Comments on: Whiptips - purchasing felt http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/ handcraft in a hectic world Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:13:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Angerella http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-193327 Angerella Mon, 17 Sep 2007 17:15:13 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-193327 I work for a small dress supplies shop in Seattle Washington, Nancy's Sewing Basket. We carry both 100% wool felt and wool rayon blends and industial felt that is 1/4 inch thick. We always have it in stock and especially during holiday craft season. It is all 72" wide. 100% wool runs 60 dollars a yard and wool blends are 18 dollars a yard, industrial is 36 a yard. You can buy as little as 1/8 yard. W ship all over the country. Call for colors 206-282-9112 for current color stock. I work for a small dress supplies shop in Seattle Washington, Nancy’s Sewing Basket. We carry both 100% wool felt and wool rayon blends and industial felt that is 1/4 inch thick. We always have it in stock and especially during holiday craft season. It is all 72″ wide. 100% wool runs 60 dollars a yard and wool blends are 18 dollars a yard, industrial is 36 a yard. You can buy as little as 1/8 yard. W ship all over the country. Call for colors 206-282-9112 for current color stock.

]]> By: Kris http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-192275 Kris Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:00:34 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-192275 Thank you to everyone for such great replies! Thank you to everyone for such great replies!

]]> By: Chloe http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-192256 Chloe Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:47:12 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-192256 I've found some gorgeous wool melton (or wool/acrylic blends) at my local Fabricland (I'm in Canada) I've even snagged some for as little as $5 per metre! You can also be brave and try felting some, either by hand or in your washing machine, to get a heavier fabric. I’ve found some gorgeous wool melton (or wool/acrylic blends) at my local Fabricland (I’m in Canada) I’ve even snagged some for as little as $5 per metre! You can also be brave and try felting some, either by hand or in your washing machine, to get a heavier fabric.

]]> By: sooz http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-191091 sooz Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:28:57 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-191091 I'd really second the recommendation for winterwood toys given by Penni. Great range of colours and thicknesses and types of felt. If you think about the cost on a per finished item basis, the investment doesn't hurt so much and you will be glad when the finished item lasts for years. You can make thin wool felt more lush by felting it further. I bought a large piece of plain white 100% wool felt and felted it in the washing machine (hot wash, long cycle). It shrinks and thickens. You can also use hot water dyes on it and felt it further that way. This is a cheaper way to get a good thickness. A lot of toy makers also use felt blanket and felted knits - hot machine washed pure wool blankets and jumpers (sweaters) shrunk into thick fabric. This is very cost effective if you can source your blankets and knits from op shops. If you do this, it can be difficult to work with the thicker felts that result. Best choices are lightweight knits and blankets. You can also make your own felt either from raw wool rovings, or even easier from prelaid felt batts. This gives you a lot of choice about colours, patterns, thickness and so on. Felting is of course a craft in its own right, and very rewarding, though unlikely to save you money over commercial felts. I’d really second the recommendation for winterwood toys given by Penni. Great range of colours and thicknesses and types of felt. If you think about the cost on a per finished item basis, the investment doesn’t hurt so much and you will be glad when the finished item lasts for years.

You can make thin wool felt more lush by felting it further. I bought a large piece of plain white 100% wool felt and felted it in the washing machine (hot wash, long cycle). It shrinks and thickens. You can also use hot water dyes on it and felt it further that way. This is a cheaper way to get a good thickness.

A lot of toy makers also use felt blanket and felted knits - hot machine washed pure wool blankets and jumpers (sweaters) shrunk into thick fabric. This is very cost effective if you can source your blankets and knits from op shops. If you do this, it can be difficult to work with the thicker felts that result. Best choices are lightweight knits and blankets.

You can also make your own felt either from raw wool rovings, or even easier from prelaid felt batts. This gives you a lot of choice about colours, patterns, thickness and so on. Felting is of course a craft in its own right, and very rewarding, though unlikely to save you money over commercial felts.

