Felted Vessels
These works are hand-knit on circular needles of 100% wool or alpaca fiber. Patterns were written by the artist. The vessels are knit in-the-round forming a seamless body to which ruffles or other embellishments are knitted. The pieces are then felted in a standard washing machine using hot water, soap and agitation to interlock the fibers. Prior to the felting process, a vessel is roughly twice its finished size. The resulting felt is dense, durable, water-resistant, and can be cut without unraveling. The wet piece is stretched over a form then left to dry. Once dry, the fabric retains a “memory” of its blocked shape. The artist then grooms the vessel using an electric clipper to remove excess fiber and in some cases inserts a glass or ceramic vessel to add functionality. Sewing, embroidery, and fringe are employed for further embellishment.
