Presenting my newest bowl titled "Poppies". It is made with a new found technique that gives stability and thickness.
For quite awhile I have been trying different ways to make my felted bowls stonger, thicker and overall sturdier. And I think I just found the easiest way. So easy, in fact, that I am hand slapping my forhead as if I should have had a V8. And there is an added bonus of terrific color enhancements with this method as well.
Normally I would use one strand of worsted weight wool yarn and work my magic. This does produce a great felted fiber in the end, but for vessels and bowls, I would prefer a thicker stronger fiber. I've made a few bowls in which I would crochet double length, fold them over and sew them together to form double thickness as in this bowl:
This method takes alot of calculating as one side needs to be a bit smaller than the other, but does have a great result.
I have also tried crocheting two strands of worsted weight together which works ok... but doesn't felt with that finished look that I like so much.
My amazingly simple discovery is that by crocheting one strand of worsted weight along with a strand of fingering weight will give that little bit extra to the product that gives the bowl added stability and helps keep their shape. The bonus is that I now feel like a painter mixing my paints because combining different color shades gives the bowl it's own unique colors!
I start with two strands of wool ~ one worsted weight and one fingering weight
I changed my hook from H to J
And then I go to town:
The colors will blend during the felting process so the individual stitches and colors will not be visable when completed. I used two different yellows in Poppies, and as you can see, the shades blend to form one color with a bit of heathered look.
So, now I have met one of my 2009 resolutions (finding ways to improve my products) and it is only January 3rd! Can you see my smile? I have a beautiful green one drying now that will be posted later this week.
Hoping you will come visit me on etsy, artfire and shophandmade to view my new work during 2009
13 comments:
I'm gonna LOVE the tweedy effect that using those two strands will create! You are SO GENEROUS to give out yer secrets!...maybe next time we can slap each other's foreheads!
Wow - you are quick with your resolutions! What a great technique! Thanks for sharing your discovery!
Amy
Oooh, I love working with two different yarns or yarn and thread together for those kinds of effects.
Brilliant - I can't wait to see what else you come up with!
Wow Val...the end result is Awesome! Great Job!!!
Oh, I love the poppies bowl! How beautiful! I am so looking forward to seeing your new creations in your shop. your work is gorgeous!
Great idea, Val, and congrats on making one of your resolutions already! Love the poppy bowl too :)
That's great Valerie! And I can't believe you are doing 3 shops
Who would have guessed that two different colors like that melt so nicely during the felting process. Inever felted anything, so it's all kind of mysterious to me ;-)
You do lovely work, Valerie!
Such a lot of work.I admire your dedication.
Beautiful effect ! I know what you mean about feeling like a painter. Great work !
I love the way the yarns blend to create that special colour. Beautiful!
Stunning work.
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