In this number of the felt magazine Echoes I have written an article about "Raw Fleece" and as you might not see this magazine you can read the article here.

RAW WOOL  IS FANTASTIC

Through the years I have become more and more glad of using raw fleece, when I make my felted figures and felted reliefs.  Now, while I have worked so intensively with that kind of wool for my new book – “ANIMAL FELT” – I have found still more qualities, when I have experimented with the possibilities.

It has been my wish with this new book to show some of these possibilities, that are suitable to express the individual animal´s true nature.

I know that it can be a problem to get hold of raw wool, but some of the wool suppliers have now started to sell it, and the more you ask for it, the better is the possibility, that the shops will keep it in stock.

I am lucky to have found good suppliers, that have got the different kinds of wool, that are my favorites.

Last autumn I bought some lamb spelsau wool in a wonderful red/brown color that is looking just like silk, and I have used that for my eagle-heads and for little dogs, needling stables of wool on a basic shape.

Photo Claus Dalby

From another supplier of spelsau wool I get fleeces, that are already felted on the sheep, but with perfect,nice stables on the surface. I can tear the fleece apart in smaller parts, and then I can get the inspiration from the shape, that came by coincidence.

A long narrow piece became a watching marten, that sits on its hind leg .

A big dark red/brown piece was perfect for a cosy bear.

Big pieces have also been the basic shape for eagles with out-spread wings and I  have needled other variations of stables on it to give the image of feathers.

Photo Claus Dalby

The owl shown on the photo gives an example on, how the effect from many different kinds of wool can work together. I have used wool from 9 different breeds and the very different way the stables of wool give effect can be used here. Some stables are coarse, long and sticky while others are silky, curly and there are  many different natural colours to give effect too.

photo Claus Dalby

I have also started to card more and more of the wool I use for the animals. I have an electric carding-machine and although it is very much work it is really worth it because I can get so many exiting mixed qualities. You will never get as good an effect with the carded wool you buy.

Now I wish you good luck with creating your woolly animals.

Birgitte Krag Hansen