The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: Fleecewife on October 16, 2012, 12:06:41 am
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I've recently seen several felted yarns advertised and now I see that Alafoss Lopi claims to be unspun but felted. I'm assuming that it's pulled out as roving then felted somehow. I would like to try this with my Hebridean yarn but how do you do the felting part without getting just a big felted mass? I can see that it could be done on a commercial scale by winding it off one roll and onto another then felting the unrolled bit. But how would you do it on a domestic scale? :knit: Or am I being remarkably stupid :dunce:
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Hi FW :wave:
I've no idea whether this is along the lines you were thinking, but you'll be interested in it anyway... Weaving cotted fleece (http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/raw-wool-lovers-unite/2295515/1-25#1)
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No not at all Sally :D but interesting yes. I think that way of tearing felted fleece into strips would only work for certain kinds of fleece though as when my fleeces cott they become a solid mass which simply can't be pulled apart. I suppose I could cut it into strips with hedge shears......
No the yarn I am thinking of is a thick singles which has been felted as yarn, as opposed to once it's made into something. I am now wondering if I could use the finishing method for handspun but just carry on until the yarn is felted rather than just 'fulled'. I had worried about it all sticking together but apparently by bashing it hard onto something it keeps the strands separate.
I thought it would make a good firm yarn to make into a chunky jacket or winter cardigan, which wouldn't sag or stretch, but by felting it before knitting it would keep both its size (in the garment) and the stitch definition.
I have spent (wasted) all morning searching online but I haven't found any info on how to do it yet. I will experiment with some commercial yarn before I let myself loose with handspun.
Modified: now I've been back online and I can't even find the yarns I'm thinking of :rant: :rant:
The Lopi ones turn out to be unspun roving/sliver or whatever it's called, for felting. There are definitely some others, including a hand dyed yarn with indigo....why didn't I note the url when I first found it :dunce:
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When I made my dreadlock extensions i pulled thin sections of roving/batt apart dipped each one in soapy water and rolled it on my lap on a rough towel (think modelling clay sausages!)
Rinse and repeat. When I couldn't get them any tighter by hand I bunched them in to sixes and chucked them in the washing machine.
I see no reason why it wouldn't work for very fine sections too. although I doubt you'd need to use the washer :thumbsup:
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Hi Colliewoman. Yes it's like very inadequate dreds but loooooong ! (a few hundred yards) So it needs some way to unroll one end and roll the other, if I do it like that. If I can't get it to work by felting in the skein then I think I'll give up :tired: