Felting loom system and method for producing felted woven fibre art textile shapes
The invention disclosed, is a felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes. The handcrafting apparatus kit comprises, multi-shaped and sized, interlocking loom blocks and method auxiliary tools. Employed individually, or as assembled loom frameworks, the loom blocks, provide supportive structural foundations, to carry out the inventive method's, multi-functional procedures. Utilized conjointly, the texturized surfaces of the loom block structures and the roller tool components, further generate friction, for the method's practical processing requirements. The variety of loom block construction, configurations and utility functional purposes, enables creative flexibility for fibre artisans to produce wide ranges of felted textile shapes, sizes and constructed fibre art compositions. Felted woollen fibrous layers, with the addition of imported and encapsulated, hand woven constituent properties and manufactured, in accordance with the system's method process, result in the production of artistic, novel textile structural shapes, with multi-functional applications.
- “Fibre to Fabric Australian Edition”, by GRIFFITH, POTTER and CORBMAN. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Sydney, 1970.
- Referring to Chapter 7, “Minor Fabric Constructions” and Felt, Pages 104 to 109.
- Referring to Chapter 5, “Weaving”, Pages 58 to 81.
- “Textiles for Modern Living”, Third Edition, by E. P. G. GOHL and L. D. VILENSKY. Longman Cheshire Pty Ltd, Melbourne Australia, 1983.
- Referring to Chapter 33, “Non-Wovens: -Felts, Pages 263 to 264.
- Referring to Chapter 32, “Weaving”, Pages 234 to 250.
- “en.wikipedia.org” This site refers to “Felt-making History”.
- “felt.wikispaces.com” This site refers to “Instructions for Wet Felting”.
- “www.fibrefusion.com.au” This site refers to “How to Felt, for Beginners”.
- “www.youtube.com” This site refers to “Lucy ADAMS Presents Felt making”.
- “www.theloomexchange.com.uk” This site refers to currently used Hand Weaving Looms.
- “www.knitting-and.com” This site refers to many vintage and current portable hand craft and loom craft activity devices, by Sarah BRADBERRY.
- “www.homesteadtoys.com” This site refers to examples of handcraft devices, that were used back in early America, for domestic craft pursuits.
The present invention, relates to a novel wet felt-making process and very generally to a hand weaving related process and portable devices, used to carry out handcraft and loom craft activities. The invention relates more particularly, to a felting loom system and method for producing felted, woven fibre art textile shapes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONWet Felt-making, Hand Weaving and Portable Handcraft and Loom Craft Activity Devices: The manufacture and produce, resulting from the ancient handcraft activities, of wet felt-making and hand weaving, have contributed to the integral functioning of our civilizations for thousands of years. In more recent times, portable handcraft and loom craft activity devices, used to carry out the production of handmade craft projects, of many varieties, have also served to provide a major creative contribution, to domestic handcraft pursuits and pastimes.
Wet Felt-making: Handcrafted objects, created by traditional wet felt-making practices, have served humanity, functionally and decoratively, for many centuries now, for apparel, for our pets and for our home interiors and even for our actual dwellings, as felted structures called yurts, especially in the cooler climatic regions.
“en.wikipedia.org”, This site refers to “Felt-making History”.
Handmade woollen felt, is a highly versatile, non-woven fabric, the making of which, lends itself especially, to smaller artistic applications for craft, textile and fibre art, as well as to larger, more cumbrous items.
Wet felt-making practices, generally require the application of hot soapy water, pressure and friction, directly onto the woollen fibres and these factors combined, contribute to creating a felted fabric. When woollen fibres such as rovings, tops, slivers or even unprocessed wool, are subjected to hot soapy water and some kind of pressured, agitating motion, the generated friction applied, over a period of time, transforms the woollen fibres to felt and an irreversible fibre bond, is created. During the application of hot soapy water and agitation, the microscopic scales of the protein woollen fibres, become tangled and locked together, to form felted textiles.
Felted fabrics usually have a matted, dense and clumpy appearance and do not fray when cut. Unless topically applying readymade fabric lengths, with a wet felting technique, as in nuno felting, handmade wet-felted fabric, is normally characterized, by a thick and stiff handle, with a poor and unattractive drape.
In recent decades and at present time, contemporary wet felt-making practices, have gained in recreational popularity, with craft and hobby lovers, as well as textile and fibre artisans. When felt is produced using woollen fibres, in a domestic, hobby or textile fibre craft environment, it is generally made by hand. It is usual for contemporary felt-makers and fibre or craft artisans, to still employ ordinary domestic items, as their hand tools, for their wet felt-making practices, to assist, or to try to hasten, what can often be, a physically laborious activity. Older style wash boards, rolling pins, paint trays, or even foot rollers, are often employed at the final stage of felting and even spin-cycles in washing machines, or after excess water is removed, tumble dryers, are also often used, by craft and fibre artists.
When felting especially larger quantities, or larger articles by hand, electrical mechanical car buffers, polishers or rolling machines, might often be employed, by professional felt-makers or fibre artisans, which can relieve them from the physically arduous task, of felting these larger items. The electrical products can expedite the felting process, but the mechanical rolling devices especially, are not widely accessible, or available and they would generally be, an expensive outlay for most non-professional craft
artists or felt-makers, to purchase such units. Finding a location to store and utilize such devices, might also be problematic for many craft and felt-making artisans.
There are limitations to the use of felted fabrics, for general apparel applications, because felted woollen fabrics are generally stiff, inelastic, thick or lumpy and often lack qualities attributed to conventionally woven textiles, such as drape, flexibility, wearable comfort or strength.
However, despite the above limiting characteristics of felting and felted fabric, other qualities of felted wool make it a desirable textile for use, in domestic, craft or artistic environments. The innate characteristics that felted fabrics provide, such as warmth, comfort and a pleasing hand, along with the affinity for dyestuffs, make it a very suitable medium in a creative craft context.
- “Fibre to Fabric Australian Edition”, by GRIFFITH, POTTER and CORBMAN. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Sydney, 1970. Referring to Chapter 7, “Minor Fabric Constructions” and Felt, Pages 104 to 109.
- “Textiles for Modern Living”, Third Edition, by E. P. G. GOHL and L. D. VILENSKY. Longman Cheshire Pty Ltd, Melbourne Australia, 1983. Referring to Chapter 33, “Non-Wovens: -Felts, Pages 263 to 264.
Handmade Wet Felt-making Practices and Tools: Contemporary textile artists or felt-makers, who may be skilled in the art of making wet felted fabric, generally follow a felting practice, whereby, a finished product may be produced manually in a fairly short period of time.
Wool rovings or tops, derived from the fleece of shorn sheep, that have been washed and had debris removed, are well suited for this handcraft process. The wool roving fibres are often dyed, then carded, which is like being brushed, so that they become very light and fine and all run in one long parallel direction and may be purchased from commercial craft outlets, in rope like lengths, called hanks or slivers.
Tufts of the wool fibres, may then be pulled away from the wool roving or sliver lengths and then laid out, on a plastic sheet underlay, or bubble wrap, positioned on a table top, in preparation for a wet felt-making process, which fibre artisans might carry out, generally in three or four stages.
Stage (i) Laying Out the Yarn: Consists of breaking off tufts of wool rovings in a manner to produce, light and even lengths and then laying them down, usually onto a hard table top surface, using a plastic or felt resisting fabric as an underlay base. Often the outline of a desired shape is pre-drawn onto the underlay, as a template. The woollen tufts are laid out, from one direction to the other, in rows, so that they slightly overlap, until the chosen area of the underlay base or fabric template, is covered in the first layer of woollen rovings. A second layer is then usually laid down, over the top of the first layer, in the same way, only applied in an opposite angle. A third layer is then laid down over the top of the second layer in the same way, but in the same angle direction, as the first layer. To create decorative surfaces, patterned felt or inlayed designs, the addition of silk rovings, previously pre-felted shaped items or other decorative items, might also be included with the rovings second or third layer. Generally, there are three woollen roving layers and each layer, is laid down at right angles to the previous layer.
Stage (ii) Wetting Down: Once the woollen roving tuft layers have been laid out, a plastic fly screen, or a polyester felt resisting netting, cotton canvas or calico fabric is laid out over the top of all the woollen fibrous layers. Calico or canvas fabrics might sometimes be tacked with a needle and thread, to form an enclosed pocket around the fibrous layers, to keep them in place, during this wetting down process. Hot to boiling water from a kettle, might then be applied often by sprinkling or spraying onto the fibrous layers with added soap or detergent, over the entire area, to fully saturate the laid out woollen fibrous layers.
The hot soapy water is worked and rubbed into all the layers, by gently applying pressure and patting them by hand, until the soapy fibres start to cling and entangle together and so, become pre-felted. A soap bar might also be rubbed directly onto the netting to ensure there is enough soap added, to further encourage the felting process. A pre-felted item would be produced and ready then, for the next stage of the felting process when the woollen fibres therein, no longer move separately about, when they are pinched. Previously pre-felted shapes and/or decorative items, might again, be included on top of the item at this stage also, to achieve a decorative surface.
Stage (iii) Felting: The felting stage requires the application of friction, agitation and pressure, in some way. Typically, felting objects are quite often rolled up firmly, inside a bamboo or match stick window blind or mat, solar pool cover material, or a bubble wrap roll, and then rolled back and forth, inside the roll. The texture of these items, serve to generate pressure, agitation and friction, during the manual rolling process, which is required for a wet felt-making process.
A rolled up bamboo blind bundle, might be tied and secured, often with old stockings or pantyhose and then rolled back and forth up to 100-200 times. The items shrink in the direction they are rolled. A felting item might then be unrolled and turned around at a 90 degree angle and rolled up again. The felting object in the bundle is then rolled back and forth, again up to 100-200 times. This process may be repeated, until the item is felted, as required. However, the objects will usually have become felted by this stage and will be ready then, for the next final stage.
Stage (iv) Fulling: This is usually the final stage of a traditional, manual wet felt-making process, whereby the compaction of the woollen fibres is consolidated and the process may be varied, with different fibre artisans. A felted object might be taken out of the rolled up bamboo blind, or out of the roll made of plastic bubble wrap and should have a bonded, matted appearance, as the woollen fibres would have become entangled together. A felting object might then be placed under hot and/or cold water, squeezed, scrunched and agitated further by hand, which shrinks and firms the felted object further. After excess water has been wrung out, the felting object might then be rolled again, inside a rolled up bamboo blind, or the like, or some fibre artisans, might forcefully throw or drop the felting object onto a table top, or into a bucket, any amount of repetitions, from 20 up to 200 times, which causes even further shrinkage. Overall shrinkage may vary from 20%, up to 50% and when the fulling process is completed, a felted item's fibres, should have become more dense and fully shrunken.
Domestic items are often employed as tools, at this final stage of finishing.
Felting, hand knitted or hand crotchet woollen objects, by subjecting them to this shrinking, fulling process, is also currently a very popular, but time consuming, handcrafting activity.
Finally a felted object would be fully rinsed of soap, treated with white vinegar, dried and maybe pressed. If garments or accessories are to be fashioned from the completed felted fabrics when dry, the pressed felted fabric, may then be cut out, into pattern pieces and made up into garments, or objects, at a later stage. To make clothing or products from previously handmade wet felted woollen fabric, it is necessary to estimate and produce, a consistent amount of felted fabric, with regard to the colours,
consistency, weight and density concentration. Pattern shaped pieces for a garment, are then cut out, from the completed felted fabric piece. The processes of pattern making, cutting out and making up garments, usually takes much more time after the actual felting process is completed, often leaving many left over scrap pieces.
“felt.wikispaces.com” This site refers to “Instructions for Wet Felting”.
“www.fibrefusion.com.au” This site refers to “How to Felt, for Beginners”.
“www.youtube.com” This site refers to “LUCY ADAMS Presents Felt making”.
General Hand Weaving and Handcraft Loom Practices: Hand looms and their hand woven textile produce, have also served humanity, since our ancient primitive ancestors, discovered fabric and clothing construction. Until the advent of industrial looms, where simple or extremely complex cloths, became mechanically crafted, for our cultures to utilize, many varieties of handcraft looms had been used. Today fibre and textile artists and hand weavers, still use conventional hand-looms, as well as the more recent commercial handcraft loom inventions, to hand weave, or create cloths or crafted fibre objects, of many different variations and textures, for artful or utilitarian purposes.
Most domestic or hand weaver's studios, utilize hand weaving looms, that typically have essential parts, that support the three most fundamental and repetitive sequences, that are usually required to construct a hand woven cloth. The looms often require fastidious, tedious and time consuming preparation, called “dressing the loom”, before the actual weaving process might begin. Even the simplest of hand-looms can take quite awhile to prepare for use. In a craft context, the actual process of hand weaving on conventional hand-looms, can generally be an extremely time consuming activity, and there is a vast array of looms available, to choose from, to work on.
Loom components, are often made of adjustable wooden, metallic or plastic materials and constructed in square, rectangular, triangular or dimensional frame like structures.
The yarns utilized in weaving processes, may also be made up of a vast array of natural or synthetic fibres, and are generally more durable than knitting materials, although knitting yarns or others, may also be used. The yarn ply and textures, colours and patterns, used in the weaving process, effects the woven characteristics of the resultant cloth structures, with regard to durability, thickness, drape, usefulness and appearance.
Usually there are two distinct sets of yarns, used in a hand weaving process on a handcraft loom. The yarns run lengthwise and crosswise, interlacing at right angles to each other. The usually stronger warp yarns travel longitudinally, along a fabric length from where they are attached to a warp beam at one end of a loom. The weft yarns then intersect horizontally, across the warp yarns in a variety of patterns. The yarns are pre-set on a loom, which determines the length of the cloth and are also set at varying widths, for the cloth construction. A thread count, determines the number of warp and weft yarns contained, per square inch in a finished woven cloth.
As a cloth is formed, it is generally rolled onto a cloth beam, or of the like, at the other end of the hand weaving loom frame.
In most methods of hand weaving, fibre artists, or weavers, still carry out three fundamental operations involved in this process, once the warp yarns have been set on a loom structure, as follows below.
(i) Shedding: Where the stronger warp yarns are alternately raised or lowered to make a space between them, by using a heddle frame or harness, in readiness for the next stage.
(ii) Picking: Where the weft yarns are then threaded and interlaced with a shuttle, or the like, through the prepared space of the warp yarns.
(iii) Beating-up: The newly threaded weft yarns, are next pushed into place, by using a reed, thereby compacting the weft yarns together on the warp yarns. After a number of repetitions, of this process, a cloth is created.
Once a woven cloth is completed, it is let-off and detached from the hand loom structure.
To make up apparel from finished hand woven cloth, enough fabric needs to be hand woven beforehand. Seams need to be neatened and finished or over-locked, to prevent fraying and unravelling.
Hand woven textiles are often produced on a small scale in cottage industry environments. Relatively smaller product items such as scarves or shawls, are most often produced, to show off the beauty of the hand woven cloths, because of the time consuming process, to weave such cloths.
Although fibre artists and weavers may achieve very fine and attractive results with the many hand weaving patterns and techniques, the preparation of the yarns and setting up the loom frames, in readiness for the hand weaving operations, can become prohibitively labour intensive and time consuming activities, which may even deter many artisans from actually attempting the hand weaving craft.
- “Fibre to Fabric Australian Edition”, by GRIFFITH, POTTER and CORBMAN. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Sydney, 1970. Referring to Chapter 5, “Weaving”, pages 58 to 81
- “Textiles for Modern Living”, Third Edition, by E. P. G. GOHL and L. D. VILENSKY. Longman Cheshire Pty Ltd, Melbourne Australia, 1983. Referring to Chapter 32, “Weaving”, pages 234 to 250.
- “www.theloomexchange.com.uk”, This site refers to currently used hand weaving looms.
Portable Handcraft and Loom Craft Activity Devices: Handcraft devices and/or handcraft loom devices, have been recorded for use, recreationally, at least since earlier last century. Many devices for performing handcraft activities, before that time had been very popular domestically and recreationally, and the crafts are often still practiced, at present time. The portable handcraft activity devices have assisted craft and hobby lovers, to create small knitted, looped, crotchet, beaded, sewn, hand spun or hand woven items and shapes, for producing singular fashion accessories, or for use in multiples, so that larger fashion items, lap rugs, bed spread projects or domestic items, might be produced, when the smaller created items are completed and then, all joined and sewn up together.
There are many hobby type, portable craft loom devices, on the market today for creating handmade knitting, weaving, crotchet, yo-yo's, pom pom's, flowers, rugs and mini projects and the like, to be made up in various knitting yarns of various sized ply, anything from 2 ply to 10 ply and/or others.
The craft loom devices are often produced and formed in plastics and also, often have many pegs, so that yarns might be caught and looped around them, to form stitches. The projects often need stitches to be cast on and off and often, there is a large element of hand sewing or crotchet required, to attach or join, the many smaller items together once completed, or to make sure that the completed loom crafted objects, don't unravel.
The overall results are very pleasing but, the activities may also become very time consuming and repetitive, especially with the added joining, finishing and sewing activities.
“www.knitting-and.com”, this site refers to many vintage and current portable handcraft and loom craft activity devices, by Sarah BRADBERRY.
“www.homesteadtoys.com”, this site refers to examples of some portable handcraft devices, that were used back in early America, for domestic craft pursuits.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a handcrafting apparatus system, that might assist fibre artisans and hobby lovers, with creating their handmade woollen craft projects, for the production of small, medium or larger creative textiles and creative textile shapes. A time saving and efficient apparatus device system, so that the previously mentioned favourable properties of wet felt-making, hand weaving and handcraft loom device activities, might be combined, to enable the production of felted textiles or felted textile items and further, enable versatility and diversity, with regard to choice, dimension, size, structure and completed functional application qualities; and so that additionally, the imported hand woven constituents, therein, might also become an actual part of the constructed felted woven, textile's structural framework, rather than just providing visual appeal and decorative surface features.
Another object of the present invention, is to provide a manual and portable, handcrafting apparatus device system and a method for utilizing the system, so that fibre art creativity and creative accomplishment of purposeful, handmade felted woollen articles might be nurtured and enabled, in a wide cross section of people, of different ages, abilities and artistic standards.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an apparatus kit system and a method for utilizing the apparatus kit system, which might easily assist fibre artisans with the process of creating attractive, sustainable and useful handmade felted articles, promoting a wider range of end usage, as well, assist fibre, textile and craft artisans with their wet felt-making practices. An apparatus system, that might further enable fibre artisans to easily import hand woven constituents, into their wet felted, woollen textile projects and in the same process, perhaps assist fibre artisans to overcome some limiting disadvantages, that handcrafted wet felted fabrics, woven fabrics, knitted, crotchet or handcraft loom device projects might have.
Apart from the above mentioned commonly used implements, the wet felt-making, hand weaving or handcraft activity device or handcraft loom device industries, do not appear to employ any manual handcrafting hobby devices or apparatus kit systems, to assist fibre artisans with the process of wet felting, woven yarns or materials, so as to produce felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, textile lengths or textile objects.
Comparative to the more laborious and functionally demanding tasks, of creating handcrafted woollen based textile shapes, by hand weaving, crotchet, knitting, handcraft devices or looms, an alternative apparatus system and a method, carried out by utilizing the system, to transform and combine, woven yarns and wet felted woollen, fibrous compositions into cohesive, artistic textile shapes, for the manufacture of fabrics, apparel, household items or artistic endeavours, may offer individuals, groups or communities, an enjoyable, economic time and labour saving, portable apparatus device system, for artistic, practical and/or recreational employment, when creating their handcrafted, woollen based felted textiles.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the embodiments of this manual handcrafting invention, described and shown herein, is a felting loom system and a method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, a felting loom system apparatus kit, which provides for a variety of utility purposes, is described. The apparatus kit firstly provides a supportive structural foundation, as a shaped loom framework, so that a craft or fibre artisan might then utilize the loom framework, to carry out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process. The apparatus kit further, provides practical functional assistance, so that a craft or fibre artisan might then, carry out the inventive method's processing requirements.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, an inventive method process, is also shown and described, herein.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, carrying out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, results in the manufacture of artistic and novel, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, further described, herein.
In accordance with the first aspect of the invention's embodiments, there is provided a felting loom system, apparatus kit, comprising 43 disclosed components. The apparatus kit is intended for manual recreational or professional use, by craft lovers, textile and fibre artisans, fashion designers, textile designers, felt-makers, or any other artisans, interested in wool handicrafts, yarn hobbies, felt-making or creative handmade textile and/or fibre art production.
The components of the apparatus kit of the preferred embodiments, are made up of texturized, interlocking loom blocks, that may be produced in an assortment of size ranges, in rectangular, triangular, square or rounded, shape categories. Other loom block shape categories and sizes, may be produced, also.
The interlocking loom block material may also be produced, by the meter, with the interlocking components, being on the structures two outer edges, only.
The loom block shapes, may be utilized individually, or interlocked together, to form small, medium or larger, assembled, loom framework structures. The individual, or assembled composite loom configurations, may then be utilized, by textile artisans, as foundational framework devices, that provide shaped underlying structural support, to carry out the multi-functional procedures of the felting loom system's method process, too then create a variety of completed textile shapes, as desired.
The shaped felting loom block frameworks, may be constructed and utilized for hand weaving and other functions, in many different varieties of shapes and sizes that are flat, as shapes that are flat with hole openings, as for necklines or armholes, or employed dimensionally as cylindrical, dome or spiral shapes, or creatively as desired. The loom blocks in the apparatus kit, may also be assembled as a building system for producing specifically shaped, felted woven, fibre art textiles and so be assembled, as template patterns, for designed garment or designed abstract shapes. The possibility, for fibre artisans to efficiently produce a wide variety of apparel items, novel textiles, novel textile shapes, sizes and lengths, house-hold items, creative installations, soft toy creations, abstract floral or artistic endeavours, in very economic time frames, may then be provided.
The assortment of size ranges in each of the shape categories, of the felting loom blocks in the apparatus kit, might easily facilitate a large variety of shape changing possibilities for fibre artisans to utilize and work on, when constructing the multi-shaped loom structures, and then utilizing the constructed loom shapes to carry out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process, to manufacture the artistic and novel felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, once the desired loom formation sizes and shapes have been assembled, they may then be utilized as foundational structural frameworks, to support the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process. The inventive method process comprises, the functional procedures of layering and shaping of woollen fibre art compositions, onto a prepared loom base. The layers are positioned, below and above one or two hand woven layers and then pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, may be carried out. One or both, of the hand weaving functional procedures, with the desired choice of yarns and fibres, of varying sized ply and/or fabric or material strips, also of varying strip widths, along with the layering and shaping of fibre art compositions, comprising varying densities of wispy woollen roving tufts, might be carried out, situated on top of prepared shaped loom block structures. The ‘dressed’ loom frameworks, supporting the constructed, composite layers of woollen and woven fibrous shaped structures, are ready then, for the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures to proceed, so as to form the desired felted woven, textures and thicknesses, of the manually produced, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes or objects.
One artist, or a number of fibre artists, might easily work together with the felting loom system apparatus kit components, depending on how large or small, a loom construction, requirement, might be.
Larger sized, assembled loom block framework constructions, could also possibly facilitate community, charity and/or cooperative creative, production endeavours. The smaller sized, or singular loom block shapes, might be hand held, on a table top or utilized on a lap tray and may be suitable for craft artisans to complete smaller woollen fibre art projects and the same for, educational handicrafts, for school age children, older citizens or those possibly in hospitals or institutionalized, needing occupational therapy or creative rehabilitation activities.
In another embodiment, each loom block shape in the felting loom system apparatus kit, has textured surfaces, in the form of ridged, corrugations. These are formed on both surface sides, of each shaped loom block structure and the loom block material by the metre. The texturized surfaces, assist fibre artisans, by facilitating the generation of friction, which is required for the processing of the wet felting functional procedure, of the method process. When a downward pressured, back and forth rolling motion is carried out, with the method's texturized roller tools, over the top of the pre-felted composed and readied woollen and woven, soapy and saturated, fibrous layered compositions, affixed to, and positioned on top of the texturized surfaces of the underlying loom structures, the pressured agitation and friction, generated between the two texturized surfaces, during the rolling process, contributes then, to effecting a formation of felted textile shapes, as the friction is transferred and delivered, to the felting woollen and woven fibrous compositions, transforming them to create, the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
In a further preferred embodiment, the loom block apparatus in the felting loom system kit, may be produced in a firm, light weight, high grade Ethylene Vinyl Acetate resin material, (EVA), which is a durable plastic foam. The loom blocks may be produced, in 2 cm or 3 cm in thickness. It is preferred the embodiments of the invention are formed in an EVA material, which has similar properties to that of a firm summer or sports shoe sole and is lightweight and may then be, easily portable. However, the loom blocks may also be formed from a number of other suitable material configurations.
In another preferred embodiment, all the shaped loom block apparatus structures in the felting loom system apparatus kit, might have exterior interlocking protrusion components, around their outer perimeter edges. These may facilitate three functions:
(i) Firstly, the interlocking protrusion components on the loom block shapes might be interlocked together, to construct many varieties and sizes of shaped loom framework configurations, which also provides the facility for fibre artisans to assembled their felting loom structures, 30% to 35% larger, than a proposed size of a completed felted woven, fibre art textile shape, to accommodate the felting shrinkage factor.
(ii) Secondly, once a loom framework shape has been assembled, the external interlocking protrusion components, around the outer perimeter edges of the assembled loom shape, may then function as external weaving post peg components. These external weaving post pegs, then support and hold in place, hand woven materials of choice, which may be hand woven around these external weaving post peg components, for an exterior hand weaving functional procedure of the inventive method process.
After the yarns, materials and woollen fibrous layers are laid out and hand woven, on top of a textured, loom framework shape, the composed woven and woollen fibrous layered structure, is then ready for the wet felting functional procedure, of the method's process to begin. The wet felting functional procedure, both transforms and combines the prepared woollen fibrous layers and hand woven compositions, attached to a shaped loom framework's structure, into felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
(iii) Thirdly, the external weaving post peg components may also be produced with varying sized gauges and varying sized shapes, so that the gauge width of the pegs, might control the hand woven thread count density. When the smaller sized gauges are utilized, a more compact hand woven component may be yielded and a higher thread count, in a completed felted woven, fibre art textile shape, than when the larger sized gauges are utilized, whereby, a more sparsely hand woven content and lower woven thread count, may be yielded.
In another preferred embodiment, the felting loom system's apparatus kit, may further be employed as a shape changing, alternative handcraft, activity device which might also facilitate, two modes of hand weaving, (i) externally and (ii) internally, during the method process.
(i) Externally, whereby, weaving materials may be hand woven, around the external weaving post peg components, formed on all the external perimeter edges of each multi-shaped and sized felting loom block structure. As above in [0031].
(ii) Internally, whereby, weaving materials may be hand woven, around projecting internal weaving post peg, or shaped peg components, which may be inserted into the various shaped and sized multiple perpendicular hole perforations, which are formed internally, through the central body area, of each felting loom block structure. As below in [0033].
Hand weaving may also be carried out in a combination of the two modes in a single article, both internally and externally, as desired.
In a further embodiment, the felting loom system's apparatus kit, might be utilized to enable an internal hand weaving functional procedure, as mentioned above in [0032] (ii) and/or, provide the facility to create shaped open hole spaces in the finished felted textiles, which might be carried out, as desired, during the inventive method's process. These two functional procedures may be facilitated by three components:
(i) Firstly, each felting loom block shape in the system's apparatus kit, has multiple perpendicular hole perforations formed internally, through the central body area of its structure, for the purpose of holding, inserted internal weaving post peg components, for an internal hand weaving functional procedure and/or for the purpose of holding shaped peg components, for producing purposeful shaped, open hole spaces, in completed shaped textile articles. The multi-perpendicular hole perforations may be formed in a variety of different sized gauges and a variety of different sized shapes.
(ii) Secondly, the different shaped and gauged, multi-perpendicular hole perforations, may also receive reciprocal, internal weaving post pegs and/or shaped peg components, which may be inserted into these hole perforations, from underneath a loom base structure. The pegs may then project at right angles, beyond the top of a constructed loom structure's surface to be utilized then, to support an artist's chosen hand woven materials and weaving patterns and/or, to be utilized to create circular or shaped open hole spaces, or utilized creatively, as desired.
The facility for hand weaving materials of choice, internally on the top, central surface areas of shaped loom framework structures, in weaving patterns of choice, to be included in the final felted, woven textile results, may then be provided. The facility for creating shaped open hole spaces in the final felted, woven textile results, may also be provided.
The different gauge sizes and different shape sizes of the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, serve to create different weaving patterns, or create different purposeful shaped open hole spaces, within completed handcrafted items. The created open hole spaces, within the felting textile items, may be left open in the finished items, or may also have additional non-encapsulated floating, woven elements, included, in the finished items, method not shown.
It is preferred the material composition of the internal weaving post pegs and shaped peg embodiments, might be produced in stabilized UV Rubber or EVA, but other Plastics material configurations, would serve for this purpose also.
Each peg has a flat or disc base, wider than the peg shaft shape, so that they might stay positioned, and stabilized, once inserted into the shaped hole perforations, from underneath, a shaped loom block structure, with the base shapes changing, according to the peg shapes.
The detachable internal weaving post pegs and shaped pegs and the multi-perpendicular hole perforations, into which they are fitted, as said above, may also be formed in different gauge sizes and shapes. Smaller, tiny and jumbo sized pegs and holes, may also be formed. The reciprocal pegs and hole shapes into which they are fitted, may also be formed in various shapes, geometrical shapes and/or abstract shapes.
Once the woollen fibrous layering, shaping and hand weaving functional procedures are completed and an item situated on top of a loom structure, has been treated to become pre-felted, the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, may then be removed. When the larger peg sizes or peg shapes are removed, they leave larger empty hole spaces, behind within the loom foundation base, which may then be replaced and filled, with reciprocally shaped loom plug apparatus components, before proceeding to the wet felting functional procedure, the next stage of the inventive method's process, to be carried out.
The holes and the hole shapes formed, utilizing these different components, as for the interior weaving post peg sizes and different interior weaving post peg shapes, also impacts on the final felted fabric shape's appearances, woven textures, densities and created shaped, open hole spaces, in the completed structures of the inventive felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, textile lengths and/or textile articles.
(iii) Thirdly, the loom plug components, may be utilized when larger shaped internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components have been utilized and are then removed. The loom plugs may be reciprocally shaped also and be inserted, to plug and replace the larger shaped hole perforation spaces left behind with the weaving post peg or shaped peg components, removal.
The loom plug components may be produced in the same EVA materials as the shaped loom block apparatus structures, with the same thicknesses and the same textured surfaces.
Once inserted, they serve to facilitate a flushed and consistent textured loom surface base, without holes, so that fibre artisans might then carry out and complete the wet felting functional procedure, once the internal and/or external hand weaving and pre-felting functional procedures, are completed.
In a further preferred embodiment, the external interlocking weaving post peg, protrusion components and the inserted interior weaving post peg, shaped peg and loom plug components and the reciprocal, multi-sized and shaped, multiple hole perforations into which they are fitted, in the loom blocks of the apparatus kit components, may all be formed in different sized gauge dimensions and different sized shapes. The smaller sized gauges, of the external and internal weaving post peg components, might yield a more compact hand woven component and a higher thread count, in a finished felted woven, fibre art object, than the larger sized gauges, which might yield a more sparsely hand woven thread count.
Two gauge sizes and shapes, of the external weaving post peg components, are disclosed, but a jumbo size, which is a larger sized gauge, smaller and tiny sized gauges and different shaped and sized, external interlocking, weaving post peg components, may also be produced.
In accordance with another embodiment, the apparatus kit of the felting loom system, further comprises the method auxiliary tools, being different sized textured roller tools, a loop releasing hook tool and a DVD instruction manual disc.
The texturized roller tools might be utilized to assist both children and adult hobbyists or fibre artisans, with the generation of the friction factor, by creating a downward pressured, back and forth rolling and agitating motion, required during the wet felting functional procedure, of the felting loom system's method process. The textured surfaces, of the underlying felting loom framework structures, may then be utilized in conjunction with the textured surfaces of the method's roller tools, when manufacturing the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
Four sizes of the method roller tools are disclosed, including a multi-roller tool unit. The method multi-roller tool units may be adjoined, to create larger multi-roller tool devices and may also be produced in smaller and/or larger and wider sizes.
The method loop releasing hook tool, might further assist fibre artisans, with detaching the hand woven loops from a loom structure's external weaving post peg components.
The felting loom system's DVD instruction manual disc, may be supplied with the felting loom system apparatus kit, to give directions to fibre artisans on assembling configurations, use and care of the felting loom system's apparatus kit and how to cut out loom shapes, with craft cutting tools. Also, to provide suggestions for methods of weaving and felting on the loom block shapes, and material, fibre and yarn combination suggestions, for the manufacture of the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, fibre artisans might utilize the textured, ridged, corrugated surfaces of the shaped felting loom block structures, to work conjointly with the textured, ridged, corrugated surfaces of the method roller tools, in order to promote, generate and transfer agitation and friction, that is required for the wet felting functional procedure, during the method process, to the pre-felted, woven and layered woollen fibrous items attached and secured to and situated on top of the ‘dressed’ felting loom structures.
In this way, the felting loom system's handcrafting apparatus kit, might not only facilitate an alternative manual, wet felting handcraft process, but also, an alternative handcrafting method process, which also includes providing assembled, supportive foundational loom framework structures, for the layering and shaping of woollen fibre art composition procedures and two hand weaving functional procedures, as well as providing practical functional assistance for the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures and more, as desired.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present handcrafting invention, there is provided a further embodiment, comprising an inventive method process, with a distinct and new way to manufacture artistic and novel, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes. The method process might be carried out manually, by utilizing the felting loom system's varied multi-shaped and sized, texturized loom blocks, together with the method's texturized roller tools.
Utilized individually, or as assembled loom framework configurations, the multi-shaped and sized, interlocking loom blocks, serve to provide foundational structural support, to facilitate the multi-functional procedures of the method process.
