having an idea

I have an idea percolating around in my head. It’ll probably never happen, but I’m thinking about it!

Following my enjoyable experiences working with Colourstreams hand-dyed wool felt for my left- and right-handed stitch dictionaries, I have recently learned of a thing called prefelt. My question was “What is prefelt?”

Really, its just that – a thin wool “fabric” that is the precursor to felt. It has been lightly needlefelted to hold it together somewhat. It cannot be used as a fabric as is, as it is too flimsy, and won’t properly hold together. However, if put through a felting process, such as with warm soapy water and agitation, it turns into felt.

Now, I have seen some gorgeous felt creations, incorporating silk hankies. I am particularly thinking of a jacket that Annie Huntley of “Room for Threads” wore last year at the Sydney Craft and Quilt Show. The colours were wonderful.

I dream of making some clothes out of this sort of fabric, on which I would heavily embroider. What better advertisement for my skills and use of embroidery than wearing it? I loved to use the Colourstreams felt to embroider on, but I think I would also love making my own felt to embroider on.

But the question is, when would I find the time?! Also, I feel that it would be helpful to take a class in how to do the silk hankie in combo with prefelt thing. Does anyone know of classes of this type anywhere in Sydney? Or some good online tutorials on working with prefelt?