Thursday, March 1, 2007

Strip Felting Workshop





Over the weekend I attended a "Strip Felting" workshop with Polly Stirling. What a great technique this is. It is kind of a nuno felting, but with strips of fabric incorporated with wool roving. What fun!! I made 2 samples - one being a cross hatch of strips, the other one I weaved strips of fabric together. I loved the end results - the textures of the fabric came out as such a surprise, and I learnt so much about what fabrics work well and what don't. A lot of the ladies, who were much more experienced at felting made wraps, vests and skirts. WOW! I know, I should've taken some photos - but they all turned out beautifully and different, with a variety of fabrics used - so the textures were so varied in each and every one. So, if any of you have a chance to do a workshop with Polly, take it - she is a lovely and talented lady!!! Now that I've experimented, I intend to make a wrapped shawl or a vest with the method.

So, because of the gorgeous texture produced by this method - I have incorporated it into Fiber Art Friends February Technique of the month, which is texture.

14 comments:

Doreen G said...

Dianne how lovely these pieces are.
You obviously did these the old way by rolling them in either bamboo blinds or bubble wrap.
You could maybe run one piece under the embellisher to see what would happen.

Grangry said...

Wow! I'm definitely intrigued by this!

Annica said...

Very nice! The colours are gorgeous. What kind of fabric did you use?

Anonymous said...

Very cool Dianne! Love all the colors that you combined. Is it a stable surface as it is or do you have to stitch it to a base?

Purple Missus said...

This certainly looks like its worth experimenting with.I love the colours you've used. Very tactile pieces.

Anonymous said...

Very cool technique. I really like the woven sample. Soooo many possibilities!

Terri Stegmiller said...

These are awesome. That sounds like a great class. Did you use a bamboo mat? I want to start felting but need the mat yet.

gunnelsvensson said...

These are so lovely! I can understand you have a lovley weekend!

Micki said...

These are lovely. Am I understanding right, that once you got everything laid out, you then wet and rubbed/rolled the fibers to get them to felt? I am still learning what the differences are when it comes to felting.

bookwraps by suz.com said...

what a super class !!! these pieces are awesome! love them all!!!

Gypsy Purple said...

What lovely colours!!!!

SeamRippstress said...

EWww! YOu took a class w/Polly Sterling!? Didn't she invent nuno-felting!? BEAuTiful piece of textured textile! Double WOW

Linda’s Textiles said...

These are gorgeous Dianne, particularly the woven piece. Lovely colours, will look forward to more.

Anonymous said...

Stunning Di.... i SOOOOOOOO should have done the class!!! have seen Pamela's and Connie brought hers into work today, both so gorgeous. Bring your's in next time?
xo