The functional procedures, of the inventive method process, as mentioned above, comprises the layering and shaping of woollen fibre art compositions, below and above, either one or two hand weaving functional procedures, carried out, by utilizing the top of a prepared felting loom block structure's, texturized surface and by utilizing the external and/or internal weaving post peg components. The woven component may include, one or two modes of hand weaving. Once the woollen fibrous layering and hand weaving, followed by the wetting down, pre-felting functional procedures, or others, have been completed, the soapy permeated and saturated pre-felted, articles secured and affixed to the foundational loom surface, are ready then for the wet felting functional procedure, to be carried out, also on top of a felting loom structure's texturized surface.
To carry out the wet felting functional procedure, of the felting loom system's method process, practical functional assistance is further provided, by the method's texturized roller tools, which may be utilized manually. During the method process the roller tools may be rolled, by fibre artisans, in a back and forth rolling motion, while exerting a downward pressure, over the top of the saturated, pre-felted, layered fibrous compositions affixed to and situated on top of, the texturized surfaces of the loom framework structures. The texturized surfaces of the method's roller tools and the texturized surfaces of the underlying loom framework structures, may be utilized conjointly and serve together, to promote, generate and deliver, the required agitation and friction, to effect the felting formation of the saturated and soapy permeated, layered and woven fibrous compositions, secured between the two agitating textured surfaces.
The disclosed method process, might be carried out in various embodiments, to incorporate and combine, many different compositions of hand woven yarn materials and/or hand woven fabric strip width elements, with the layers of woollen fibrous materials, also varying in fibre concentration, so that the hand woven constituents thereby, become imported and encapsulated together, with the woollen fibrous layers, as they become felted, during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, of the inventive method's process. The resultant manufactured, artistic and novel felted woven textiles, while maintaining the warm and desirable properties of felted woollen fabric, become imbued then, with new qualities, brought by the encapsulated woven constituent elements, which not only provide decorative surface features and visual appeal, but also become an actual part of the constructed felted woven textiles, structural framework.
The inventive method process is described and shown herein, as the method 9(a) process. Then, variations of the method 9(a) process, are also described and shown herein, being, method 9(b) variation process, method 9(c) variation process, method 9(d) variation process, method 9(e) variation process and method 9(f) variation process.
The felting loom system's inventive method 9(a) process, comprises steps (i) through to (viii), as follows below:
Step (i) The first step of the inventive method process requires the assembly of a desired shaped loom framework, to provide foundational structural support, to carry out the method's functional procedures, from an assortment of the multi-shaped and sized loom blocks from the felting loom system's apparatus kit. Inserting the internal weaving post pegs, or shaped pegs, into the reciprocal multi-perpendicular hole perforations of a constructed felting loom shape, in patterns of choice, as and if desired. The assembled loom shape surface, is then covered with a light plastic, or bubble wrap underlay, bubbles up. Holes might be sniped through the underlay, to accommodate the insertion of the internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, should they be utilized.
Step (ii) The next step requires the laying down, pulled off wispy roving tufts from woollen rovings, or tops, to completely cover the composed and prepared felting loom shape's surface.
Step (iii) The next step of the inventive method process, requires yarns or materials of choice, to be hand woven over the top of the first layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts and around all the loom shape's, external weaving post peg components and/or internally, around the inserted internal weaving post peg, or shaped peg components, as desired. Hand weaving may be in warp and weft directions, diagonally woven, grid like, abstract, circular or in random abstract woven patterns of choice, as desired.
The chosen ply size of the yarns and the chosen width size of the materials or fabric strips, utilized as the woven component, may all be varied, creatively as desired.
Step (iv) The next step requires a second layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts to be pulled off and laid down, over the top of the hand woven materials layer, in the opposite angle to the first layer as in Step (ii). Thereby, sandwiching the woven layer component between the two woollen fibrous layers.
If thicker results are desired, a third layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts may be used, in which case a third layer is laid down over the top of the second layer, in the same angle direction as the first layer, as in (ii), or, placed over the top of the first layer of wispy wool rovings in the opposite angle, under the woven layer.
A third layer would then be laid out in the same angle as the first layer, over the top of the woven layer. Three, or even four layers of wispy woollen roving tufts, are desirable when utilizing heavier materials as the weaving component.
Pre felted items might be included in the work at this point as desired.
Step (v) The next step of the inventive method process is then started whereby, a wetting down pre-felting, functional procedure is carried out. A plastic fly wire overlay is positioned over the top of the fibrous and woven layered composition. Holes need to be sniped through the plastic fly wire covering also, to accommodate the inserted, internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, if utilized. The wetting down, pre-felting functional procedure is carried out by hand, using hot soapy water, which is eased, massaged and patted into the woven and fibrous layers and also around the inserted weaving post pegs or shaped pegs if utilized, until the whole article is completely compressed, saturated and soapy, but not sodden or dripping. Once a fibre art object on a loom structure becomes pre-felted, the woollen fibres and woven component become lightly and delicately, held together and do not separate when pinched. Fibre artisans may then proceed to the next step.
Step (vi) In accordance with the invention, the wet felting functional procedure of the method process is next carried out by artisans, whilst the pre-felted, fibre art objects are attached to and situated on top of, the shaped felting loom block structures. The underlying texturized surfaces of the supportive structural, loom frameworks, together with the texturized surfaces of the method's roller tools, are thereby utilized conjointly, to subject the water saturated and soapy permeated, fibre art composition structures, to pressured and textured agitation, so as to generate and transfer the required friction needed, to effect a felting formation of the composite structure, made up of woven and woollen fibrous layers, dressing, the underlying felting loom structure's surface.
Beforehand, if the internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, have been utilized, for the initial woollen fibre layering, weaving and pre-felting functional procedures, then they first need to be removed and replaced, with the appropriately sized loom plugs, to plug the larger hole spaces, left behind, as required. The weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, may be removed by pushing them gently down, from the top side of the loom structure and then the pegs are pulled free from the underside of the loom structure, by taking hold of the bases of the weaving post pegs and this is quite easy step to perform, because of the light weight loom block materials.
A second underlay, without holes, also needs to be inserted underneath the currently used underlay with holes, which lies beneath the newly pre-felted, fibre art composition. This is done so that during the next stage of the felting functional procedure, the pre-felted fibres are prevented from travelling away from the layered compositions, through the holes that had previously accommodated the inserted internal weaving post pegs, during the pre-felting functional procedure. The inserted loom plugs, help to create a flushed and consistent loom surface structure, without holes, for a fibre artisan to then work on. A suitable amount of the externally hand woven loops, need to be released, from the external weaving post pegs, on a loom shape, in order to insert the loom plugs and also, to slide a new underlay into place.
If the internal weaving post pegs have not been utilized, then the exterior affixed hand woven loops, may be released from the loom framework's external weaving post pegs, in staggered progressive stages, or as desired, as the felting fibre art objects begin to shrink, as they become felted, during the rolling functional procedure.
The method's textured roller tools may be rolled back and forth, over the top of the pre-felted fibre art layers, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. The pressured back and forth rolling motion, of the method's texturized roller tools, subjects the secured felting articles, to manual agitation and friction, as they are rolled and pressured against the underlying texturized surfaces of the felting loom frameworks.
A bubble wrap sheet, may be used at first, over the top of the felting fibre art layers and then may be removed, once the felting objects are closer to completion, so that the method roller tools, may then be rolled with direct contact, onto the felting fibre art object.
The amount of time needed to transform the wispy woollen rovings, to a desired felted result, may vary according to the amount of rovings, the woven constituent thicknesses and densities, roller widths and loom sizes utilized and is similar, to contemporary handmade wet felt-making methods, with equivalent woollen fibre content.
Once let-off the loom structure and all the woven loops have been released, the articles may be flipped over and rolled on the underside at this point, as desired.
When a felting article has a cohesive, tangled appearance and all the woven elements have bonded and fused together, with the felted woollen fibrous layers, the article is ready then, for the fulling process.
Step (vii) A fulling process may next be is carried out and is required, to complete the compaction of the felting woollen and woven fibres, for completion of the wet felting functional procedure of the inventive method process.
This step is carried out, as in a traditional fulling process and is not an inventive step, but still a necessary step, for completing of the inventive method's wet felting functional procedure. The fulling process is still required to complete the compaction of the felted woven, fibre art textile objects, to bring the inventive method process and inventive, felted woven textiles, to a stage whereby further creative processes, might then be carried out, as desired.
During the fulling process, the felting woven items, may be thrown or dropped, or, the rolling activity may be continued on top of the felting loom's structure's texturized surfaces, with the method's texturized rolling tools.
After this process, has been completed, the inventive felted woven fibre art textile shaped objects, will have consistently shrunk, proportionately in size 30% to 35%, from their original laid out size.
Step (viii) Production of the inventive felted woven textiles, may further include decorative surface techniques. Or the finished items might be dried and pressed, as desired.
Finishing and/or craft embellishing may be desirable with the finished textile items.
Finished textiles or products might be laundered in future by hand washing, or dry cleaned as desired. Further shrinkage, should not be expected.
The use of the inventive method process may further comprise of process variations. For example, only woollen woven constituents might be used, more or less woollen roving tufts might be added, or a woollen roving layer might be applied intermittently, or omitted all together, all resulting in differing textile outcomes.
Many varieties of yarn fibres of varying ply, or fabric strips, of varying strip widths, might be utilized as the woven component during the inventive method process.
100% woollen yarns or woollen yarns with mixed fibres or any number of yarns, synthetic or natural, as are generally used for knitting, crotchet, weaving or fibre loom crafts, of varying ply, may be employed, with textured, knobby or snowball yarns, or the like, also being very well suited.
Long torn or cut up fabric strips of varying strip widths, from cotton, silk, wool, nylon, acrylic or synthetic fibres, in chiffon, georgette, voile, velvet, twill or satin weave fabrics, may also be utilized as the woven layer component, on a felting loom, to create novel felted fabric compositions with unusual resultant structural textured frameworks and surface textures. The use of various long cut up or torn fabric strips of varying widths, may further be utilized, as the hand woven constituents during the weaving process, to create fabrics, with raw frayed fringed or looped dimensional effects within, or throughout the textile's body structure, or at the completed textile edges. Partially woven fabric strips, cut from one end, but still attached to a fabric length, creating a fabric with a combination of woven felt at one end, or at one side is another alternative.
Fabrics with various cut out shapes, laser or stencil burnt out hole shapes, or recycled, pre-loved, up-cycled or re-purposed fabrics or woollens, all manipulated in this way may be laid over and attached to a loom structure, so as to be included with, or supplemental, to a hand weaving functional procedure, during the felting loom system's method process.
Elastics or shirring elastic might also be utilized and/or included, with the woven component, creating warp and weft, elasticized and stretchy, ruching effects, in the finished felted woven, fibre art textile shapes or objects.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the inventive method process, the wet felting functional procedure, permanently encapsulates and bonds together the imported hand woven material constituents and woven patterns, with the felted woollen fibrous layers, resulting in the manufacture felted, woven fibre art textile shapes. Further, fibre artisans might utilize any number of material constituent varieties, to be included as the woven component, serving their creative flexibility.
Unravelling of the hand woven material constituents is prevented, by the encapsulating felted layers of woollen roving tufts, which may eliminate, for some craft artisans, or hobby lovers, the need then for other more laborious or functionally demanding handcraft practices, normally necessitated, when hand weavers or artisans employ handcraft looms or handcraft device activities, for constructing hand woven or handmade knit wear, crotchet or hobby craft loom textiles.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, carrying out the functional procedures of the inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit, might provide the possibility for fibre artisans to manufacture a large variety of artistic and novel felted woven, fibre art textile shaped results.
Although the felting functional procedure time frame is similar to that of contemporary felt-making practices, the end resultant textile appearances and utility, beneficially, are similar to that of the normally functionally demanding and time consuming, handmade knitted, crotchet, woven or hobby craft loom textiles, which might all take many more hours to complete, when producing similar or equivalent sized shapes.
Any number of decorative, artistic and novel felted, woven fibre art textile shapes, sizes, lengths, constructed woven structural frameworks and fibre art compositions, might be produced, thereby, moving beyond the felted fabric surface decoration, that might be carried out with regular felt-making practices.
The texturized felting loom structures, may also support and be utilized, for other wet felting handcraft practices. 3D hollow form shaping or resist work, template or localized smaller nuno felting processes, on readymade fabrics, might also be carried out, assisted by the agitation created by the texturized surfaces, of the loom blocks and the method roller tools, in the felting loom system's apparatus kit.
Useful and decorative felted woven, merchandise, with a higher functional utility, than is usual for felted fabrics, created for luxury and high end fashion and/or utility apparel items, textural or regular patchwork items, household items, soft toy dolly, puppet or animal pet shapes, abstract floral or abstract fibre art pieces, motifs, varying textile lengths or artistic installations might all, be easily constructed and manufactured in very swift, economic time frames.
Furthermore, artistic flexibility, achievement, and accomplishment, might be enabled and nurtured, with ease, in fibre artisans or hobby lovers, with varying craft or artistic skill levels.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a new and distinct handcraft method process, may be provided, which imports, incorporates and encapsulates, hand woven material constituents, comprising of many varieties, to provide many various effects, with felted woollen fibrous materials, as the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, are carried out. The newly felted woven, fibre art textile shaped structural formations, when produced according to the disclosed inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's handcrafting apparatus kit, become imbued with new qualities, of utility, drape, strength and flexibility, brought by the encapsulated hand woven warp and weft composition properties, which are structural qualities that might normally be attributed to hand knits, crotchet or hand woven textiles, while they still retain and maintain the desirable and warm qualities, of felted fabrics.
The resultant newly felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and/or, felted woven, textile lengths or articles produced, may be made-up into desirable and marketable products, suitable for high end textile, fashion, craft or fibre art studio or retail market enterprise. Or, the products may be produced on a smaller scale in domestic, craft or smaller hobby or home studio environments.
The advantages, benefits, usefulness and the qualities of the finished felted, woven fibre art textile shapes, textile lengths and/or made-up products, over other known wet felt-making, loom weaving, or other time consuming loom handcrafting techniques, apart from the structural construction and possible textural material compositional varieties and time saving advantages, for fibre artisans, are that the products may have the potential to stimulate strong consumer desire, due to their appealing tactile, visual and multi-functional properties and multi-end usage applications.
Further elements and advantages of the felting loom system's handcrafting apparatus kit of the disclosed invention, the inventive method process carried out by utilizing the apparatus kit and the resulting artistic and novel multi-functional, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and textile products produced, shall be indicated in the proceeding detailed description, of the drawings and embodiments.
The following drawings and accompanying descriptions are referred to, for further understanding of the felting loom system's apparatus kit, the inventive method process and the resultant artistic and novel, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and/or products produced, carrying out the inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit.
The disclosed interlocking, textured loom block shapes of the apparatus kit, comprise, 13 triangular shaped loom blocks, 5 rectangular shaped loom blocks, 5 square shaped loom blocks and 11 circular shaped loom blocks, 4 of the smaller circular shaped loom blocks are non-interlocking.
Other loom block shapes, comprising geometrical, dome, dimensional shapes, soft toy dolly, puppet or pet animal shapes, abstract artistic or floral shapes or motifs, or other weaving post pegs or shaped pegs and loom plug shapes or sizes, are not shown. A loom plug, the 42nd component and the loom block material, by the meter, the 43rd component, are not shown.
The
The loom block material by the meter, may also be provided in this size measurement, 84 cm wide, with the same interlocking components, being only on the two outer edges, as a selvage, on a fabric length.
8b(i) Shows a larger size gauge of the external weaving post peg components.
8b(ii) Shows a smaller size gauge of the external weaving post peg components.
Other gauge sizes and gauge shapes and sizes of the external weaving post pegs, are not shown.
8d(i) Shows a small sized gauge, of 2.25 cm outside and inside widths of the interlocking protrusions, 1.25 cm deep and 2 cm in thickness.
8d(ii) Shows a larger sized gauge, of 3.25 cm outside and inside widths of the interlocking protrusions, 2 cm deep and may be formed in 2 cm or 3 cm thicknesses.
The large loom block square size 4a, also shows some weaving post peg components inserted into the hole perforations, as 8 and partially utilized, for an internal hand weaving functional procedure, as 2.
The external weaving post peg components are shown, also partially utilized for an external hand weaving functional procedure, also as 2.
The multi-perpendicular hole perforations shown as 4, may be 4.2 cm in circumference. The holes may be set 5.5 cm in from the centre point, from where the external interlocking protrusions, meet when assembled, on the larger loom blocks and 1.5 cm in, on the smaller loom blocks.
The multi-perpendicular hole perforation positions are generally not otherwise shown, in the drawings of the loom block shapes. The hole sizes and hole positions for the smaller, tiny or jumbo multi-hole perforations, or other shaped holes and the reciprocally sized and shaped internal weaving post peg, or shaped peg components, are also not shown.
Also not shown are larger or shaped loom plug components. The loom plugs may be inserted into position to replace the removed jumbo or larger shaped and sized internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, so that during the wet felting functional procedure, fibre artisans might then work on a flushed and consistent, textured loom surface base, without holes.
1. Being the first layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts, under the woven layer.
2. Being the woven layer component, woven over the top of the first layer of wispy woollen roving tufts and positioned, under the second top layer, of wispy woollen roving tufts.
