First skein of Blue Faced Leicester two-ply drying in the sun!
Monday, October 3, 2011
In a spin about British wool...
For a while now I have been thinking that it is inevitable that I should eventually learn to spin - as a weaver and knitter, it's the obvious next step in the mastery of fibre - and now, suddenly, I am spinning! I went to the Creative Stitching and Hobbycraft show in Cardiff on Saturday and saw Rachel Powell of www.rachel-powell.com demonstrating spinning with a drop spindle - within an hour I was the proud owner of my first high-whorl spindle, and much of Sunday was spent turning a pile of Blue Faced Leicester tops into my very first yarn! As I write this, two skeins (one single, one two-ply) are hanging over the sink to dry, weighted down by various kitchen implements. I am now a spinning addict.
Spinning my own yarn will allow a range of different techniques to enrich the Felting British Wool project - both as surface texture and mixed media. I look forward to experimenting! Meanwhile, the next stage in the project is scouring and carding the fleeces which are currently in the garage - the day job is taking up all my time at the moment, so that may have to wait a couple of weeks.
Pics of my first yarn to follow...
Spinning my own yarn will allow a range of different techniques to enrich the Felting British Wool project - both as surface texture and mixed media. I look forward to experimenting! Meanwhile, the next stage in the project is scouring and carding the fleeces which are currently in the garage - the day job is taking up all my time at the moment, so that may have to wait a couple of weeks.
Pics of my first yarn to follow...
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Felting British Wool - the start of the project
This blog will follow the progress of a project to explore the properties of British wool through hand-made felt. I am keen to work with a limited colour palette (just as the sheep grow it! No dyes involved) and the amazing range of textures provided by British sheep. Wherever possible, I will be working with fleeces sourced from known producers and locations.
Over the next few months, I will be finding interesting fleeces; washing and preparing them; making samples of felt to find out what the properties of the wool are; designing to showcase those qualities; and producing a series of pieces (flat panels and probably 3D pieces), which may include found objects, beading, embroidery etc as well as wool from British sheep. I am intending to photograph all stages of the process, and hope to have the opportunity to exhibit the finished pieces, alongside extracts from this blog.
For details of my other activities, please see my main blog http://TheFabrikantBlog.blogspot.com
Over the next few months, I will be finding interesting fleeces; washing and preparing them; making samples of felt to find out what the properties of the wool are; designing to showcase those qualities; and producing a series of pieces (flat panels and probably 3D pieces), which may include found objects, beading, embroidery etc as well as wool from British sheep. I am intending to photograph all stages of the process, and hope to have the opportunity to exhibit the finished pieces, alongside extracts from this blog.
For details of my other activities, please see my main blog http://TheFabrikantBlog.blogspot.com
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