Batts, a Rainbow and a Scarf

Batts, a Rainbow and a Scarf

Firstly, I’d just like to say thanks to everyone who took the time to comment and offer their suggestions on my last post, they were all really appreciated and have given me lots of ideas for the future.  After a lot of thought about Social Media, especially after Leonor‘s comment and advice, I caved in and made a Facebook page   https://www.facebook.com/pages/Felt-by-Zed/867287306648868  There’s nothing there yet, I’m still trying to work out how to follow people etc, so if you have any tips, helpful hints etc, they are very welcome. Also, what’s the ‘etiquette’ on groups, can you just ‘join’ ones you like, or follow or whatever it is, or should you be invited?

I wanted something soothing and relaxing which didn’t require much looking after doing lots of sewing, so I thought I’d make some batts. I made them all a bit different, some with just different shades of Merino and some matching fibres, some had a lot of texturey wools blended in and I made a couple with lots of different fibres , shades and textures.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI also made some single colour textured batts to use on rainbow pieces, these didn’t photograph very well because there wasn’t much colour difference and it’s been really dark here the last couple of days. I did use them on this piece though, I’m going to add a little more green to where the yellow blends into the green, I don’t think the band is quite so defined in real life, but it does look like it needs more green on this photo.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI finally got around to making a scarf yesterday. It took all week to ‘prepare’ for it as I had to do it on the hall floor, so cleaning the hall floor, working out shrinkage, drawing out the template, etc. When I did get around to it, I was regretting it an hour in. 2 hours in I was regretting ordering 4 more packs of 18mic Merino last week thinking I’d get into scarves for a bit. 3 hours in I just wanted to curl up on the pillow I was using for my knees and have a nap. Today, every time I look over at my scarf and think ‘Ooh, it was worth it though’ every muscle in my body disagrees 🙂  I do like it though. I couldn’t get a very good photo, I’m afraid. Like I said, it’s really dark here, and the blue and purple are quite dark, and my camera seemed dazzled by the shininess of the silk. So, this will have to do for now:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI started with a template 25 cm wide and 200cm long (roughly 10 x 79 inches). I did alternate sections of purple and blue for the first layer, then the opposite colours on top for the second layer. I then added some matching colours of silk to the top, then contrasting colours:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt finished up being  19 x 176cm or 7.5 x 69 inches.

28 thoughts on “Batts, a Rainbow and a Scarf

  1. So glad you created the Facebook page. The problem of most of us is time management. I need to have everything in a central place where I can check the different conversations. Also notices will appear when new activity is posted. I don’t have to hunt different websites. Love the scarf. Most people have no idea how much work goes into handmade products.

    1. Thanks, Judy 🙂
      Yeah, I realised that if I want to find out what’s going on, I either have to save every Facebook page of stuff I’m interested in or just get my own and have one place to get all the info.

  2. I know what you mean about making batts being soothing – the slow gentle swish swish and seeing the colours blend is heaven.
    I love your rainbow layout – and yes, it’s been dark here too!

    Oh, your scarf is beautiful! Wonderful mix of colours – extremely well made – and it looks so snuggly.

    1. Thanks, Lyn 🙂
      The scarf does feel nice, I used World of Wool’s 18.5 mic Merino. I love the swish swish of my carder, I’ve been known to walk past and give it a few turns even when it’s empty 🙂

  3. Your felted scarf looks so luxurious and elegant! What was your merino to silk ratio? I am hoping you win the lottery so you get a proper table and make more of these yummy scarves.

    1. Thanks, Cathy 🙂
      The scarf is all Merino, 18.5 mic, the silk is just embellishment on top, but I did add a fair bit, some of it is just more subtle. I remembered earlier that Lyn (correct me if I’m wrong, Lyn) recommended Ikea trestle legs, a while ago. You can buy separate legs and tops there, so maybe I’ll have a look online

  4. Hello Zed.

    Your scarf is absolutely stunning and shiny. Love it.. I am sure you will receive many lovely comments on it… I agree felting for hours and hours can truly be exhausting..