3. Being the second and top layer, of the wispy woollen roving tufts, positioned over the top of the woven layer.
The exterior weaving post pegs are utilized.
This diagram also represents, the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes that might be produced, by utilizing the corresponding loom block shapes. The loom block shapes may also be configured and interlocked together, so as to create purposefully shaped, loom framework compositions. Suggestions for loom block shape configurations, are further illustrated below, in the
The interlocking component, formed on the outer perimeter edges of each loom block component, might also be produced with different interlocking gauge sizes and shapes, so that all the different loom block shapes, in the apparatus kit might be interlocked together, with the same interlocking gauge sizes and shape sizes. All the loom blocks may be interlocked together, to create small, medium or larger loom framework structures, as required and only one interlocking gauge size and shape is shown in the
By utilizing a range of the loom block shapes from the apparatus kit, fibre artisans might then have creative flexibility and be enabled to produce quite a large variety of felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, from their specifically shaped and assembled loom constructions.
The texturized, interlocking, loom block shape categories in the disclosed apparatus kit, comprise, 13 triangular shaped loom blocks, 5 rectangular shaped loom blocks, 5 square shaped loom blocks and 11 circular shaped loom blocks, 4 of the smaller circular loom block shapes, are non-interlocking. Other component embodiments of the system's apparatus kit, may also be produced, comprising loom block shapes and sizes in geometrical, dimensional or dome shapes, soft toy, dolly, puppet or pet animal shapes, or abstract floral or abstract artistic shapes or motifs, but are not shown.
The felting loom system's apparatus kit, further comprises the method auxiliary tool embodiments, being four different sized texturized roller tools, a loop releasing hook tool, a DVD instruction manual disc, a weaving post peg, for use in multiples, only one size and shape is disclosed.
Apart from the one size disclosed, other internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, may also be produced, for use in multiples, in other different sizes, gauges and shapes, but are not shown.
Loom plug shapes, also for use in multiples, in different sizes, gauges and shapes, being the 42nd apparatus kit component, as disclosed, are also not shown.
The loom block material, which may be produced by the meter, being the 43rd apparatus kit component, as disclosed, is also not shown, however,
In the preferred embodiments, all the loom block shapes in the felting loom system's apparatus kit, might be produced in a firm, light weight, high grade Ethylene Vinyl Acetate resin material, (EVA), which is a durable plastic foam, often used to produce sports or summer shoe soles or exercise and educational mat equipment. The loom blocks may be produced, 2 cm or 3 cm in thickness. It is preferred the embodiments of the invention are formed in an EVA material, which has similar properties to that of a firm summer shoe sole, smooth and yet the texturized ridged corrugations, maintain a rigidity of shape, too promote the required agitation for felting, when utilized during the inventive method process. The lightness of the loom block material, further provides for ease of portability.
However, the loom block shapes may also be formed from a number of other suitable material mediums, such as Plastics, Rubber or especially Polyurethane materials, which also behave in a similar manner to the EVA material. The EVA material having more advantages and being more economical to produce. Even some woods could be used also, however, the lightness, portability and flexibility benefits, would naturally be diminished and the manufacturing and retailing cost factor, greatly increased.
The EVA material, makes the system's loom block apparatus components easily portable, pliable, durable, flexible, waterproof, easy to cut, or manoeuvre for assembling and dissembling, constructed felting loom framework shapes and easy for disconnecting the hand woven loops, from a loom framework structure's, external weaving post pegs. The soapy process of the wet felting functional procedure, on the preferred embodiments, easily assists releasing and detaching the woven loops of the felting, woven fibre art objects, from the flexible and lubricated loom block structures.
The loom block shapes, might further be utilized as a template pattern building system, for felting woven, fibre art textile shapes, into specifically designed garment or designed abstract shapes, or creatively, as desired. The possibility, for fibre artisans to dimensionally draft and produce a wide variety of apparel items and patterned shapes, novel textiles, novel textile shapes, lengths and sizes, house-hold items, creative installations, soft toy creations, abstract floral, motif or artistic endeavours, may then be provided. The interlocking multi-shaped and sized loom blocks, may be constructed and assembled as forms that are flat, as forms that are flat with hole openings, as for armholes, waistlines and necklines, or dimensionally, as cylindrical, or as spiral shaped forms, or employed creatively as desired. The shaped assembled loom block frameworks, serve as texturized, foundational structural supports, for fibre artists to utilize, so that they might carry out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process and thereby, provide an underlying base, for the manufacture of the inventive felted, woven, fibre art textile shaped, compositions, as desired.
The felting loom structures require a stable underlying support to rest upon and this could vary from, a water safe, hand held lap tray, to a craft table, or appropriate floor space.
Apart from the interlocking and loom assembling and constructing function, the external interlocking protrusion components, formed on the exterior perimeter edges of each shaped felting loom block, may also be employed as, external weaving post peg components.
Once a loom framework structure has been assembled, into a desired loom shape and size, the external interlocking protrusion components, around the exterior perimeter edges, might then be engaged to function, as external weaving post pegs, which further provide support, and hold in place, the hand woven material constituents, of choice, for an external hand weaving functional procedure. The flexible EVA loom structures and protrusions keep the hand woven materials taut and stabilized in their hand woven position.
Weaving yarns, materials and fibres, of choice, might be hand woven, onto the loom foundation frameworks, during this external hand weaving functional procedure, of the felting loom system's inventive method process.
The external weaving post peg components may also be formed with different gauge sizes and shapes and two sizes and shapes are disclosed. Jumbo, smaller or tiny sized gauges and shapes, may also be produced, but are not shown.
The external weaving post component, gauge sizes, also impacts on the density of the thread count within the completed felted woven, fibre art textile articles. Utilizing the larger gauge sizes, yields a more sparsely hand woven component, compared to utilizing the smaller gauge sizes, which yield a more compact hand woven component. Whereas, the larger sized gauges might enable the use of very delicate to very chunky woven constituents, the smaller sized gauges are more suited for the type of yarn ply, often utilized for knitting or crotchet projects.
The method process is the same, but the rolling is carried out, in a back and forth, motion in a circular direction, around the inside or around the outside of the cylindrically shaped Loom Block structure, depending on what type of base is available for a fibre artist to rest their cylindrical Loom framework structure on and how large, the felting fibre art object, is desired to be. The woollen rovings need to be secured to the loom shape, before the felting functional procedure is utilized. Method not shown.
These loom blocks might also be used to create dimensional, spiral felted shapes, with square or rounded edges, but a different approach is required during the felting stage of the method's process. Method also not shown.
The rectangular loom block shapes, as with many of the other loom block shapes, may also be utilized as templates, as for other traditional felting practices, by using both sides of each loom block's textured surface, to felt and shape, smaller 3D hollow formed, craft items, for the likes of bags, accessories or for household utility items. The felting items may be rotated around the loom block template shapes, during the felting process, once the woven loops are released from the weaving post pegs, method not shown.
Localized small nuno felting processes, on readymade fabric surfaces, may also be utilized on most of the appropriately sized textured, loom block shapes. Method not shown.
Below the diagram of the 5 rectangular loom block shapes is a smaller diagram representation only, of
Although not shown, the loom block material provided by the meter, might also assist fibre artisans with the opportunity to cut out and shape, their own Loom framework compositions, with regular craft cutting tools. See as described below in
The loom block material by the meter, may also be provided in the same width as this 4a size, square loom block shape, being 84 cm wide, having the same textured surfaces, interior multi-perpendicular hole perforations and exterior interlocking components. The interlocking components, with different sized gauges, being on the two outer edges only, of the EVA material, as with a salvage, on the edge of a fabric length. With the EVA material being easily cut with craft cutting tools, fibre artisans creative accomplishments might be nurtured and enabled further, as they might cut out, shape and fashion their own shaped, felting loom framework structured compositions, by the metre, large, medium or small, or as desired, to carry out the inventive method's process and manufacture and create an even wider range of textile shapes, sizes and constructed fibre art arrangements.
The smaller sized circular shaped loom blocks of the preferred embodiments, may have interlocking, or non-interlocking external weaving post peg components. The smaller interlocking loom block shapes, may be used by a fibre artist to add on to, or create circular rounded forms, to connect to a larger shape, or to create more abstract and/or dimensional shapes, as desired.
These shapes might assist in producing a larger rounded sleeve top, or to add blouson shapes to a sleeve at the wrist, or be used to exaggerate, overlapping button-up lapels or, to create novel appliqué pocket shapes, as desired, to mention a few.
The finished shapes may be inter-connected further perhaps, with the use of crotchet, stitchery and/or embroidered edging or with needle felting, as with all the created, fibre art shapes, manufactured with the felting loom system's inventive method process.
The manual rolling components are cylindrical in shape and have texturized surfaces, in the shape of ridged, corrugations, which promote and contribute to the generation of agitation and friction for the felting loom system's method's processing, requirements. That is, when the method's inventive textured roller tools are manually rolled, in a downward pressured, back and forth rolling motion, over the top of pre-felted woollen and woven fibrous, shaped layered compositions, that are affixed to and situated on top of, the inventive underlying texturized felting loom surfaces, the fibrous articles subjected to this rolling, textured agitation and friction generating function, between the two surfaces, in the presence of hot soapy water saturation, become felted.
The textured ridged, corrugations run longitudinally, along the length of each of the cylindrical rolling tool components, end to end, or handle to handle.
In the preferred embodiments the method multi-roller tool units, consist of three parallel, medium sized textured rollers, minus the handles as in
The inventive method's multi-roller tool units, not only enable smaller felting projects, but also larger and collaborative, works as well, facilitating the possibility for artisans to work together, on the same wet felting and weaving project and so, produce larger felted woven, fibre art shapes, for community based articles and objects, or for innovative felting installations or projects.
The method multi-roller tool units, may be assembled and operated individually by one fibre artist, or the assembled units may be adjoined and connected to other multi-roller tool units, thereby, creating a larger rolling device, able to roll and agitate a larger surface area, which may then be utilized by one or more artisans, when possibly creating larger, collaborative felted, woven fibre art textile shapes or items, on larger loom structures.
The units being portable and easily assembled, is especially beneficial, for fibre artisans, when mechanical, rolling felting devices, which might normally be used for larger felting projects, might not be easily accessible, or available for use, or economically viable, to purchase and/or store. The method multi-roller tool units, may also be produced in smaller, larger or wider sizes, not shown only one multi-roller tool unit size, is shown.
A threaded galvanized bolt, has the dual purpose of firstly securing the roller component to the handles. Then once fastened and assembled, with the handles secured into place, on either end of the bolt, the bolt functions then as a central axle, for the roller to pivot around. To assemble a roller tool, a bolt is fitted through the cylindrical roller's central shaft hole and is then, attached and screwed into the reciprocally, threaded, cylindrically shaped handles on either end of the bolt. The handles may also be produced from the same materials as the roller or loom block components.
The method textured roller tools, provide a textured agitation, as the roller tools rotate around their central bolt axles, when the tools are gripped by the attached handles and then rolled back and forth, over the top of the felting and woven, fibre art objects, attached to or positioned on top of, the textured loom framework structures. This action promotes agitation and delivers the friction required, to effect felting of the woollen fibre art layered objects, during the wet felting functional procedure, a practical requirement of the method process.
The method's textured roller tools and multi-roller tool units, might easily be assembled by a fibre artisan.
Each bolt is then secured and screwed into place within the frame. The secured bolts then serve as axles, for the textured rollers to pivot around, within the frame support, which creates a larger rolling surface area, able to roll over a larger surface area.
The two sides of the frame which have the holes for securing the bolts and rollers to the frame, also have handle grips, the two other sides of the frame do not.
The two other sides of the frame, without handles, have two hole openings in each. These two holes may be utilized to bolt one multi-roller tool unit frame to another, with further provided shorter bolts, washers and hex nuts. These holes may facilitate fibre artists to assemble and connect two or three, multi-roller frames together, to form an even larger and wider rolling area, for possibly wet felting larger projects, fund raising projects or community based projects, or as desired.
The handle grips on two opposite sides of the frame, make it an easy process, for fibre artists to carry out the felting function, of the felting loom system's inventive method process.
This rolling facility might provide a convenient alternative, being portable and an easily assembled, felting device mechanism, as other larger and perhaps prohibitively expensive, mechanical felting rollers, or buffers and polishers, might not be widely accessible or available, to fibre or felt-making artisans. The larger mechanical rollers requiring large spaces, to utilize them, as well as storage facilities for their fairly bulky sizes, when they are not in use.
The method's multi-roller tool units, may also be produced on a smaller scale, or on a larger or wider sized scale, to accommodate the manual production of very large textile lengths. Only one size is shown.
With the felting loom method's process being a wet and soapy process, the woven yarn material or fabric loops caught on a felting loom framework's external weaving post pegs, during the external hand weaving functional procedure, might easily be released from a loom framework structure with the method's loop releasing hook tool, or by hand.
The EVA material forming the loom components, remains very pliable, durable, flexible and slippery, during the wet and soapy felting functional procedure of the method's process. By flexing a loom shape up a little to release the woven loop's tension, then inserting the loop releasing hook tool, or a forefinger underneath and up into, each of the attached soaked woven loops of the felting woven object, at each external weaving post peg and pulling the loops slightly to one side, it is then quite easy and quick for a fibre artisan to let-off and detach, each woven loop, from the loom's external weaving post pegs, all the way around the outer perimeter edges of the shaped loom framework. Or, internally if holes, like armholes or necklines, are incorporated into an overall loom shape, positioned on a loom framework apparatus.
(i) How to assemble, use and care for the felting loom system's apparatus kit and how to cut out loom shapes, with craft cutting tools.
(ii) Suggested methods of weaving and felting on the loom block shapes, and material, fibre and yarn combination suggestions.
(iii) Suggestions for constructing a variety of interlocking loom framework configurations, for composing and manufacturing textile, apparel, household, soft toy, abstract floral or artistic textile shapes or fibre item shapes.
It is envisaged that in future, the inventive felting loom system's apparatus kit components, might be provided, in a variety of portable handcraft activity, felting loom kits, to facilitate creative work, so that lovers of woollen fibre art crafts might then be able to produce a wide variety of, or specifically shaped, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and/or shaped products, such as clothing item kits, or toy making kits, some of which, have been suggested below, in FIG. (10).
The diagram also shows the external weaving post pegs, as 6 and some perpendicular hole perforations, as 4, where internal weaving post pegs might be inserted, should they be utilized.
The inventive textured surfaces on either side of each loom block structure may be utilized.
Hand weaving may be utilized on the exterior perimeter, weaving post pegs, or internally on inserted weaving post pegs, or peg shapes, which might be positioned and inserted into the multiple perpendicular hole perforations, situated internally through the central body area, of each felting loom block structure, or both weaving functional procedures might be utilized in a single article, as desired.
8b(i) This view shows a loom block apparatus with a larger sized gauge, of the exterior weaving post pegs.
8b(ii) This view shows a loom block apparatus with a smaller sized gauge, of the exterior weaving post pegs.
Other smaller, tiny or jumbo larger sized or different exterior weaving post peg sizes or shaped gauges may be produced, but are not shown.
Woven yarns might also be hand woven twice or more around the weaving post peg components, to effect longer fringing, or textured loops, on the edges and throughout the body structures of completed felted woven textile items.
The EVA loom blocks may be manually locked together very easily and quickly within minutes, to form shaped composite loom framework structures.
The interlocking protrusions around the external perimeter edges, as 6, or on the edge of an internal opening, if a hole, or holes are required within a fibre art structure, such as for a neckline or armhole, then function as external weaving post peg components, for fibre artisans to then prepare and hand weave, yarn materials or fabrics of choice.
Internal weaving post peg, or shaped peg components, might also be inserted into the loom block's multiple perpendicular hole perforations, as 4, so that hand weaving work, might be carried out on the internal, top central surface area of a loom structure, around the projecting, inserted weaving post peg or shaped peg components, at the same time as on the external weaving post peg components, or as desired.
The wispy woollen roving, fibre layering function, shown as 1 and 3, may also be carried out, so that the layered woven, fibrous item, may be prepared and ready then for the wetting down pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, to be carried out.
The loom blocks might easily and quickly be disassembled when the felting project is completed and/or might be rearranged, into another loom framework shape composition, should a fibre artist so desire. The loom block apparatus is light and easily stored when not in use.
Another layer of wispy woollen roving tufts may also be utilized as desired, especially when thicker weaving materials or fabrics are to be utilized.
The holes for the internal weaving post pegs on the internal body shape area of a loom block, are not being utilized, as 4. 5, shows the ridged corrugations of a texturized loom block surface and 6, shows the external weaving post pegs, some of which, are being utilized.
There are two gauge sizes and shapes disclosed, as shown, but other larger jumbo, smaller or tiny, sized gauges and shapes, may also be produced, but are not shown, and sizes are not disclosed. However, all the shaped loom block components with different sized or shaped gauges of the external interlocking protrusions, weaving post pegs, internal weaving post holes, internal weaving post pegs or loom plug shapes, may fit into the same size structure as the felting loom system's disclosed components.
Variations, of the apparatus kit, with different size structures and interlocking shapes, differently shaped holes and their fitted and shaped internal weaving post pegs, shaped pegs and loom plugs may also be produced.
