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
