Wet-Felted Pouch

Materials:

clean carded fiber (llama wool prepared on a drum carder)
water
soap shavings
fabric (fold around the fiber)
vinegar
various dye solutions
plastic wrap
steamer*
scissors
sewing needles
yarn
button
rectangular plastic container
pitcher
*Steamer (crock-pot) is used to steam the dye into the felt.

1. Place one layer of fiber (batt) on a large piece of fabric (fabric that the fibers won’t stick to), then place another layer on top with the fibers in the opposite direction, and then one last layer in the same direction as the first layer (figure A). Wrap the fabric around the layered llama wool so that it is enclosed (figure B).

2. Mix soap shavings with water in a pitcher. Place the fabric-covered wool in a plastic container and pour the soap over the bundle (figure C). Roll up the bundle and begin kneading it with your hands (figure D). Open the fabric, flip the wool over, and pour more soap over it. Fold the fabric around the wool and knead it again.

3. The felt is complete when the fibers are locked up with each other and cannot be pulled apart easily. The piece is smaller in size and thinner and much firmer than the way it began. Rinse the soap out of the fabric.

4. Soak the felt in a water and vinegar solution for an hour to prepare the felt to be dyed.

• Lay the fabric on plastic wrap and add small amounts of dye to the fabric.
• Squeeze the fabric to blend the colors and saturate the felt.
• Wrap the wet felt completely in plastic wrap and steam the felt package in a crock-pot on the steam setting for one hour.
• The dye process is complete when the water squeezes out clean.

5. Once dry, cut the wool-felt fabric into a rectangle (figure E), fold the bottom half up and blanket stitch the sides with wool yarn (figure F). Cut a buttonhole slit on the pouch flap. Blanket-stitch around the buttonhole slit with yarn. Sew on a button to the pocket portion of the wet-felted pouch (figure G).

Website: www.sleepingdogsstudio.net