Felting?

[Mylovelyhorse]

Has anyone here tried felting? I've just ordered a book which has patterns for bags which you knit and then felt - it sounds fantastic, and I wondered if anyone here had any experience of it?

Any thoughts/advice? (Other than 'read the book when it arrives'!)

Ta
MLH x

[becks77]

I have recently begun wet felting and needle felting its fantastic and sooooo therapeutic, there are some really good websites around and at the moment I am using fleece from Freecycle.
Felting has really taken off recently in Orkney too, so I'm told.
For other supplies I am using Wingham Wool.
Would love to hear about any projects you have on the go or starting.
Best wishes
Becks

[greenfingers]

the fiber crafts website has some info pages here
http://www.fibrecrafts.com/factfile.asp

also sell books, kit etc

[Annpan]

I make wee bits and pieces, knitted or crocheted then felted in the washing machine. (I sell them in my on-line shops )

If you are wanting to do it this way you need to find a source of pure, untreated yarn, which isn't all that common and can be pricey. I get mine from a local museum who still run their victorian water powered machines and use local wool and natural dyes

Once you get going it is really pretty easy to do, and I am sure your book will give you good pointers.

[pumpy]

I've just felted my shed roof.

[becks77]

Hee Hee made me laugh on a rainy morning, thank you

[Mylovelyhorse]

Thanks to all - I'll let you know when the books arrive and I've made a start. And if I can manage it, I'll post some piccies of whatever I end up with (good or bad!).

Can't wait. Keep expecting the postie to knock on the door with them at any moment. And then I'll be doing no work at all while I read the books (as opposed to doing no work at all while I write rambling messages on selfsufficientish...)

[snapdragon]

If you can get hold of a fleece you can have a whole heap of felt - but if you want to start with some that's already spun/dyed look for some real wool home-knits from a charity shop you could re-use knit it up and felt, or fluff it out and felt.

[becks77]

If its fleece you're after there's a whole load out in freecycle land that mostly get burnt, I've just put the feelers out pre - shearing and been offered as many as I can collect ....depending on what type you're after, I'm just practising really so not really bothered what type but hopefully get a feel for what works and what doesn't.
MLH..have the books arrived yet?

[Mylovelyhorse]

No sign of the books - Amazon are supposed to have sent them 1st class, but presumably didn't.

I've sent an email asking where they are - let's hope they show up soon... And when they *do* arrive, I'll have the knitting needles out before you can say knit one!

[becks77]

Fingers crossed they arrive soon then

[oldfella]

I've just felted my shed roof.

I just bin felted in me shed