Further on
The loom block shapes having the external weaving post peg components of this smaller sized gauge, may have the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components and perpendicular hole perforations, produced also, in a smaller scale gauge.
Further on
The holes may further be utilized for the purpose of holding varying shaped peg components, also for an internal hand weaving functional procedure, but the shaped peg components may also be utilized to produce purposeful shaped, open hole spaces, in completed felted textile articles.
Once inserted into their positions the weaving post peg or shaped peg components may then project at right angles, beyond the top of a constructed loom's surface to be utilized then, to support an artist's chosen hand woven material constituents and weaving patterns, as 2 and/or to be utilized to create shaped open hole spaces, or utilized creatively, as desired.
The facility for hand weaving materials of choice, internally on the top, central surface areas of shaped felting loom framework structures, in weaving patterns of choice, to be included in the final felted, woven textile results, may then be provided. The facility for creating shaped open hole spaces in the final felted, woven textile results, may also be provided.
The peg components and reciprocal hole shapes into which they are fitted, may also be formed in variously different sized gauges and differently sized shapes, or geometrical, or abstract shapes. The different gauge sizes and different shape sizes of the internal weaving post pegs, or shaped pegs, may serve to create different weaving patterns, or create different purposeful shaped open hole spaces, within completed handcrafted items. The created open hole spaces, within the felting textile items, may be left as open hole spaces in the completed items, or the holes may also have, additional floating, non-encapsulated woven elements, included, in the finished items, this method process variation not shown.
Once the hand weaving functional procedure is completed and an item on a loom structure has been treated to become pre-felted, the internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, may then be removed. The larger peg sizes and larger shaped pegs, leave larger empty hole spaces, behind in the loom foundation base, from where they were removed.
Reciprocal loom plug components, as (E), not shown, may then be utilized, when the larger shaped internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components have been utilized and are removed. The loom plugs may be inserted, to plug and replace the shaped open spaces left behind with the pegs removal. The loom plugs then, function to facilitate a flushed and consistent textured loom surface base, without holes, so that artisans might then carry out and complete the wet felting functional procedure, once the internal or external hand weaving and pre-felting functional procedures are completed. The loom plugs are not necessary, when the smaller gauged internal weaving post peg components, have been utilized.
The holes and the hole shapes formed, utilizing these different interior weaving post peg sizes and different interior weaving post peg shapes, also have impact on the final felted fabric shape's textures appearances, densities and created shaped open hole spaces, in the finished structures of the inventive felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, textiles and/or articles.
The external weaving post peg components and the inserted projecting, internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, situated internally on a constructed loom shape, might all be utilized together, for a chosen weaving pattern, or utilized separately in the production of a singular article. Also, the internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, might only be utilized in portions of an overall loom framework structure's shape, so that hand woven asymmetrical patterns in the finished felted fibre art textile objects, might be achieved, as desired.
The perpendicular hole perforations shown as 4, are 4.2 cm in circumference. The holes are set in from the outer edge at 5.5 cm from the centre point of where the external weaving post pegs join, when assembled, on the larger gauged Loom Blocks and from 1.5 cm in, on the smaller gauged loom blocks.
The perpendicular hole positions are generally not otherwise shown in the drawings of the loom block shapes. Other small, tiny and jumbo loom block perpendicular hole positions, internal weaving post peg and shaped peg components, loom plugs and their measurements, or other shaped perpendicular hole openings, are also not shown. The internal weaving post peg and shaped peg components and the multi-perpendicular hole perforations, into which they are positioned and fitted, may serve further to provide fibre artisans with a variety of multi-functional internal hand weaving or creative procedural applications.
The reciprocally shaped internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, might easily be inserted into the multiple perpendicular hole perforations, from the underside of a shaped loom base structure, before or after a loom structure is assembled, so that they then project at right angles, beyond the top of a constructed loom's surface and so, support an artist's chosen hand woven material constituents and weaving patterns, or support an artisan's hand weaving creatively, as desired.
The internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, may be removed from their positions, by pushing them gently down from the top side of a loom shape and then out, from the underside of the loom structure. Or, alternatively, once a fibre art object is pre-felted, a peg's disc or shaped base might be gripped from below the loom structure's surface and gently withdrawn down and away from, under the loom's structure. The soapy and pre-felting functional procedure, lubricates the loom structures and facilitates an easy removal procedure, of the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components.
In the preferred embodiments the internal weaving post peg and shaped peg components, are produced from a flexible, stabilized UV Rubber or EVA, but they may also be formed from other suitable Plastic materials that behave in a similar fashion to that of the UV Rubber.
The reciprocal internal weaving post pegs or shaped pegs, when projecting beyond the loom surface, may support hand woven patterns of choice and weaving yarn materials and/or fabrics of choice, for an internal hand weaving functional procedure. They may also assist in achieving decorative, three dimensional textures, in the final felted textile articles and textile surfaces, as desired.
The variety of different sizes and gauge sizes of the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, may also serve to create many different hand woven textural compositions and patterns, within the completed handcrafted items and/or create a large variety of purposeful shaped open hole spaces.
Different weaving post peg gauge sizes and shaped peg sizes and measurements, small, tiny and jumbo internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components are not shown, only one size and shape of the internal weaving post peg components is shown.
Also not shown, are the larger or different shaped loom plugs or their size measurements. The loom plugs might be easily inserted into position, to replace the removed jumbo sized internal weaving post pegs and/or larger various shaped or geometrically or abstract shaped peg components, so that during the felting functional procedure, the textured surfaces of the loom's base structure, may then become flushed and consistent without holes. The loom plugs are not required when the smaller weaving post pegs have been utilized.
In the preferred apparatus kit embodiments, the loom plugs might also be produced in the same materials as the loom block apparatus structures and in the same thicknesses, with the same texturized surfaces. The loom plugs, may also be produced in complimentary reciprocal shapes, so as to plug and replace, the removed larger sized internal weaving post peg shapes, or other removed variously shaped pegs, or abstract or geometrical shaped pegs, which leave behind larger empty hole spaces in the textured loom structure's surfaces, once removed. To remove the loom plugs they are easily and quickly dislodged and pushed out of their positions with a thumb or fore-finger as required.
The handcrafting functional procedures, of the felting loom system's inventive method process, comprise, the layering and shaping of woollen fibre art compositions, onto prepared loom framework structures. The layering functional procedure, is carried out below and above, one or two hand weaving functional procedures, as desired. The pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures and/or more, are carried out next. One or both of the hand weaving functional procedures, might be employed, in a single article, during the method process, as desired.
On completion of the method process, a formation of artistic and novel, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes result, wherein, the newly imported hand woven layer components, become incorporated with and encapsulated by, the woollen roving fibrous layers, as they become felted, during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, carried out according to the inventive method process. The encapsulated hand woven constituents therein, imbue the resultant coherent new, felted woven textile structures, with new textile properties, and become an actual part of the new textiles structural framework, while the completed felted component, prevents the hand woven constituents, from unravelling, in the produced shaped and felted woven, items, unless unravelling is a desired purposeful effect and the encapsulating felted component, still retains and maintains the warm and desirable qualities, of felted woollen fabrics. The encapsulated woven structural framework, imported into the newly produced felted woven fibre art textile shapes, provide both a wider scope of functional utility, because of the variety of constituents comprising the woven structures, as well as providing decorative surface features and visual appeal.
The
The disclosed felting loom system's inventive method process, may be employed by fibre artisans in various ways, resulting in a variety of fabric finishes with regard to thickness, strength, drape, texture, structural framework, handle, colour, pattern, surface appearances, open hole shapes and dimensional stability. The completed finished qualities and appearances of the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, change according, to the type of materials employed as the woven components, during the method's hand weaving functional procedures, and with the amount and density of felted woollen roving fibres, utilized, for the procedure.
Six examples of variations of the inventive method's process might be employed using the felting loom system's, inventive apparatus kit and are disclosed herein. Other methods may also be carried out, using the inventive apparatus kit of the preferred embodiments, by artisans who may have skill in the art of wet felt-making, hand weaving or loom craft skills, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the diagrams depicting the felting loom system's method process, 1, represents the first layer of wispy woollen roving tufts. 2, represents the woven layer constituent/s. 3, represents the second and top layer of wispy woollen roving tufts.
The felting loom system's inventive method process, a second aspect of the invention, is disclosed and described below, as the method 9(a) process. Some variation examples, of the method 9(a) process, are also described below, as, method 9(b) variation process, method 9(c) variation process, method 9(d) variation process, method 9(e) variation process and method 9(f) variation process.
The inventive method 9(a) process, comprises the following steps:
Method 9(a) process, Step (i) A felting loom framework shape, is assembled and interlocked into a desired composition, to form a textured loom foundation, from an assortment of the of the portable felting loom system's, loom block shapes, from the apparatus kit. Fibre artisans might then carry out the steps of the method process, utilizing the chosen shaped loom framework, which provide underlying structural support as well as practical assistance, for the methods functional procedures.
The interior weaving post pegs, or shaped pegs, might also be inserted into the multi-perpendicular holes perforations, formed through the body of the constructed loom shape, into a desired pattern. The assembled loom shape surface is then covered with a light plastic, or bubble wrap underlay, bubbles up. Holes are sniped through the underlay, to accommodate the insertion of the internal weaving post pegs, should they be utilized.
The colour way scheme, of the yarn materials or fabrics, to be utilized as the woven component, along with the colour ways of the wispy woollen rovings, would also have been pre-chosen.
Method 9(a) process, Step (ii) The next step requires that the woollen fibres are pulled off and laid down, in 5 to 6 inch lengths, for the first layer of wispy woollen roving tufts, in slightly over lapping rows, until the entire surface area of the prepared loom structure's shape is covered, as desired, shown as 1. The wispy woollen roving tufts, need to be positioned around the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, if they have been utilized.
Method 9(a) process, Step (iii) The next, inventive step requires the weaving of yarns or materials of choice, to be hand woven over the top of the first layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts, as of 9(a) Step (ii), above. The weaving patterns, with the chosen yarns of varying sized ply and/or with the chosen materials or fabric strips of varying sized widths, or both, to be utilized as the woven constituent components, may all be varied, creatively, according to the desired woven effected appearance, in the completed felted textile shapes. The weaving patterns may be hand woven by a fibre artisan, guiding the materials in warp and weft, top to bottom or left to right directions, diagonally, circular like, randomly abstract or asymmetrically, as desired, until the top of the loom framework surface area, is covered with the hand woven materials and each of the exterior weaving post peg components, around the exterior perimeter edges of the shaped loom framework structure and/or the interior weaving post peg or shaped peg components, has yarns hand woven about them, or as desired.
Whether the external weaving post peg components, or the inserted, internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, or all, are utilized together, during the inventive method process, in a single item, or for different items, the hand woven component, may be composed of many different varieties of fibre content compositions. The yarns for weaving might consist of 100% woollen yarns, or woollen yarns with mixed fibres, synthetic or natural, as are generally utilized for knitting, weaving, craft looms or crotchet methods and may be employed as the warp and/or weft woven components.
Further creative woven effects, may be achieved utilizing long torn or cut up fabric strips, of varying strip widths as desired, cut or torn from chiffon, tulle, georgette, voile, gauze, velvet, satin or twill weave fabrics, made from cotton, silk, woollen, linen, synthetic, nylon or acrylic fibres. Recycled woollens or fabrics, may also be utilized creatively in this way, as the woven component.
Or, a fabric piece, having cut up, or torn strips at one end, or on one side only, may be incorporated with or utilized as, the woven component, on a felting loom structure, which might result in, a finished fabric piece with a felted, woven portion at one end or at one side only.
Elastic, or shirring elastics may also be utilized in combination with or as, a woven component, woven, in one or in both directions, warp and weft, which creates ruching effects in the final felted textile shapes, which are best woven on the larger and thicker, external weaving post peg components. Method not shown.
A fabric piece, which has had many holes cut out of it, or laser or stencil cut out, or burnt out, in many differing shapes, grid, circular or randomly shaped, may be laid out and set on a felting loom structure, over the first layer of the method's wispy woollen rovings, to be included with the woven yarn component by supplementing it, or even replacing the woven component, thereby. A second layer of wispy woollen roving tufts, may then be placed over the top of the cut out fabric layer, along with woven yarns or materials, creating interesting texturing throughout the finished felted fabric piece.
Other fabric types, fabric strips or yarn combinations, may also be utilized in the dual hand weaving functional procedures, which naturally effects the final variety of the completed textile results, with regard to structural strength, handle, appearances, flexibility, colour ways, performances and end usage.
The hand weaving functional procedure may be carried out quite rapidly, depending on the size of the loom framework structure, utilized. The weaving materials may also be hand woven around the weaving post peg components, a number of times to create longer decorative effects, loop effects, or raw fringed or tufted effects on the completed textile shapes edges, or throughout the body structures, or as desired.
With the felting loom system's inventive method's process and the effected hand weaving step, there is no need then, for tedious weaving operations, such as shedding, picking, shuttles or beating-up with reeds as might normally be necessitated by fibre artisans, as in traditional hand weaving, or hand weaving loom practices, as the flexibility of the EVA loom block structures, keep the hand woven components taught and maintained in their hand woven positions, shown as 2, ready then, for the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures as described below, in Step (v) and Step (vi), to incorporate and encapsulate the hand woven constituents together, with the felting of the woollen roving fibrous compositions, that have been layered below and eventually above, this hand woven component layer, as follows next in Step (iv).
Method 9(a) process, Step (iv) The next inventive step, requires a second layer of wispy wool roving tufts to be pulled off and laid down, shown as 3. The second layer of wispy wool roving tuffs is laid down in slightly overlapping rows at right angles to the first layer of wispy wool roving tuffs, as in Method 9(a)(ii) and over the top, of the hand woven materials layer, as in Method 9(a)(iii).
If an optional third layer of wispy wool roving tufts is desired, for a thicker final felted textile result, a third layer may be placed down over the top of the first or second layer of wispy woollen roving tufts. So long as they are placed down, in an opposite angle to the previous woollen fibrous layer. Not shown.
Pre-felted shapes, might also be introduced and included into the woven layered work, at this point.
An extra woollen roving fibrous layer, may be desirable should fibre artisans utilize, thicker weaving fabrics or materials, as the woven constituents, or should they desire, thicker felted woven, textile results.
Method 9(a) process Step (v) The next inventive step requires the prepared layers of the woven and woollen fibrous structure, positioned and “dressing” the loom framework structure, to be then covered with a plastic fly screen or felt resisting netting overlay, in readiness for the wetting down, pre-felting functional procedure. Holes would need to be sniped through the plastic fly screen also, to accommodate, the insertion of internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, if they are to be utilized. The wetting down, pre-felting functional procedure of the layered fibre art structure, is carried out on top of the loom's surface, by hand, until the fibrous layers become pre-felted. A hot soapy water solution, is applied to the layered fibrous structure and eased, patted, pressured and massaged into the fibres by hand, through the fly screen or netting overlay, until the fibrous layers beneath the overlay, become completely saturated and soapy, but not dripping or sodden. The fibres are also rubbed, eased, patted and worked around the inserted weaving post peg or shaped peg components, if utilized.
Once an article on a shaped loom framework structure has become pre-felted, the composition of the pre-felted articles, all start to cling and hold together, when pinched, so that the benefits of the incorporated woven elements and newly imbued woven qualities, are then held together well enough, within the structure of fibre art objects, to then be rolled and agitated at this point, on top of the loom structures texturized surface. The time for this procedure depends on the size of the felting fibrous articles and the loom size, but it can generally take approx 10 to 20 minutes per square loom meter and on smaller loom structures, that might be hand held, up to 10 minutes.
Method 9(a) process, Step (vi) The next inventive step, requires that a pre-felted fibre art object, secured and positioned on top of a loom framework's texturized surface, be subjected to the manual, rolling functional procedure, with the method's texturized roller tools. The rolling activity, generates and transfers, the required pressured agitation and friction to the pre-felted object, transforming the soapy and water saturated object, so that it becomes felted, to complete the wet felting functional procedure, of the inventive method process. The method's roller tools and/or, multi-roller tool units might be well suited to complete the wet felting functional procedure, for very small, to quite large, fibre art objects.
If the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, have been utilized, they first need to be removed, before this functional procedure is carried out. The larger internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, need to be replaced then, with the appropriately sized and reciprocally shaped, loom plug components, to plug the larger hole spaces left behind with the internal weaving post pegs removal, as required. If the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components have been utilized, a new plastic sheet underlay, without holes, also needs to be inserted and slid underneath the currently used underlay with holes, which lies beneath the newly pre-felted and attached fibre art composition. This may be carried out, so that during the rolling activity of the wet felting functional procedure, the pre-felted fibres still in a delicate state, are prevented from breaking off and travelling away from the layered compositions, through the holes that had previously accommodated the inserted internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, during the previous stage of the pre-felting function procedure.
The inserted reciprocal loom plugs, assist in creating a flushed and consistent underlying, loom surface structure, without holes, for fibre artisans to then work on. A suitable amount of the external, hand woven loops, need to be released, from the external weaving post peg components on a loom shape, in order to insert the loom plugs and to slide the new underlay sheet into place. The loom plugs might also be easily inserted, from the underside a loom structure, as desired.