]]> By: Karen in Wichita http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190868 Karen in Wichita Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:44:52 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190868 That's not a bad price for wool felt, Debby. Wish my JoAnns carried it... one doesn't even carry the blends on a regular basis, and the other takes a long time to restock if a color runs out. Kool-Aid dyes (and other acid dyes, like food coloring drops) are great fun on all-wool felt. It's a huge advantage over the blends, since rayon doesn't take acid dyes. I'm seriously torn between using the huge assortment of pre-dyed wool to make my own felt, and using the white felt and dyeing it, when I get around to making another <a href="http://www.silverseams.com/blog/patterns/2006/07/sun-conure-pattern.html" rel="nofollow">sun conure</a> (yes, the first one is made from cheezy acrylic craft felt). That’s not a bad price for wool felt, Debby. Wish my JoAnns carried it… one doesn’t even carry the blends on a regular basis, and the other takes a long time to restock if a color runs out.

Kool-Aid dyes (and other acid dyes, like food coloring drops) are great fun on all-wool felt. It’s a huge advantage over the blends, since rayon doesn’t take acid dyes. I’m seriously torn between using the huge assortment of pre-dyed wool to make my own felt, and using the white felt and dyeing it, when I get around to making another sun conure (yes, the first one is made from cheezy acrylic craft felt).

]]> By: Giant Dwarf http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190712 Giant Dwarf Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:35:28 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190712 Hello Kris! I would like to recommend a company called National Nonwovens, which manufactures felt in a variety of blends, with hues to die for, right here in the U.S. They are also super friendly and will send you a hefty catalog and color swatches, for free, upon request. I am so very pleased with this company not only because they are affordable, but they also deliver in a timely manner. National Nonwovens is a wholesale company, which means you will essentially get all of your supplies at half the price of what a retail store charges, however your initial order will be no less than $200. Request a catalog and see for yourself! Happy crafting!!! National Nonwovens Felt http://www.nationalnonwovens.com/Applications/c&h.htm xo, Sue Hello Kris!
I would like to recommend a company called National Nonwovens, which manufactures felt in a variety of blends, with hues to die for, right here in the U.S. They are also super friendly and will send you a hefty catalog and color swatches, for free, upon request. I am so very pleased with this company not only because they are affordable, but they also deliver in a timely manner. National Nonwovens is a wholesale company, which means you will essentially get all of your supplies at half the price of what a retail store charges, however your initial order will be no less than $200. Request a catalog and see for yourself! Happy crafting!!!

National Nonwovens Felt
http://www.nationalnonwovens.com/Applications/c&h.htm

xo,
Sue

]]> By: kwoozy http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190686 kwoozy Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:13:04 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190686 in japan now, just went to a crafty shop. i saw 3 types of craft felt here: acrylic (although denser than the ones in aus) 80% wool ones (not sure what the other 10% and 10% were) and 100% wool ones. at the hyaku-en shops: these were (of course) acrylic ones in japan now, just went to a crafty shop.
i saw 3 types of craft felt here:

acrylic (although denser than the ones in aus)
80% wool ones (not sure what the other 10% and 10% were)
and 100% wool ones.

at the hyaku-en shops: these were (of course) acrylic ones

]]> By: debby http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190527 debby Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:17:09 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190527 Joann's does have 100% wool on a bolt, but it is $14.99 a yard. I know because when there is nothing I really need I use my coupon on it and buy a few yards. It only comes in a natural color. I have dyed it with kool aid and it comes out beautifully. It is much thicker, softer, and nicer than the blends. Joann’s does have 100% wool on a bolt, but it is $14.99 a yard. I know because when there is nothing I really need I use my coupon on it and buy a few yards. It only comes in a natural color. I have dyed it with kool aid and it comes out beautifully. It is much thicker, softer, and nicer than the blends.

]]> By: laura http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190386 laura Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:48:37 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190386 also in some Japanese craftbooks they use both felt, and low pile felt like carpet (as can probably be bought at home depot) for a stiffer material. also in some Japanese craftbooks they use both felt, and low pile felt like carpet (as can probably be bought at home depot) for a stiffer material.

]]> By: Claudia http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190359 Claudia Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:40:06 +0000 http://whipup.net/2007/09/09/whiptips-2/#comment-190359 Thick felt in amazing colors: http://www.thefeltpeople.com/pages/colorcards/durafeltcard.htm Thick felt in amazing colors:

http://www.thefeltpeople.com/pages/colorcards/durafeltcard.htm

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