    The batts are lovely. I have been tempted time to time in learning how to do this then told myself NO. I need to focus on what I do best and leave the creating batts to the experts..

    I wish you the best with your Facebook page.. I started an account many years ago and closed it after only 3 weeks. I enjoyed working on my blog more.

    1. Thanks, Judy 🙂
      Usually I lay out one day and felt another, but I couldn’t do that with the scarf. I slept well last night though 🙂
      I’m sure you’d love making batts. I think Ann and Ruth have said that Spinners guild’s often have Carders they lend out, maybe you could ask around and try one?
      If there was another way to get all the info I want, I’d do it, but I had to give in in the end or just have no info 🙁

  5. Zed, congrats on the FB page. I think it’s a good business decision. Also, as you pointed out everything is one place once you connect with other people.

    The batts are beautiful and yes it is a zen kind of activity. Much better than trying to felt on the floor. 🙁

    The scarf turned out great! I love the colors and the bling. Enjoy wearing it!

  6. You can post this on your Facebook page. It will be on the studio Facebook page and you just share it to your page. I haven’t joined too many groups but I think you just request to join.

    The batts look delicious. I should get my carder out and make some while I watch TV.

    Your scarf is beautiful. Is one side purple and one side blue? I couldn’t tell from the photo. I can’t felt on the floor either. The last time I did it, I promised myself I wouldn’t do it again. You should definitely check out the table situation. I use on of those folding tables that the legs can be folded up and then it’s easier to store the table.

    1. Thanks, Ruth 🙂
      I alternated the colours, so the bottom layer was blue, purple, blue, purple, then the top layer was purple blue, purple blue. On the top layer I put a few strands of blue on the purple section and vice versa, and oddly those parts had a deep teal green look to them.
      I spent ages looking for tables a couple of years ago, they were all too flimsy or too short, I think I will look at the DIY store for a board to clamp on my fold away table, or look at IKEA for trestle legs.

    2. I got tables at one of those junky home stores and I have seen them at Lowes and Home Dopey. They are about $40, several feet long and fold away flat.

    3. I keep an eye out at our local second hand furniture place, but haven’t had any luck so far.

    1. Thanks, Judith 🙂
      You’ll have to drop hints for Christmas about a carder 🙂 The only thing I regret about mine is not getting it sooner!

  7. The scarf and batts are lovely Zed. That 18 micron merino is wonderful stuff to work with.
    to join groups you click the join button. some you are right in and some you have to be approved. My group is called Wet Felt Makers. You have to be approved. It keeps the spammers out.

    1. Thanks, Ann 🙂
      the Merino has a really nice sheen to it, doesn’t it? Is there a place to search for groups?

    1. Thanks, Frances 🙂
      The link worked, but for some reason I can’t join as ‘felt by zed’ 🙁 Which is a shame. Facebook seems stupider than I first thought now.

  8. Haha, so it was me who talked you into Facebook? 😀 Great!

    To answer your question, you can Like pages either as yourself, or as your page – it’s usually nicer to like them as yourself, because those likes will count towards the total of likes in a page (whereas a page Like doesn’t). I can send you some page and group suggestions if you’d like, let me know! There’s wonderful work out there, and it doesn’t have to be fibres, I get inspired by ceramics, textiles, even… cake 🙂

    If you tap into the spinning people of this world, I’m willing to bet that your batts would be good sellers.

    The scarf is beautiful, so tell your body it was worth the effort!

    1. Thanks, Leonor 🙂
      I’m starting to work a few things out and just ‘liking’ people however I can. I set my ‘personal’ page pretty much the same. I’d love some page and group suggestions, thanks 🙂 I wish we had more spinners and weavers on the forum. I think I’m starting to recover from the scarf, if only it’d stop being so warm, I could wear it! 🙂

    2. I’ll send some suggestions your way 🙂 I too wish there were more spinners on the forum! I’d live to swap ideas…
      It is unusually warm, but I’m wearing scarves already 🙂

    3. Thanks 🙂
      I’ve got a cotton viscose scarf for now, but I want to wear my own! 🙂

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