During the rolling activity, the hand woven loops, attached to the external weaving post peg components, might be released in staggered progressive stages, as the article begins to felt and shrink, and create tension on the loom structure, until all the woven loops of the felting woven, fibre art object, are eventually released, from all the external weaving post peg components, on the loom's structure.
The hand woven loops caught on the external weaving post peg components, may be detached and released easily, with the method's releasing hook tool, or a forefinger, by flexing and lifting up a loom edge slightly, to reduce the tension and then pulling the loops slightly to one side of each external weaving post peg component, then sliding the loop over and off, each peg.
The flexibility and smoothness of the EVA loom material and the soapy, wet procedures, assists fibre artists to easily release the woven loops from a loom's structure, as the items become soap slippery, during the inventive method's process and become easily manoeuvrable.
An article secured on top of a loom framework structure may be rolled at first over the top with a bubble wrap sheet overlay in position, bubbles down, with each area of the felting fibre art object being systematically rolled. The method's textured roller tools, may be rolled equally over the felting woven, fibrous object, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction, causing the layered woollen fibres, to felt and shrink uniformly and proportionately, until the desired degree of felting has been achieved. The felting and shrinking occurs, in the direction that the item is rolled.
At first the rolling functional procedure might take place with a plastic bubble wrap sheet overlay, covering the top of the surface area of the article, then as the felting fibrous article gets closer to becoming felted, the bubble wrap sheet may be discarded and the method's texturized roller tools, might then have direct contact with the felting fibre art object. The woollen roving fibres within the fibre art object, transform during this rolling activity, to become fully felted and in so doing, the felted woollen fibres encapsulate and become incorporated with, the yarn or material constituents of the hand woven component.
Once released, the external hand woven loops may be folded over and incorporated into the edge of felting fibre art shape, to create a selvage like finished edge. Or, the loops may be left free, so that the loops of the completed, felted woven, fibre art shape, might then be adjoined later on, to other felted fibre art shapes and loops in finishing, or they might be employed artistically and/or snipped, to create decorative frayed, fringed or looped features on the completed textile edges, as desired.
For larger projects like blankets, two or more people might share the rolling activity, to complete the felting functional procedure. This may be carried out, either rolled and felted topically on a large enough texturized foundation loom structure, with the felting loom's texturized roller tools, texturized multi-roller tool unit, or with a combination of the multi-roller tool units, adjoined together.
A felting article once released from a loom structure's external weaving post peg components, may also be flipped over to be rolled on the underside and still situated on top of the loom structure's surface, as desired. Further dousing with hot water might need to be carried out as required.
On completion of the rolling activity of the wet felting functional procedure, it may be expected that the body structure and surface texture of the felted, woven article, will have a cohesive, tangled and choppy appearance, as all the woven layer elements, should have become bonded together with and encapsulated by, the felted woollen fibrous layers and should not unravel and the woollen and woven fibre constituents, do not slip around at all, if coached.
The length of time to carry out the manual rolling activity, of the wet felting functional procedure, is similar to that of a traditional wet felting process, rolling time, when carried out in a rolled up bamboo blind, utilizing comparable weight equivalents of woollen rovings material.
Once the desired degree of felting has been achieved and the rolling functional procedure, has been completed, the felting object should be strong enough and ready then, for a fulling process, to complete the final stage of the wet felting functional procedure, of the inventive method process.
Method 9(a) process, Step (vii) A fulling process may be carried out next, as in a traditional contemporary fulling process, and is not part of the claimed inventive process. However, this final stage of finishing is a necessary step, required for completing the inventive method process, so that fibre artisans might then, carry out further creative finishing processes, as desired.
When the felting fibre art object is ready for fulling, it is removed from the textured loom surface, and rinsed and agitated further by hand, with hot water and then plunged into very cold water and vigorously agitated by hand, further. Excess fluid is removed and then the object is thrown onto a felting loom surface, that is resting on a table top, approximately 100 times, up to 200 times, sometimes more or less may be required.
Larger felted woven, items may need to be rinsed and agitated, in a heavy duty washing machine and spun on a spin-dry cycle to complete the fulling process.
The inventors found that during experimentation, the felting loom system's inventive method process, felts and shrinks the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes or objects, consistently between 30% to 35%, from their original laid out size, which could be a convenient and important time saving advantage, especially when initially assembling and preparing the size of a loom framework shape and laying out the original woollen fibrous shaped layers and carrying out the hand weaving functional procedures, before beginning the actual pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures.
Method 9(a) process, Step (viii) After the fulling process has been carried out, the inventive method process, may further comprise of finishing the created item, by allowing it to be fully rinsed of soap and treated with white vinegar or the like, to neutralize any soap residue.
The method process, might also provide craft lovers and fibre artisans, with additional benefits to creativity, when employing combinations of protein, nylon monofilament or cellulosic yarns, fibres or fabrics, as the hand woven constituents, component, as, because of their affinity to dyestuffs, further artistic and complimentary finishing methods, may also be carried out on the completed felted woven, fibre art textile shapes. Decorative surface and textile treatments, such as dyeing, tie dyeing, printing, shibori, colour discharging, or devore′ techniques, may further be employed, with the finished felted woven, textile shaped items. Handcraft embroidery, embellishing, needle felting by hand or machine and/or other finishing processes, may be desirable once the objects are dried and/or pressed.
Completed textile articles or products might be laundered in future by hand washing, as there should be no further shrinkage of the items. Or the items might be dry-cleaned as desired.
The final result of the inventive Method 9(a) process, and its variations, achieves felted formed textile shapes with permanently encapsulated hand woven constituents, whereby, unravelling may not be expected. The resultant textiles, have a similar appearance to that of knitwear, woven or crotchet textile products, without the accompanying weaving procedures, or labour intensive, handcraft activities and the hand woven constituents become an actual part of the new textiles structural framework, within the constructed felted woven textiles. The surface textural appearances have consistency, with the evident woven component showing. Small consistent gaps or spaces between the woven components in the final felted textile shapes, may also be evident and may vary, according to the quantity of wispy woollen roving tufts utilized, during the method's process, and the yarn ply, fabric strip widths, quantity and density of the woven constituents utilized, in conjunction with the exterior and/or, interior weaving post peg components and gauge sizes of each, utilized.
The finished felted woven articles, might also resemble and have a similar hand and utility to handcrafted woven, crotchet or knitted textiles; and the inventive method process results according to a further advantageous embodiment, may have a similar appearance to the fulling of pre-knitted items and could therefore, provide an alternative fulling like, technique for artisans and so, save many hours of pre-knitting, as is often usual, before a fulling felting process, is carried out, on pre-knitted items.
The inventive novel, felted woven, fibre art textile formations, become imbued with new qualities and properties, such as drape, additional strength or flexibility, brought by the encapsulated woven component, which are qualities that might normally be attributed to the above mentioned, hand crafted knitted, crotchet or hand woven textiles, while they still retain and maintain, the desirable and warm qualities, of hand felted fabrics.
Thus, a further advantageous embodiment, may be provided, whereby, the resultant inventive felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, might then have much wider versatility, with regard to decorative and practical utility, especially for the production of apparel and body shape forming qualities and for the ease of creating a variety of abstract textural compositions, as desired.
The felted woven, fibre art textile shaped results, show a strong resemblance to woven fabrics. The new fabrics become suited to the likes of artistic winter apparel, such as jumpers and hooded coats. The qualities and attributes of the felted woollen fabrics and materials, change with the imported woven component and vary according to the type of materials utilized, as the woven component, which further, enables multi-functional purposes and end usage, for the handmade textiles or objects.
The gauge sizes of the external weaving post pegs or shaped pegs and materials used for the woven elements also influences the size and appearances of the open hole effects and finished textile qualities.
In accordance with the provided Method 9(a) process, of the felting loom system as in
In accordance with the provided Method (9a) process of the felting loom system as in
The results of omitting the first layer of wispy woollen rovings tufts, as 1, underneath the woven layer component, as 2, creates very abstract, artistic fibre art textile shapes. Some of the woven component will be fully exposed and will not have become encapsulated, during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, so that loose or floating fibres or yarns may be an expected outcome. This variation process might also be carried out intermittently, so that only some of the first layer of wispy woollen rovings, is applied in varying patterns as 1, thereby leaving purposeful gaps therein, resulting in intermittently free floating warp and weft woven strands, not encapsulated by the felted component and in between the felted woven constituents.
There may be required more artistic finishing, like embroidery, hand stitchery, machine embroidery, crotchet, knitting or dry needle felting by hand or machine, but this may be a desirable outcome, as a basic stable shape, size and structure, will still have been formed.
An extra layer of wispy wool roving tufts layered down over the first layer, above the woven component, in the opposite direction, will give more dimensional stability in this Method 9(c) variation process result.
The final surface appearances, have much texture and the warp and weft woven elements show clearly. Larger irregular holes in the structure may also to be expected.
In accordance with the provided Method 9(a) process of the felting loom system as in
The textile results will vary depending on the type of fabric strips utilized in this process, and the fabric strip widths. For example, light chiffons utilized as the woven component yield a lighter, felted textile with a lighter drape, than when velvets or heavier fabrics are utilized, as the woven layer, which then result in a chunkier type of felted woven textile result.
In accordance with the provided Method 9(a) process of the felting loom system as in
Again this Method 9(e) variation process, results in an encapsulated felted fabric length of varying finishes, depending on the number and shapes, of the holes cut out in the fabrics and the types of fabrics utilized for the middle, additional or supplemented layer, and the types of woven materials utilized.
In accordance with the provided Method 9(a) process, of the felting loom system, as in
This Method 9(f) variation process, results in a fabric length with a felted and encapsulated woven area, at one end, or at one side. The handle and qualities, will again depend on the type of fabrics utilized, for this method variation, as well as the composition/s of the hand woven layer component/s, as 2 and also, if both hand weaving functional procedures are utilized.
In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, carrying out the inventive method's process, by utilizing the felting loom system's handcrafting apparatus kit, results in the manufacture of artistic and novel felted woven fibre art textile shapes.
In the Method 9(a) process and the method variation examples described above, the more wispy woollen roving tufts utilized in the process, as 1, or as 3, the thicker and more dense the final felted woven, fabric results, will become.
Depending on the yarn ply thicknesses and/or the material or fabric strip widths, very chunky or bulky effects, varying to very delicate, almost lace or filigree like, effects, might all be achieved, within the body structural frameworks and surface textures, of the completed felted woven, textile articles, or even juxtaposed, in a single textile article, as desired. The finished felted, woven textile articles, which often resemble and have a similar hand, to handmade knit wear, crotchet or hand woven textiles, also achieve a similar utility to these time and labour intensive, handmade textiles.
The warp and weft woven constituents, imported during the inventive method's process and assisted, by the shaped felting loom framework structures, imbues the felted and woven, fibre art textile shapes and objects with new qualities, both functionally and/or decoratively, which are qualities that might usually be attributed to the other, above mentioned handmade woven textiles, rather than felted textiles, or felted textiles with added decorative surface items.
The material or yarn constituents, utilized as the woven component, as 2, also influences the size and appearances, of the open spaces and/or shaped open hole effects, as well as, the finished felted textiles, textured properties. Intermittent, purposeful free floating warp and weft woven strands, not encapsulated by the felted fabrics, positioned in between various strategically placed felted woven constituents, might also be effected. Or, heavier woven, warp and weft elements, often requiring thicker layers of the woollen roving components, to encapsulate, during the method process, might appear intermittently between the thicker felted elements, as raised, dimensional or undulating areas, or have heavily rippled, like appearances, often creating chaotic, bulging and dense textures, throughout the body structural framework and surfaces, of the newly felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
The alternative hand craft method process and the finished resultant textiles and the finished resultant effects produced in the textiles, in a significantly shorter time frame, compared to the other above mentioned handcraft techniques, could provide very beneficial factors, for some craft and fibre artisans, with regard to creativity, flexibility, colour and with the range of shapes, sizes and fibre art textural and woven compositions, that might be manufactured, as desired. Because the finished felted woven textile shapes, often have similar appearances to handmade knit wear, crotchet or woven textile handcrafts, for some craft lovers, especially those who may enjoy time saving devices or activities, this new handcraft method process carried out by utilizing the new handcraft apparatus kit, might supplement the need for other traditional and fastidious, or more complicated weaving practices, or time and functionally demanding, handcraft yarn techniques.
The felting loom system's multi-shaped and sized, framework structures and the sizes of the external and internal weaving post peg and shaped peg component's gauges employed, all have further various impact, on the thread count density, as 2, in the manufactured, final felted woven, textile results.
In order to achieve permanently encapsulated yarn, materials or fabric woven layered elements, within the finished felted fabric results and to ensure, the finished fabric's dimensional stability, the wispy woollen roving tufts, need to be layered below and above each side of the imported hand woven yarn, fibre and/or fabric layer component. If the wispy woollen roving tufts are only placed on one side of the woven layer component, some of the woven element is likely to float or unravel. However, as mentioned above in
The possibility may be provided, for fibre artisans to produce, a wide variety of inventive felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, for apparel shapes, for house-hold items, for creative installations, for novel textile shapes and longer textile lengths, or for smaller soft toy dolly, puppet or pet animal shaped creations, or for abstract floral or abstract artistic or motif shaped endeavours, which might all easily be handcrafted, by utilizing different structurally supportive loom framework shapes, when carrying out the felting loom system's inventive method process and its variations.
Artisans might interlock and assemble the multi-shaped and sized portable, loom block structures into winter and fashion apparel shapes with apparel body shaping details as desired, so that shoulder lines, necklines, sleeve lines, armholes, collars, waist lines or curved shapes for the likes of hoods, shoulder capes or shrugs might be constructed on specifically shaped, loom framework compositions, as desired.
Dimensional loom framework shapes, cylindrical or spiral, without seams may also be constructed. The loom block shapes may also be utilized by artisans, as textured templates for felting their 3D fibre art compositions.
Fibre artisans and craft lovers, might then, have the flexibility, if desired, to create felted, woven fibre art textile shapes, into any number of manufactured creative apparel pieces, in any number of sizes, or dimensions, some as suggested and described as per the drawings in
In apparel production, wasted left over materials may be at a minimum and much time could be saved as cutting out time later on, may be unnecessary, or only be very minimal. The loom block structures also facilitate, more rapid manufacture and creation of items by eliminating, or reducing time spent on pre-fabric layouts, pre-tacking, making fabric templates, or even pre-knitting items for a fulling effect, process result. Fastidious loom preparation times, may also become unnecessary, as the loom block framework shapes may be constructed, fitted and interlocked together with ease, very quickly, in only a minute or two, or less. The hand weaving functional procedure results too, may be achieved very rapidly, compared to other known hand weaving, or loom handcraft device practices, for comparative shapes or sizes.
Further, and beneficially, the overall time frame for creating the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes compared to the time frames of creating other comparable shapes or sizes, by weaving, crotchet or knitted handcrafted products is exceedingly shorter. For example, the front of an adult size jumper, might take many hours to produce, with knitting, crotchet or hand weaving handcraft methods, but carrying out the felting loom system's method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit, to manufacture a comparable size, would take approx one hour to produce, not including the drying time and the completed article, would also have a similar utility, to the other, above mentioned, handcraft methods.
The assembled loom shape sizes, might also be constructed 30% to 35% larger, than the proposed sizes of the finished textile shaped articles, to accommodate the felting shrinkage factor, which could be advantageous in comparison to existing contemporary hand felting practices, as the estimation of the finished sizes of the felted woven, objects becomes more easily determined and facilitated, utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit.
The inventors have found that also, beneficially, the finished felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, lengths and/or items, produced in accordance to the felting loom system's inventive method process and carrying out the method process, by utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit, have consistently shrunk proportionately in size, during the method process, 30% to 35%, from their original laid out size, on top of the shaped felting loom framework structures.
Singular felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, created for garment shapes, might need to be joined by hand sewing to other shapes, in order to construct finished apparel articles, with no seam over-locking or seam finishing required. Larger all-in-one garment shaped constructions, would possibly need side seams, to be hand stitched together to complete an apparel item, much like the hand finishing processes of, knitted or crotchet handcrafted items.
The multi-functional applications of the felting loom system's components in the inventive apparatus kit and the inventive method process, carried out by utilizing the system's apparatus kit, could thus enable craft, fibre or textile artists, fashion designers, textile designers or any others interested in wet felt-making, fibre or textile arts or wool crafts, the advantages and opportunities to be flexibly creative and produce in accordance with the invention, an extensive variety of not only useful, but desirable handmade wet felted, woven fibre art textile shapes, textile lengths and/or designed products.
The felting loom system's inventive apparatus kit, also supports desirable practical, production requirements with regard to fibre contents, textures and compositions, loom shape changing and pattern shaping arrangements, colour compositions, textile sizes, lengths, appearances and end usage potential.
Further, sustainable qualities of the felted woven, woollen items and other materials may also be enabled.
