Monday 21 March 2016

Tree Dressing Day in Cuningar Loop on Friday 25th March 12-3pm



The Forestry Commission Scotland invites you to a free event: 
Come and join us at Cuningar Loop to celebrate the role that trees play in our lives. Lots of fun activities including: Willow Weaving, Story Telling, Felt Craft, Green Wood working and walk the woodland trail to meet some of the lesser known inhabitants of Cuningar Loop.

Cuningar Loop Woodland Park, Downiebrae Road, Rutherglen, G73 1PW
Free Event

More information available on this website: http://scotland.forestry.gov.uk/visit/cuningar-loop

Scottish Lowlands Forest District
Tel: 0300 067 6700
E-mail: scottishlowlands@forestry.gsi.gov.uk



Monday 7 March 2016

Last Saturday's felt workshop with four talented participants

Various colourful wool tops
It was great spending an afternoon teaching wet felting to four talented beginners. Everybody started with felting a bead to experience the process of felting and the transformation from fluffy wool fibres into a well felted object. 
Then templates were chosen or cut to create a seamless pouch, vessel or wrist cuffs. Now the question, which colours to choose from a vast variety of colour shades.
Merino wool tops
Then everybody was ready to start laying out the fibres in scales, covering the first layer with a net and sprinkling hot water on the surface, adding glycerine soap and eventually gently padding down the fibres which were absorbing the water. Trust in the process and my reassurance that all was going well was needed. Some little mistakes helped to demonstrate how to improve for a better outcome.
One layer of wool fibres
Two or three criss-cross layers on each side of the template were felted into beautiful felted objects. Embellishments were made with creativity and accuracy and well designed colour combinations. Then the rubbing started to connect and interlock the fibres into a felted fabric. Eventually the pinch test showed that the fibres were matting together and the rolling and waulking could start which helpsed to shrink and firm the felted items. "Yeah, it has shrunk!", was the happy and amazed expression I've heard a couple of times.
The fibres have bonded

-I still find it magical when the fibres bind and a firm fabric develops under my hands. The following photos show the finished items from this wet felt workshop. Four happy participants left with a new experience and their beautiful felted items. The little bags still need a cord and a lining for the finishing  touch.  
The next dates for wet felt workshops will be on Saturday, 19th March and 16. April 2016, 2.00-5.30pm. Costs: £22. Please book your place asap.

Wrist cuffs from Shetland wool
Felted vessel

Little merino wool bag
Little felted bag