At its next meeting on Saturday 3rd August the group will be holding a Wool Blending Worshop. I thought it would be helpful to explain the use of blending boards which are used in fiber arts, particularly in spinning and felting, to blend different colors and types of wool fibers. Of course there are other methods of blending your wool which will be discussed and practiced at the workshop.
Here's a step-by-step description of the method used with a wool blending board:
Preparation:
Gather your wool fibers in various colors and types.
Ensure your blending board is clean and ready to use. A blending board typically has a large, flat surface covered with fine, closely-spaced metal teeth (similar to a carding cloth).
Loading the Fibers:
Select the wool fibers you want to blend.
Take small tufts of wool and place them on the blending board, aligning the fibers in the same direction. Start at the bottom of the board and work your way up, layering the fibers in thin, even layers.
You can create patterns or random blends, depending on your desired effect.
Blending the Fibers:
Once you have loaded enough fibers onto the board, use a blending brush or a dowel to gently push the fibers down into the teeth of the blending board.
You can use the brush to blend the fibers further by lightly brushing across the surface, mixing the colors and types of fibers.
Removing the Blended Fibers:
After achieving the desired blend, use a dowel or rod to roll the fibers off the board. Start at the top and gently lift the fibers while rolling them around the dowel.
As you roll, the fibers will come off the board in a sheet or a rolag (a rolled preparation of wool).
Preparing for Spinning or Felting:
The blended fibers can now be used for spinning into yarn or for felting projects.
If spinning, you can spin directly from the rolag or further prepare the fibers into rolags or batts as needed.
Cleaning the Blending Board:
After removing the blended fibers, clean the board by brushing off any remaining wool bits to keep the teeth clear for the next use.
Using a wool blending board allows for creative control over the colors and textures in your spinning and felting projects, enabling the creation of unique and customized fiber blends.
The group will be purchasing a blending board for use by members although some members already own a board. Boards can be quite expensive so I searched out a YouTube video on making your own. The voice is a little grating but the best I could find https://youtu.be/2ALDEEAoJAU?si=mXYwjXy2QH-Sou-6.
Will look forward to creative results
Janice
Opmerkingen