[Jacob-list] rug felting

[Debbie Bennett]

I think you explained the process really well.
I use a large bamboo shade to felt on. No microwave. I was taught, hot 
water and natural soap, not detergent, such as fells naptha or White 
King (for baby diapers). With the bamboo mat, I felt outside on the 
deck, grass, or picnic table. I finish rinsing with cold water, to 
shock and finish felting the wool. I have also dried the finished rug 
in the dryer. Using the dryer gives a textured finish to the rug, it 
will not be a smooth felt.
Debbie Bennett
Feral Fibre Farm
Oakland, Oregon
On Monday, November 10, 2003, at 07:05 PM, Bill Thompson wrote:

> O.K.  I will try to make this as plain as I can with words. (I hope)
> Plastic to work on
> 1/2 flat sheet or large piece of muslin (enough to cover top and 
> bottom of rug before felting)
> about 2 pounds of jacobs wool'
> felting soap ( 1/2 bar Dial Natural grated into 1 quart of hot water, 
> shake and let over night, will be slimmy or you can use Dawn 
> dishwashing soap, about 1/4 cup to a quart of hot water)
> hot water and a large sponge
> 5 inch diamiter PVC pipe, about 5 feet long
> baling twine
> More plastic large enough to wrap PVC pipe
>  
>  To make a 3 X 4 rug, you will need an area at least 4 X 5 to work 
> on.  Jacobs will shrink about 25 %.  If you have swimming "tubes" they 
> will help make you a felting area that will not let water run all > over.
>  
> Lay out a shower curtain or plastic table cloth on your work area, you 
> can use the floor if you are younger than me.  Use the foam swimming 
> tubes to help make a basin under the curtain or plastic tablecloth.  
> Next lay out a sheet on top of the plastic, this will help keep the 
> felt in shape. 
>  
> Comb or card your wool, I find that a little more white than black 
> felts better, try not to have it too hairy
> 1.  lay wool out evenly about 3/4 of an inch all going in the same 
> direction, over lapping, on first layer don't worry if solid
> 2  lay anoth layer of wool the same as first only in a 90 degree to 
> the first layer
> 3.  repeat # 1.-------Repeat # 2------------repeat 1 & 2 till you have 
> about 8 inches in your stack
> 4.  Using your hot water, add some of your soap solution and sponge 
> your whole wool area taking care not to get to sloppy.
>      You want to wet the whole thing down, it should compress to about 
> 1 1/2 inch.  Now fold the edges of your sheet over the              
> edges, fold the corners smoothly, this helps keep the edges straight.
> 5.  Now you start rubbing, with a "little pressure" about like rubbing 
> a baby's backside.  Do not go in circles, that will make holes
>     go one way and then the other for about 10 minutes, helps if the 
> family helps rub too, makes it go faster. Flip and do other         
> side.  Do this a couple of times
> 6.  Now, role up from end inside of the sheet, try to wring or drain 
> off excess water, stick in microwave for a minute or two if         
>     microwave is big enough.  Felting is better with some heat, but 
> works fine if you don't have it, just takes longer.
> 7.  Lay out (still in sheet) and roll around your PVC pipe, wrap in 
> plastic, tie with twine, and roll back and forth for about 5 minutes 
>     on counter or on the floor, works good with kids to roll back and 
> forth or set in rocker and roll with your feet.  After 5 minutes     
>     completely  open from PVC pipe, turn pipe 90 degrees, wrap again 
> and roll for 5 - 10 minutes.
> 8.  Open all the way to the wool, remove sheets, if not too big spin 
> out in washer, re-wrap and add more hot water/soap solution.
>     Make sure it is never too soapy, or the fibers wll slide past each 
> other and not felt together.  Repeat several more times.
>     Rinse in washer and spin out water, once or twice.  Lay out on 
> carpet, on towels, cover with planks to weight but allow air
>     move planks as rug dries.
> E-mail with any problems or questions, hope it works for you, all who 
> try, keep in touch and I will try to answer questions.
> Good Luck ------------Lou Anne
>    
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> From: gordon johnston
> To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 6:26 PM
> Subject: [Jacob-list] rug felting
>
> Hi Lou Anne
> I for one would love the instructions for rug felting. I think it is 
> wholely appropriate to the list - we all need things to do with our 
> fleeces !
> Juliet in Scotland UK
>
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