As some of you may know, the ladies of Felting and Fibre Studio post a felting challenge each quarter. For this quarter the challenge is to create something with an autumn theme. I am definitely inspired by the colours of the trees at the moment, just driving to work I want to say ooh and ahh at all the beautiful colours. I am so lucky to have a drive that takes me through deciduous woodlands and along tree lined roads.
I have to admit that I am not at all inspired by Zed’s suggestion that autumn evokes thoughts of damp and decay! Yuck!! I will stick to the lovely autumnal colours of the trees 🙂
Here is my autumn leaf-inspired shawl. It is constructed from rainbow dyed cotton scrim with a thin layer of merino top laid out in different colours with streaks of yellow bamboo fibre as an accent colour and to give some sheen. To this I added about 40 leaf shapes cut out of prefelt and embellished with yarns that I needle-felted to represent the veins on the leaves.
All of this was wet felted together and I love the result. The yellow bamboo has worked really well and adding a thin layer of wool to both sides of the cotton scrim gives it a lovely soft and warm feel while being thin enough to still drape beautifully.
Is it perverse of me to like the reverse side (without the leaves) better than the front?!!
Great shawl. It fits our theme so well.
Great shawl. It fits our theme so well.
I love it – both sides are wonderful. I sometimes find that I like abstract better than representational so I understand your feelings about liking the abstract side better than the leaves.
I love it – both sides are wonderful. I sometimes find that I like abstract better than representational so I understand your feelings about liking the abstract side better than the leaves.
This is a beautiful 'autumn' shawl and I can't make up my mind whether I like the reverse or the right side most because they're both attractive. (The leaves must have taken you ages to do!)
This is a beautiful 'autumn' shawl and I can't make up my mind whether I like the reverse or the right side most because they're both attractive. (The leaves must have taken you ages to do!)
Thank you Rosie. Yes, I'm afraid the leaves took quite a few evenings in front of the TV annoying Mr TB with the sound of needle-felting the veins into place. We all must suffer for my art 🙂
Thank you Rosie. Yes, I'm afraid the leaves took quite a few evenings in front of the TV annoying Mr TB with the sound of needle-felting the veins into place. We all must suffer for my art 🙂
Thank you. I can't even explain why I like the reverse side more, I know I "should" like the front simply because of all the hours it took to create.
Thank you. I can't even explain why I like the reverse side more, I know I "should" like the front simply because of all the hours it took to create.
Thank you, it helps that it was such an inspiring challenge :o)
Thank you, it helps that it was such an inspiring challenge :o)