Good day readers! We are excited to have mixed media artist, Susan M. Hinckley, guest blog for us today. Be sure to check out her blog, small works in wool, to see more of her work and be inspired to make your own creations.
small works in wool
Somehow mixing new ideas with old materials creates art that is more satisfying than something made using new materials from the craft store.
I didn’t start out intending to be a green crafter, but I suppose I became one because of my work process. I do only hand sewing, because I enjoy the slow pace at which the picture is revealed. I use all natural fibers because I like the look and feel of them. The hunt for just the right fabric in an old piece of clothing adds interest to my creative journey. When I buy new wool, it is plant- dyed because I love the soft vibrancy of the colors. I use vintage trims and embellishments (beads and buttons, hand-me-down and collected) whenever possible. And for the text I use in my work, I enjoy scouring my collection of old magazines and books.
See? I’m an accidental environmentalist, but proud of it.
I enjoy the whole process of creating my pieces, and that includes both finding and preparing the materials I use. While I buy some commercial felt, I also repurpose old wool clothing whenever I can. In fact, I started making my Small Works when a friend gave me an enormous box of old wool clothing she found under her porch. Apparently her mother had saved them years before to make rugs, but had never gotten around to it. I had never worked with wool, but quickly became addicted to the wonderful texture and versatility of this amazing fiber.
100% wool is generally best for re-use, with a tight weave. Beware of iron-on interfacings as these are difficult to remove and sometimes damage the fabric. Many jackets and coats have them and you sometimes can’t tell until you start ripping the garment apart. I find that skirts and sweaters tend to yield the most usable wool. Blankets can be a gold mine and are easily over-dyed to achieve a variety of colors.
When I find a piece of clothing that I think will work well, I first remove all fasteners (zippers, buttons) and cut it open at the seams. Then I wash it in the washing machine, checking frequently to monitor the degree of felting and re-washing until the desired result is achieved. If I need a more compact felt, a turn under the steam iron can help me achieve it. Once the wool is ready to use, it goes into my color-sorted stash so it will be easy to find when I need it. You have to be opportunistic when using repurposed materials — just because it won’t fit in today’s project doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it because tomorrow it may not be available.
The beauty of working with recycled clothing is that my pieces are truly unique. When I start with material that already has history, I always feel that there’s an extra resonance to the piece as its identity unfolds. It gives me great pleasure to rescue something and give it a new story. And figuring out how to use something old in a new way is a great exercise in thinking green.
Take a peek at my website. Hopefully my work can give you ideas for creative re-use of the materials you have on hand, or those you may come across in your travels. When you get in the habit of looking for possibilities, you’ll find creative ideas and materials everywhere, just waiting for you to give them a new lease on life.
