This will go over how to hand card metallic wool with sheep's wool (you can use any fiber you want however) in order to prep it for felting OR spinning. Though you could spin this fiber, I will be going over how to felt it up into a solid textile using needle and wet felt techniques.
Learning how to make your own conductive material can be very useful when you want more control over the end product. This material can be as thick or as thin as you want and you will have control over the amount of conductivity. Plus, once you have the conductive fiber mixed, you can get very creative with how you use and design with the fiber. You can create simple digital and analog switches are more complex circuits.
Using hand carders to blend your wools together is a great a reliable way to ensure even distribution and control over the finished mixed grade.
I am experienced with three different ways to get your metallic wools mixed in with your fiber.
1) pulling and laying fibers, on top of one another, interchanging the metallic and pure wools to blend
2) using hand carders to blend
3) using a drum carder to blend
This tutorial goes over option 2) stay tuned for the other two!
Learning how to make your own conductive material can be very useful when you want more control over the end product. This material can be as thick or as thin as you want and you will have control over the amount of conductivity. Plus, once you have the conductive fiber mixed, you can get very creative with how you use and design with the fiber. You can create simple digital and analog switches are more complex circuits.
Using hand carders to blend your wools together is a great a reliable way to ensure even distribution and control over the finished mixed grade.
I am experienced with three different ways to get your metallic wools mixed in with your fiber.
1) pulling and laying fibers, on top of one another, interchanging the metallic and pure wools to blend
2) using hand carders to blend
3) using a drum carder to blend
This tutorial goes over option 2) stay tuned for the other two!
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Materials and tools:
* Fiber - combed top that is 100% sheep's wool is the easiest and most accessible to use, however you can use other blends, batts and so on... what does top, roving and batts mean? check out this article and photos for some clarification on the differences.
* Bronze metallic wool - find bronze and other metallic wools here: lustersheen.com
* Hand carders - you can use pet brushes if you do not have hand carders or are waiting for them to ship to you. Used in these steps are kitteh brushes.
* Upholstery foam - at least 1 inch thick, can be found at any craft store.
* Dry felting needles - used here are triangular size 38 needles, good for courser fibers. check out this article for recommendations on different sizes.
* Kitchen scale - this is really helpful, but could be considered optional, I like to know how much conductivity I am putting in my **rolag... what's a rolag? more terms! This article defines it and gives still more clarity to the whole roving, batts, and top definition.
Get a digital scale that does grams.
** technically a rolag is the carded fibers blended, then rolled off the carders, Since we are not spinning, I do not actually roll them up...
* Fiber - combed top that is 100% sheep's wool is the easiest and most accessible to use, however you can use other blends, batts and so on... what does top, roving and batts mean? check out this article and photos for some clarification on the differences.
* Bronze metallic wool - find bronze and other metallic wools here: lustersheen.com
* Hand carders - you can use pet brushes if you do not have hand carders or are waiting for them to ship to you. Used in these steps are kitteh brushes.
* Upholstery foam - at least 1 inch thick, can be found at any craft store.
* Dry felting needles - used here are triangular size 38 needles, good for courser fibers. check out this article for recommendations on different sizes.
* Kitchen scale - this is really helpful, but could be considered optional, I like to know how much conductivity I am putting in my **rolag... what's a rolag? more terms! This article defines it and gives still more clarity to the whole roving, batts, and top definition.
Get a digital scale that does grams.
** technically a rolag is the carded fibers blended, then rolled off the carders, Since we are not spinning, I do not actually roll them up...
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To store needles, I use plastic coffee stir sticks. They have two tunnels in them and are perfect for storing two felting needles.
I am addicted to needle felting! If you go to "Living Felt", you will see a piece that I made. It is a dragon, the size of a toddler . The dragon is wearing red and white striped socks and a polka dotted bird is sitting on the dragon's hand.
I'd love to see some of your creations. Pu Leeeeee Se ?
Coffee stir sticks IS a great way to store your needles. I'm really glad you brought that to attention :)
I'm not sure of the shameless promotion in the comment section rules here, but I will take a chance by going ahead and saying that you can check out my creations at laras-home.com under the "felt" category and the projects that I have created with my sister under FSP at fsp.fm (or link to it from my website).
We will continue to post instructables on more E-textile techniques using felt, so stay tuned!
Thanks again and happy felting!