3. Beth, I’ve been guilt tripping myself because I’m not sure what direction I want to go with my Felting and I have all this time and fiber. Hence, I have not felted at all since this craziness began. This gives direction without a project in mind...thank you so much for sharing your process and please know I have been motivated by your pre-felt tutorial.

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    1. Hi Sherry, So glad to hear I could help out. Stay well and make prefelts until you feel more creative.

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  4. Do you have more information on how you incorporate sumi ink with nuno felt?

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