Replacement Slipper Boots

Last year I made two felted pairs of slippers one for myself and one for my daughter. They both wore out unbelievably quickly. I wondered how this was possible.

Maybe I learn it from Artybird , I used the wrong fibre. Merino cannot be used for slippers I read. Well it can because I have done it but maybe that's why they worn out. They did look nice though.

So I decided to try harder wearing fibre. I used Icelandic, grey with BFL insides, in a bright blue from world of wool. First slipper task replace the worn out slipper boots.

Well I knew from a previous slipper boot disaster that making sure the legs of the boots were wide enough is important. Boots that you can't get your feet into are useless. I think Ugg have this sorted, but personally I am still nervous about this issue.

I bought slipper lasts , trying to be professional. Strange I thought they have very thin ankles , certainly not wide enough for boots , but they have very roomy feet

So here are my slipper boots ready for felting .

 

Much rubbing, rolling ,soap and water later, I try to get the lasts in to them. It was almost impossible. I think the lasts need a flexible ankle. I managed eventually but I feared that the slippers probably were not felted enough for this stage of the process. It was a doubled edged sword really felt more and not get them on lasts or put them on the lasts and hope for the best.

So I rubbed and soaped and shrunk to the last before a wrapping in tights, stuffing the legs with tea towels and washing in the washing machine. Easy enough and luckily I did follow the instruction to put the lasts in a carrier bag. Without I would have had to cut the slippers to get the lasts out,

Eventually I ended up with these finished items.

It seems hardly possible for something so light but they are incredibly clumpy. They feel like moon boots. I am not sure they are quite elegant enough for the intended recipient.

Late tip from Arybird Kate was not to have used the lasts but to have felted them around my feet. Well possibly this needs to happen but I am just a bit out of energy for these slippers just now and I am not sure an improved appearance will be the result. It will have to wait for another day.

 

 

 

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Washing machine felt

One of things I like about felting is it is handmade. Quite literally. Using the force from your hands along with soap and water you make the felt. So I am not at all sure using a washing machine gives me the same satisfaction,even if I like the results.

But one of the really good things about dong this course is you try things you would otherwise dismiss.

So I took my troublesome dyed prefelts and made washing machine felts out of them. The process was quite simple, work out the design , needle felt the pieces in place and then add to the washing machine , along with some of your normal washing. It needed washing twice , first time at 30oC to ensure the needling had taken and then at 40oc to consolidate and shrink. Being a bit of a geek, and a control freak , I did loads of tests with sample pieces to try and predict the outcome, but probably this isn't really necessary , I should have just thrown it in the machine and been happy with the outcome whatever it was.

My first piece was just felt and turned out quite well. I feel it is calm and subtle and the felt itself is fine and soft.

My second I first made a centre piece incorporating thread and yarns and pices of silk to try and capture the chaos from inspiration of my river picture.

I then added silk , shetland wool yarn , silk fibre ,and prefelt shapes to a plain olive green background to set the piece in context. What a lot of needling this was by hand ! It I am going to do this more often I think I will have to contemplate a conversion of one of my vintage sewing machines.

 

This piece I am really pleased with . Even though it was not truly handmade and maybe now I have got over my fear I will try felting by washing machine again.

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