A Focus on Fibers Studio

Wear a Weaving!

Think of the variety of materials and tools we have in our Fibers Studio.  Yarn, string, fabric, buttons, looms, pom pom makers, felt, patterns, pins, crochet needles, sewing machines, tapestry needles and thread. 

Let's make a woven bracelet.

First, do you remember how to weave?  (hint:  over -under- over- under).

Second, do you remember how to thread a needle?  You will use yarn and a tapestry needle. 

You will also need cardboard and a few rubber bands.  

Use two arm lengths of yarn.  You will use your needle to go over and under the rubber bands.  Back and forth or side to side.  Continue all around your cardboard until all the rubber bands are covered.

Tie on a new piece of yarn when you run out.

Stretch your learning by adding beads, sequins and changing colors as you go.

Felted Fibers

Wool is a natural fiber material that comes from a Sheep.  When we say a material is natural it means it comes from nature.  Artists work with wool in many ways.  It can be twisted and spun into yarn or felted into artworks.  
Wool can be felted wet or dry.  When an artist felts wool, they are interlocking the fibers.  Using a needle that repeatedly jabs the wool or heat (hot water), soap and friction, loose little strands of wool bond or stick together to create a stable piece of thick fabric.

Dry felting uses a special barbed needle to push and bond the fibers together.

Wet felting uses hot soapy water and friction by rubbing and pressing wool to create a wool material. Wet-felting is one of the oldest ways humans have made fabric.

Let's try wet felting to make Felted Flowers.  

Choose a few small pieces of wool that will become the petals of your flower.  Create thin layers of wool  into a round shape. 

Place into a soapy cup of hot water and agitate.  Keep rubbing the wool under the water until the water cools.  Repeat this process two more times.

Find a button for the center of the flower and a pipe cleaner.

Push the pipe cleaner through the felt and the button.  Bend the pipe cleaner back down through the button and felt and twist.  Add leaves.

Extensions:  try wet felting beads or felting a tennis ball to create a small bowl.

"The beads are easy and fast to make. Just wrap some wool around 5 pencils, wet and roll in you hands. As it shrinks you remove pencils until you are down to the last one. When it’s tight around the last one, that’s it you have  bead."

https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2016/03/20/a-mini-maker-fair/