Today we will tell you how to create one of the variants of a mosaic (or patchwork) pattern in felt.
For work we need the following materials:
- Decorated surface.
- Contrasting polyethylene sewing threads.
- Pieces of fabrics for decoration. I have here natural chiffon and satin, artificial satin, several types of guipure, panne velvet, artificial chiffon, mesh fabric.
- Sequins, bulky yarn.
Guipure of three colors:
Panne:
Mesh fabric:
In this case, the process of decorating the coat sleeves was filmed. Here is a vertically reinforcing layer of viscose and two diagonal layers of wool. For our decor, the layout is not important. You can decorate a bag, hat, rug or felt vase like this, and the wool and layout can be completely different. The main thing that we need to do is to wet and press the wool very efficiently. I use soapy water and press the layout with my hands and a towel through a thin film (garbage bag). The base under the film should become absolutely smooth, without loose dry places, while a large amount of water is undesirable, it is difficult to work on a very wet layout.
We lay out the contours of the future pattern on the prepared base with sewing threads.
We decide which fabric will live in which "window". To do this, we take scraps of fabric (you can put pieces of the edge) and lay them out as you wish. We rearrange this way and that so that the fabrics alternate beautifully. If we make clothes, we make sure that there are no too bright or hard fabrics in certain places. For example, it is logical to put dark pieces on the waist, and sequins are not needed on the elbows, collar, nape.
When the sketch suits us, add textured details. We lay out sequins under chiffon, under guipure and pan-velvet - pieces of voluminous yarn, it costs nothing to put under artificial silk-satin. You can also laminate nepps, slacks, rovings, pieces of dense fabrics and so on.
After we have laid out our "treasures", we begin to carefully lay out the fabrics, according to the "purchased tickets". Remove the marker piece, put a piece of fabric in its place. Fabrics can be cut to shape or free-form pieces and then draped into folds. It all depends on the properties of each fabric and your idea. Leave tracks between the fabrics, 1.5 cm wide of the uncovered base. Moisten a little with water and press through the bag.
When all the pieces of fabric are in their places, we find the ends of the threads with which we drew the sketch, and easily pull them out from under the drawing.
In the intervals between the pieces of fabric, lay out thin strands of wool. The wool should cover the edges of the fabrics.
Lay out the contour of our mosaic on the DRY wool. I have a mesh fabric, meticulously cut into strips. You can sprinkle it with thin strands of wool to better fit.
Spray everything with water again, cover with a bag and press. We remove the package and admire the beauty. If the wool has blurred and strongly climbed onto the fabric - gently knock it closer to the contour with your fingers. The main thing is not to accidentally open sections of fabrics (especially artificial ones), they can slide out under the machine and not be welded.
We go through our GSOM layout. In order for everything to get a good grasp - at first I hum a little through the bag, then take it off and work for a long time "live", try to move the machine in different directions, hum for a very long time, "roll" the machine from heel to toe.
When all the fabrics have adhered well to the surface, you can continue felting in your usual ways. On my own I recommend rolling in a roll to the final result. Of course, this is long and rather difficult, but the wool will creep through the fabric to a minimum, preserving the texture and beauty of the materials.
This is the final texture.