The range of the invention, also covers any modification, alteration or variation to the system's inventive apparatus kit and inventive method process, embodiments and is not limited to examples of the felting loom framework construction composition variations, or method process utilization variations, as described herein. Other method utilization modifications and construction combinations of the portable, shaped felting loom block apparatus kit components, may be expected and are encouraged, being an object of the disclosed invention, for those who utilize the felting loom system and/or, who may have skill in the arts of wet felt-making, hand weaving, craft loom activities, or craft lovers generally.
The range of the invention, further covers any variation, alteration or modification to the felting loom system's apparatus kit, components and material compositions, of the apparatus kit components and is not limited to examples described herein.
Claims
1. A felting loom system, and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, comprising felting loom block components and method auxiliary tool components, as a handcrafting apparatus kit, for manual employment, to carry out the multi-functional procedures and practical processing requirements, of the inventive method process; and
- the felting loom blocks in the apparatus kit, comprise an assortment of size ranges, in each of the loom block shape categories, as said, being, 13 triangular shaped loom blocks, 5 rectangular shaped loom blocks, 5 square shaped loom blocks and 11 circular shaped loom blocks, with some interlocking and some not and loom block materials by the meter; and
- the interlocking components comprise, variously sized gauges and variously sized shapes; and
- other loom block shape categories in the felting loom system's apparatus kit, comprising geometrical, dome or dimensional shapes, toy dolly, puppet or pet animal shapes, floral or artistic abstract shaped forms or motifs, as said; and
- the multi-shaped and sized, interlocking, felting loom block structures, each having multiple perpendicular hole perforations of various sizes and shapes and double sided texturized surfaces, provide the means for fibre artisans to easily interlock, assemble, construct or create, many varieties of their own designed and shaped, felting loom block frameworks, manually as desired, allowing artisans then, to employ the said loom frameworks, as supportive underlying, structural foundations, to carry out, the manual handcrafting, multi-functional procedures and processing requirements of the inventive method process; and
- the felting loom system, apparatus kit, further comprises the method auxiliary tool components, (A), (B), (C), (D) and (E), which further provide the means, to assist fibre artisans, to carry out the practical processing requirements, of the felting loom system's inventive method process; and
- (A) being the method's texturized roller tool components, comprising:
- (A)(i) being a smaller sized, textured roller tool, with handles, as said, which provides the means specifically for children, to utilize the felting loom system's apparatus set and method process; and
- (A)(ii) being a medium sized, textured roller tool, with handles, as said, which provides the means for adults to utilize the felting loom system's apparatus set and method process; and
- (A)(iii) being a longer sized textured roller tool 90 cm in length, without handles, as said, which provides the means for fibre artisans to utilize the felting loom system's apparatus set and method process and also, to produce wider felted fibre art objects and projects; and
- (A)(iv) being a textured multi-roller tool unit, as said, which further provides the means for one or more artisans to utilize the method's textured roller tools together, on larger felted, woven projects, wherein the felting loom system's method process might be employed individually or together, as desired, on the loom framework's texturized surfaces; and
- the method's roller tool units comprise 3 parallel textured rollers, the same size as in (A)(ii), housed and supported by an axle, within a frame which has handles; and
- the method's multi-roller tool units, not only enable smaller felting projects, but also larger and collaborative, works as well, facilitating the possibility for artisans to work together, on the same wet felting project and so, produce larger felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, for community based articles and objects, or for innovative felting installations or projects; and
- being portable and easily assembled, is especially beneficial, for fibre artisans, when mechanical, rolling felting devices, which might normally be used for larger felting projects, might not be easily accessible, or available for use, or economically viable, to purchase and store; and
- (B) being a loop releasing hook tool as said; and
- (C) being a user manual, instructional DVD disc, as said; and
- (D) being an internal weaving post peg component, for use in multiples, as said and also, other internal weaving post peg sizes and shaped peg sizes, with each weaving post peg or shaped peg component being reciprocal to the multi-perpendicular hole perforation sizes and shapes, into which they might be fitted; and
- (E) being a loom plug, also for use in multiples, as said and also, other loom plug shapes and sizes, with each loom plug, being reciprocal, to the larger multi-perpendicular hole perforation sizes and shapes, into which they might be fitted.
2. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, the multi-functional utility purposes of the textured, multi-shaped and sized felting loom block structures, provide the means for fibre artisans to employ the said structures, as a new multi-functional and portable handcrafting device mechanism, to manually carry out the multi-functional procedures of the felting loom system's inventive method process and/or more; and
- the loom block shapes might be utilized as, underlying foundational structural supports, individually or as assembled flat loom shapes, flat loom shapes with hole openings, or as assembled dimensional loom framework shapes as cylindrical or spiral forms, without seams, or the loom block shapes permit artisans to utilize them as, textured templates for felting their 3D fibre art compositions, or utilize them creatively as desired; and
- the loom block shapes might further be utilized, as a template pattern building system, that enables fibre artisans to produce specifically designed garment shapes or abstract shapes as desired; and
- the loom block materials by the meter, further provide the means for fibre artisans, to cut out, create and craft, their own individually made and shaped felting loom framework structures, as desired, so as to utilize the inventive method process; and
- the interlocking components with varying sized and shaped gauges, formed around the external perimeter edges, of each multi-shaped and sized felting loom block structure, allow fibre artisans to interlock the loom blocks together and so, assemble and construct an array of shaped and/or larger shaped, felting loom framework compositions, to be utilized then, as desired; and
- a loom framework structure may be constructed, possibly 30% to 35% larger, than the finished desired size, to allow for felting shrinkage, during the method process; and
- once assembled, the external interlocking components, around the edge of an assembled loom shape structure, further function then, as external weaving post peg components, which support and hold in place, externally hand woven, weaving material constituents of choice, during the employment of the external hand weaving functional procedure, of the method process; and
- the multiple perpendicular hole perforations, with various sized and shaped gauges, formed internally through the central body area of each felting loom block structure, further provide the means for a second internal hand weaving functional procedure, internally on the top central surface area of a felting loom framework structure, as well as the facility, for creating shaped open hole spaces, in the completed felted, woven textiles, when the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components are inserted into these multi-perpendicular hole perforations, so as to project beyond the top of the loom's surface, to receive, support and hold in place, the hand woven material constituents, utilized during the employment of the said internal hand weaving functional procedure; and
- the wet felting functional procedure, of the method's process, is further assisted practically, by the texturized surfaces of the underlying felting loom block structures, together with the method's texturized roller tools, when the two components are utilized conjointly; and
- the smaller portable loom block components, which are very lightweight, may be hand held on a table top or utilized on a lap tray, which permits smaller artistic handcrafting endeavours to be carried out by children, or people rehabilitating, or some disadvantaged groups, or those undergoing occupational therapy, or elderly citizens; and
- larger blankets, gallery installations, wall hangings, longer textile lengths, or larger community based, or charity fund raising creative handcrafting projects and developments, might all be produced on loom block framework structures, made up of multiples of the larger portable loom block shapes, or loom shapes created from the loom block material, by the metre, and these might also be positioned on longer table top structures, or large suitable floor spaces; and
- this means therefore, that many people who love crafts and hobbies, or people who may need a creative craft activity or outlet, including school children, convalescents, elderly citizens, some disabled people, or even people perhaps needing creative rehabilitation, or who may be institutionalized, might easily be able to utilize the alternative, portable handcrafting, felting loom system apparatus kit, in order to carry out the alternative multi-functional procedural activities of the inventive method's process, or the process variations, as all the procedures, are very easy to manoeuvre, for a variety of abilities and skill levels.
3. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, each of the said multi-shaped and sized felting loom blocks, has external interlocking protrusion components, which have three functional employments, as said, when carrying out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system apparatus kit; and
- the first being for a construction function, whereby the loom block shapes, might be interlocked and assemble together, to create loom framework structures, in any number of different or changing shapes, sizes and dimensions, providing the means for fibre artisans to assemble and construct shaped loom frameworks, within minutes or less, to be utilized then, as underlying supportive, structural foundations, to carry out the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method process; and
- the second being for an external hand weaving functional procedure, as once a configured felting loom framework shape has been assembled, the exterior interlocking protrusion components around the external perimeter edges, of the constructed loom structure's shape, provide the means, then for fibre artisans to utilize these external protrusions, as external weaving post peg components, to hold and support their hand woven materials of choice; and
- the third being for a thread count density control function, as the external weaving post peg components might be produced and formed with varying sized gauges and shapes, which all serve to control the hand woven thread count densities, within the completed textile articles, wherein, the utilization of the larger sized gauged or shaped weaving post pegs, produces a more sparsely hand woven thread count, than the smaller sized gauges and shapes, which produce a more concentrated, hand woven thread count density.
4. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, the said felting loom blocks, further provide the means to permit fibre artisans to carry out an interior hand weaving functional procedure; and/or
- utilize the components further, for the function of creating shaped open hole spaces, in the finished felted woven textile articles, as desired, during the inventive method process, on the top central, surface area of an individually shaped and/or assembled shaped, felting loom framework structure; and
- these felting loom functional procedures, are facilitated by three components, as said; and
- the first comprising, the multiple perpendicular hole perforations, having different sized and shaped gauged holes, being formed through the central body area of each multi-shaped and sized, felting loom block structure; and
- the second comprising, reciprocal internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, which fibre artisans might easily insert into the different shaped or sized multi-perpendicular hole perforations, from underneath a constructed loom block shape; and
- once inserted into position, the weaving post peg or shaped peg components, project beyond the top of a felting loom framework surface area and are ready then to receive, support and hold in place, hand woven materials of choice, internally on the top central surface area of a shaped felting loom framework structure, in hand woven patterns as desired, to be included in the final felted, woven textile results; and
- the detachable internal weaving post peg and/or shaped peg components and the reciprocal multi-perpendicular hole perforations, into which they are fitted, may also be formed in different gauge sizes and different shapes, one size and shape being disclosed and other smaller, tiny and jumbo sized peg shapes and hole shapes, may also be produced; and
- the shaped peg components and the shaped hole spaces into which they are fitted, may also be formed in other various shapes and/or geometrical or abstract shapes; and
- the holes and the shaped open hole spaces formed, in the completed felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, by utilizing these different internal weaving post peg sizes and different shaped pegs, also have an impact on the final felted fabric's shapes and appearances, textures, densities and variety of shaped open hole spaces; and
- the third comprising, the loom plug components, as said, also for use in multiples, which are inserted by fibre artisans, to replace and plug, the holes left behind when the larger weaving post peg or larger shaped peg components, are removed, from an underlying, felting loom framework structure; and
- when the reciprocal loom plugs, are easily inserted into the vacated empty multi-perpendicular hole perforation spaces, artisans are permitted then, to work on a flushed and consistent textured loom surface base, without holes, to then proceed to carry out the wet felting functional procedure, once the previous functional procedures, of the method process have been carried out and completed.
5. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby the form and functional qualities, of the texturized surfaces of the felting loom block structures, further provide the means for artisans to employ said loom block components, for the purpose of carrying out the wetting down, pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, of the felting loom system's method process; and
- the felting loom blocks are formed in a firm, durable, smooth, EVA material, as said, 2 cm or 3 cm in thickness; and
- the said light weight EVA material, makes the convenient felting loom block components, easily portable, pliable, water proof, flexible and easy to cut, allowing for ease of rapidly assembling or dissembling, and/or releasing the hand woven loops of the felting and woven, fibre art textile shaped articles, from the felting loom's external weaving post pegs; and
- each said felting loom block, has double sided texturized surfaces, in the form of ridged corrugations, which provide the practical means to assist, fibre artisans with the promotion and generation of the agitation and friction, for the processing requirements of the wet felting functional procedure of the method process; and
- when a downward pressured, back and forth rolling motion is carried out, with the method's texturized roller tools, over the top of felting fibrous compositions, affixed and secured to and situated on top of, a felting loom's texturized surface, the pressured agitation and friction generated between the two surfaces, thereby, contribute to effecting the formation of felted textile shapes, resulting in the creation of felted woven, fibre art textile shapes; and
- the multi-shaped and sized felting loom framework structures, might be constructed, by fibre artisans, so that the textured surfaces on either side of each felting loom block, in an overall, constructed loom block shaped composition, might be utilized.
6. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, the said surface friction and pressured agitation, generated by the combined action of the apparatus kit components, of the said method's texturized roller tool components, together with the said underlying texturized surfaces of the shaped felting loom block frameworks, whilst employing said, method's wet felting functional procedure, provide the means for fibre artisans to utilize an alternative new, manual handcrafting device mechanism, not only for the wet felting functional procedure of the method process, but also for their wet felt-making handcraft practises, as well; and
- each of the method's roller tools, has surfaces that are dimensionally textured, in the shape of ridged corrugations, formed longitudinally along the length of each roller component, which contribute to the generation of the friction factor, as said; and
- when the texturized roller tool components are manually utilized and a downward pressure is exerted, along with a back and forth rolling motion, over the top of the pre-felted, soapy water saturated, layered, woven and woollen fibrous compositions, that are secured and affixed to and positioned on top of, the ridged, corrugated, texturized felting loom framework surfaces, the two texturized surfaces of the apparatus then, work conjointly to render and deliver agitation and friction; and
- this combined action then, when bringing the two texturized surface components together, thus, permits fibre artisans to generate and transfer the required agitation and friction to effect, a felting formation of the secured, soapy water saturated, composed woollen and woven fibrous materials, dressing a felting loom's surface and thereby, transforming the layered fibrous compositions to felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, whilst at the same time, importing and encapsulating the hand woven constituents, so that they become incorporated with, the newly made felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
7. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, the said shaped felting loom block structures might be utilized for the multi-functional procedures of the inventive method's process and further, be utilized as a template pattern building system, with shape changing flexibility, enabling fibre artisans thereby, to configure and assemble underlying textured loom framework shapes, to be employed then, to produce specifically designed garment or abstract shapes as desired, by utilizing the loom shapes; and
- this, allows artisans to assemble the felting loom block structures into winter and fashion apparel shapes with apparel body shaping details, so that shoulder lines, necklines, sleeve lines, armholes, skirt lines, collars, waist lines or curved shapes for the likes of hoods, shoulder capes or shrugs might be constructed on specifically shaped loom framework, compositions; and
- fibre artisans and craft lovers, might then, as desired, wet felt, woven fibre art textile shapes into any number of novel and creative apparel pieces, in any number of sizes, or dimensions, as well as create longer textile lengths, or textile objects, saving cutting out times, later on, as in apparel production and wasting left over materials and further facilitating, a more rapid creation of items by eliminating, or reducing time spent on pre-fabric layouts, pre-tacking, making fabric templates, as in common felting practices; and
- thereby, perhaps provide an alternative process, to pre-knitting items, as for a fulling process, or carrying out laborious hand weaving processes, requiring time consuming, loom preparation times.
8. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby the said multi-shaped and sized felting loom block structures, provide the means for fibre artisans to carry out the multi-functional procedures of the method process; and
- in addition further, assist with the method's practical processing requirements by enabling fibre artisans, to assemble the sizes and shapes of the felting loom block structures, 30% to 35% larger, than the proposed sizes and shapes of the completed felted woven, fibre art textile shaped articles; and
- this component thereby, provides fibre artisans, with the facility to determine and estimate more accurately, the felting shrinkage factor, during the preparatory stages of the method process when, assembling the shaped foundation, felting loom block structures and then utilizing the said supportive assembled, loom block frameworks, to construct woollen and woven fibre art textile compositions and/or articles, before the shrinkage of the composed fibrous structures, takes place, as the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures of the method process, are carried out; and
- the finished felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and/or textile items, produced in accordance to the felting loom system's inventive method process, by utilizing the felting loom system, apparatus kit, consistently shrink and felt, proportionately in size, during the method process, 30% to 35%, from their original laid out size, secured on top of the shaped, felting loom framework structures.
9. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, carried out, by utilizing the said felting loom system's, manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as recited in claim 1; and
- the said method process, comprises the steps, of assembling, constructing and preparing for use, a supportive loom framework structure, to a desired shape and size, from a selection of the multi-shaped and sized felting loom block structures, and inserting internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, if or as required; and
- the prepared loom block structure, is utilized then, for the multi-functional procedures of the method process, comprising layering and shaping woollen fibre art compositions and positioning these layers below and above, one or two hand weaving functional procedures, carried out either externally, internally or both as desired, followed by, the wetting down pre-felting and the wet felting functional procedures, and/or, more as desired; and
- the wet felting functional procedure is facilitated further, by the agitation and friction, promoted and generated, by the texturized surfaces of the felting loom blocks, together with texturized surfaces of the method roller tools, as the two surfaces are utilized conjointly, when a downward pressured, back and forth rolling motion of the said texturized roller tools, is exerted, over the top of the soapy water saturated, pre-felted, woollen and woven fibre art compositions, secured and affixed to and situated on top of, the said, underlying felting loom block's texturized surfaces, effecting thereby, a felted formation of the said woollen and woven, fibrous compositions; and
- the shaped underlying, foundation loom framework structures, supporting these combined multi-functional procedures, when utilizing the inventive method process, provide the means then, to permit craft, textile or fibre artisans to import, hand woven constituents, hand woven either externally, internally or both, as desired, so that they might become incorporated with and encapsulated by, the layered wispy, woollen roving, fibrous compositions, as they become felted during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, resulting in the production then, of coherent new felted woven, fibre art textile shaped structures, imbued with new qualities and properties, brought by the imported hand woven constituents; and
- the felted and encapsulated hand woven constituents, are prevented from unravelling, unless unravelled segments are desired purposeful effects, while the newly felted woollen fibres within the newly coherent, produced felted textile structures, still maintain and retain, their warm and desirable felted qualities; and
- the felting loom framework structures, enable fibre artisans to utilize and incorporate, many different varieties of hand woven patterns and weaving materials, with varying colours, ply or strip widths, thread count densities and with varying thicknesses, of the wispy woollen roving fibrous layers, as well as utilize, the function of creating shaped open hole spaces, when carrying out either one or both, of the method's hand weaving functional procedures; and
- the inventive method 9(a) process and the variations of the felting loom system's method 9(a) process, comprising method 9(b) variation process, method 9(c) variation process, method 9(d) variation process, method 9(e) variation process and method 9(f) variation process, as said, may all be employed, as desired, resulting in the manufacture of many different handcrafted artistic and novel, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and sizes, textile articles and/or longer textile lengths and many different structural compositions of fibre art, within the completed artistic and novel, handcrafted felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
10. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's, manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and comprising;
- step (i), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, a fibre artist might first assemble a shaped felting loom framework structure, from an assortment of the said multi-shaped and sized texturized, loom blocks; and
- the constructed foundation loom framework, is then readied and covered with a bubble wrap sheet underlay, wherein, holes need to be sniped, to accommodate the insertion of internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, should they be utilized.
11. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (ii), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, a fibre artist then pulls off and lays down, the first layer of chosen wispy woollen roving tufts, in the chosen colour, approx 10-15 cm lengths, in slightly overlapping rows, until the entire underlying surface area of a constructed and readied felting loom framework structure, is covered, including being layered around the inserted internal weaving post peg and/or shaped peg components, if utilized.
12. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (iii), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, a fibre artisan might next manually weave, the yarns of varying ply or material or fabric strip constituents, of varying strip widths of choice, over the top of the laid out, first layer of the wispy wool roving tufts; and
- the chosen yarns or material or fabric strip compositions, may be hand woven onto a shaped loom framework structure, around the external weaving post peg components, in colours and in patterns as desired, as said, until the loom framework surface area, is covered with a woven layer and all the external weaving post peg components, have yarns or materials, hand woven around them, or are woven as, or where desired; and
- the chosen yarns for weaving, may also be hand woven around the previously inserted and readied, internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, if utilized, or as desired.
13. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (iv), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, a fibre artist might next pull off and lay down, a second layer of the chosen wispy woollen roving tufts, as in the method 9(a) process, step (ii), in slightly overlapping rows, but in, an opposite 90 degree angle, to the first layer of the wispy woollen roving tufts and over the top of the layer of woven yarns or materials, as in the method 9(a) process step (iii); and
- pre-felted shapes or decorative items might also be included in the work at this stage as desired; and a third layer of wispy woollen roving tufts, for a thicker result may also be utilised if desired, as said, as a third layer may be desirable, when using thicker weaving material constituents, as the woven component, as for method 9(a) process, step (iii), page 61.
14. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (v), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, the prepared layers of the woollen fibrous structure, might then be covered with a plastic fly wire screen, or a felt resisting netting, in readiness for the wetting down, pre-felting functional procedure; and
- holes may also be sniped through the plastic fly screen, or netting overlay, to accommodate utilized inserted, internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, as said; and
- the wetting down pre-felting functional procedure, involves the application of a hot soapy water solution to the covered and layered multi-fibrous and woven structure, situated on top of a loom structure; and
- the soapy solution is eased, massaged, patted and worked into the woollen and fibrous structure, through the fly wire overlay cover, with the hands, until all the fibres of the layered and woven structure become completely saturated and soapy, without becoming sodden or dripping; and
- the fibres are also rubbed, eased, patted and worked around the inserted weaving post pegs, or shaped pegs, if utilized; and
- once an article on a shaped loom framework structure has become pre-felted, the composition of the pre-felted articles, start to all cling and hold together, when pinched, so that the benefits of the incorporated woven elements and newly imbued woven qualities, are then held together well enough, for the fibre art objects to then be rolled and agitated at this point, on top of the loom structures texturized surface; and
- the time for this procedure depends on how small or large, the felting fibrous articles might be, but this procedure generally takes approx 10 to 20 minutes per square loom meter and on smaller loom structures, it still takes up to 10 minutes.
15. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (vi), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, the wet felting functional procedure of the method process is next carried out; and
- a felting object secured to a felting loom framework's, texturized surface with the hand woven loops, is manually rolled, with the method's texturized roller tools, to generate agitation and friction; and
- before hand, the internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, need to be removed, if utilized, and reciprocal loom plug shapes, need to be inserted then, to plug the larger empty hole spaces and replace the removed weaving post peg components as required and to create a flushed loom surface base to work on, without holes; and
- a new underlay sheet, without holes, also needs to be inserted and slid underneath the currently used underlay with holes, that had previously accommodated the inserted weaving post peg, or shaped peg components, which lies beneath the newly pre-felted, fibre art structure, so that during the rolling activity of the next wet felting functional procedure, the fibres of the pre-felted article are prevented from breaking off and travelling away from the layered compositions, through the holes; and
- a suitable amount of the external hand woven loops, need to be released, from a loom shape, in order to insert the loom plugs and to insert and slide, the new underlay without holes, into place; and
- during the manual rolling functional procedure, the hand woven loops, attached to the external weaving post peg components, may be released, in staggered progressive stages, as an article begins to felt and shrink, during the agitation and friction created, by the manual rolling activity, until all the woven loops of the felting fibre art object, are eventually released, from all the external weaving post peg components, on the shaped felting loom framework structure; and
- the woven loops might be released using the method's loop releasing hook tool, as said; and
- an article affixed to, and situated on top of a loom framework structure, subjected to the agitation of the rolling activity with suitably sized texturized roller tools, at first needs a bubble wrap sheet in place, to cover the top of the felting fibrous structure and as the rolling activity, of the wet felting functional procedure, nears completion, the bubble wrap may be removed and the felting fibrous structures may then be rolled directly; and
- each area of the felting fibre art object, needs to be systematically rolled with the method's textured roller tool apparatus and may be rolled over the felting fibrous object, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction, one area at a time, rolling equally in one direction firstly and then in the opposite direction, to achieve a uniformly and proportionately felting and shrinking, fibre art textile shape, until the desired degree of felting has been achieved, as said; and
- the released articles may also be flipped over, to be rolled further on the items underside, positioned on top of a loom surface, as desired, until the felting and woven object is ready then for the fulling process, as recited in [0218] Step (vii).
16. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said and further comprising;
- step (viii), of the method 9(a) process, whereby, after the fulling process step is completed, further finishing of the created fibre art textile item/s, might be carried out, by allowing them to be fully rinsed of soap and treated with white vinegar, or similar, to neutralize any soap residue; and
- the finished articles might then be dried and pressed, as desired; and/or
- the method's process, might further provide the means for craft lovers and fibre artisans, to gain additional benefits to creativity, when employing combinations of protein or cellulosic fibres or fabrics, as the said woven component, because of these fabric's affinity to dyestuffs, so that further artistic and complimentary finishing methods, may also be carried out on completed felted woven, fibre art textile shapes; and
- other decorative surface or textile treatments like dyeing, tie dyeing, printing, colour discharging, shibori, devore′ or needle felting by hand or machine and embroidery techniques might also be further carried out as desired, at this juncture; and
- the dried and finished articles might be adjoined and/or sewn together to complete larger apparel items, as might be carried out with hand knitted or crotchet items; and
- the completed items might be laundered in future, as required, by hand or dry-cleaned as desired and further shrinkage may not be expected.
17. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said, and further comprising variations of the method 9(a) process, being method (b) variation process, method (c) variation process, method (d) variation process, method (e) variation process, and method (f) variation process; and
- whereby, more or less wispy woollen roving tufts might be added, or applied intermittently or omitted altogether, all resulting in differing textile outcomes; and
- the use of various long cut up or torn fabric strip constituents, of varying strip widths, may be utilized in the hand weaving functional procedures, to create the woven component in the completed felted textiles, or for looping, raw edges or fringing, within the body structure, or at the finished textile edges; and
- partially woven fabric strips, cut from one end, or one side of a fabric length, but still attached to the fabric length, to create a fabric with a combination of woven felt at one end, or at one side is another alternative; and
- fabrics with various overall cut out shapes, laser or stencil burnt out hole shapes, or recycled, pre-loved, up-cycled or re-purposed fabrics or woollens, manipulated in this way, might also be utilized and laid over and attached to, a shaped loom structure, to be included with and/or supplemental to, or instead of the hand woven component layer, during the felting loom system's method process; and
- elastics, or shining elastic, might also be utilized as, or included with the woven constituent components, creating warp and weft elasticized and stretchy, ruching effects, in the finished felted woven, textile objects.
18. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said, whereby, the resultant felted woven fibre art textile shapes, produced in accordance to the felting loom system's inventive method process, result in newly made artistic and novel felted woven, fibre art textile shapes and/or, felted woven fibre art textile lengths or objects; and
- the final results of the inventive method 9(a) process and its process variations, when carried out and performed, situated on top of the texturized, felting loom framework structures, with the method's texturized roller tools, achieve felted woven, fibre art textile shapes with similar appearances, qualities and utility, to that of more functionally demanding handmade woven, knitted or crotchet textiles, but beneficially, the equivalent shapes and sizes may be produced in a significantly shorter period of time; and
- unravelling of the felted woven component is prevented, as the wet felting functional procedure of the method 9(a) process, permanently encapsulates and integrates, the hand woven patterned constituents together with the woollen layered fibrous compositions, as they become felted, during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures; and
- there is no need then, for tedious shedding, picking, shuttles or beating-up manoeuvres with reeds, as is normally necessitated in traditional, often fastidious hand weaving practices; and
- the resultant body structure and surface textural appearances are consistent, with the evident woven component showing, with small to medium consistent holes and or, spaces similar to handcrafted woven textiles, being also evident; and
- the finished textile qualities, resulting from the inventive method 9(a) process and its process variations are also impacted by the materials and the quantity and density of yarn materials or fabrics utilized, in either or both, of the hand weaving functional procedures, as well as the amount of layered wispy woollen roving tuft fibres utilized, for the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures; and
- when the said method process, is carried out by utilizing the felting loom system's apparatus kit, inventive, decorative high quality felted textiles are created, wherein the imported hand woven yarns or fabric strip width constituents, create many different and new textures and structures, within the felted woven, textile shapes, with many varieties of thread count densities and weights, showing intriguing, decorative hand woven, textural surface appearances, while at the same time providing a structural framework in the newly formed coherent, felted woven, fibre art textile shapes; and
- the new felted woven textile shapes, then provide wider multi-functional, utility applications; and
- the gauge sizes and shape sizes of the external and internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components and the multi-perpendicular hole perforations, into which they are fitted, also have an impact on the finished woven textural, density qualities and shaped open hole varieties, in the newly formed and completed felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
19. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said, wherein, the two different hand weaving functional procedures, that might be carried out during the said inventive method process, provide fibre artisans with the flexibility to employ, import and incorporate, two different hand woven components, during the said method process, all bringing many novel varieties to the felted woven, textile results; and
- either one, or both hand weaving functional procedures, might be employed in a single article; and
- the two hand woven components, may be composed of many different varieties of constituents; and
- whether the external weaving post peg components, or the inserted, internal weaving post peg or shaped peg components, or all, are utilized together, during the inventive method process, in a single item or for different items, as said, 100% woollen yarns, or woollen yarns with mixed fibres, or any number of yarns, synthetic or natural, as are generally utilized for knitting, weaving or crotchet methods, may also be employed as the warp and/or weft woven components for the woven structural framework; and
- long torn or cut up fabric strips, of various strip widths as desired, cut or torn from chiffon, tulle, georgette, voile, gauze, velvet, satin or twill weave fabrics, with the content of cottons, silks, linens, woollens, synthetics, nylon or acrylic fibres, or even recycled woollens or fabrics, may all be utilized as the hand woven constituents; and
- a fabric piece, having cut up, or torn strips at one end, or at one side only, may be incorporated as, or included with, the woven component, in the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, which results in, a completed fabric piece, having a felted, woven portion at one end or at one side only; and
- other fabric types, fabric strips or yarn combinations, may also be utilized in the dual hand weaving functional procedures, which naturally effects the final creative variety of the finished textile results, with regard to handle, appearances, flexibility, colour ways, performances and end usage; and
- very delicate, heavy duty or even a combination of these, thread count densities might be achieved, or even achieved juxtaposed in a completed single felted, woven textile article or shape, or shapes; and
- elastic, or shining elastics may also be utilized in combination with or as, a woven component, woven, in one or in both warp and weft directions, creating stretchy, ruching effects in the completed felted textiles, which are best woven on the larger and thicker, external weaving post peg components; and
- a fabric piece which has had many holes cut out of it, or laser or stencil cut out or burnt out, in many differing shapes, grid, circular or randomly shaped, may be laid out and set on a felting loom structure, over the first layer of the method's wispy woollen rovings, thereby, supplementing or replacing the woven component; and then, a second layer of wispy woollen roving tufts, may then be placed over the top of the cut out fabrics layer, along with woven yarns or materials, creating interesting texturing throughout the finished felted fabric piece; and
- the said woven component, imported during the inventive method's process and assisted, by the shaped felting loom framework structures, imbues the felted and woven, fibre art textile shapes and objects with new qualities, both functionally and/or decoratively, which are qualities that might usually be attributed to hand woven, hand knitted or crotchet textiles, rather than felted textiles; and
- the woven constituents may be hand woven around the weaving post peg components, a number of times to effect longer fringed, tufted or looped decorative effects, within the body structures, or at the completed textiles edges; and
- for some craft lovers, the need then for other traditional and fastidious, time consuming, or more complicated weaving practices or functionally demanding yarn handcraft techniques, may become supplemented, with this alternative handcrafting method process, by utilizing this alternative handcrafting apparatus kit, to produce their woollen based textiles; and
- the felting loom system's multi-shaped and sized, loom framework structures and the gauge sizes and shapes, of the external and internal weaving post peg and shaped peg components, employed, all have a further impact on the resultant woven properties and thread count densities, that the two hand weaving functional procedures, might bring to the completed felted woven, fibre art textile shaped items.
20. An inventive method process, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 9, carried out, by utilizing the felting loom system's manual handcrafting apparatus kit, as said, whereby, the completed textile results, achieve structural and surface textures, which show evident woven patterns, brought by the imported hand woven component, that further brings novel changes to the finished felted, fabric's structural framework properties; and
- these woven constituent properties then serve, to bring a wider range of decorative warp and weft features and practical utility, than felted fabrics or decorated felted fabrics, might normally have; and
- whereas, completed, wet felted fabric might normally be thick, matted and clumpy, with the new woven elements imported during the pre-felting and wet felting functional procedures, of the method process, the completed inventive felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, with the imported and encapsulated hand woven elements, become imbued then, with new and intriguing qualities; and
- the new qualities of strength, drape and flexibility, which are qualities normally attributed to hand woven or mechanically woven textiles, become new attributes of the newly felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, while the completed textiles, still retain and maintain the desirable and warm qualities, of felted woollen fabrics; and
- the newly imported hand woven elements, also, imbue body forming, flexibility qualities into the finished felted fibre art textile shapes, which become more versatile and suitable then, for producing high fashion and/or apparel items or luxury apparel, especially winter apparel articles, like jumpers, dresses, vests, ponchos, cardigans, shoulder capes and shrugs, hooded attire, shawls, scarves, or even blankets, all with no seam finishing or over-locking requirements; and
- some felted woven textile results, appear as an open felted lace, filigree, web or grid like, with open hole spaces, when delicate or low ply yarns are imported as the hand woven constituents and interlaced and then encapsulated, by the felting of the layered woollen fibrous components, in the new handcrafted fabric structures and the finished textile shapes, have a similar delicate hand and utility to the much more time consuming and functionally demanding handcraft methods of hand knitted lace, or hand crotchet lace fabrics; and
- when thicker ply, woollen and fibre yarn layers and/or thicker material or fabric strip width constituents are employed, for the hand weaving functional procedures, the end resultant appearances of the felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, thereby have similar appearances, to that of heavier or chunkier types of knitted, crotchet or heavily textured woven types of fabrics, with the warp and weft woven elements appearing intermittently, between the felted elements; and
- often the thicker woven elements, have raised, dimensional or undulating areas, or heavily rippled types of appearances, which create a chaotic, bulging and dense textured appearance, throughout the body structural frameworks and surfaces, of the newly felted woven, fibre art textile shapes.
21. A felting loom system and method, for producing felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, as recited in claim 1, whereby, a new and alternative manual handcrafting process, facilitated by the felting loom system's, portable apparatus kit, is provided; and
- the felting loom system's, apparatus kit components, provides then, an alternative creativity inspiring handcrafting device mechanism, to assist fibre artisans, with their wet felt-making practices, creating and pursuing innovative woollen textile designs and woollen and fibre art project accomplishments; and
- the felting loom system, apparatus kit, further, provides fibre artists with the means, to construct many possible varieties of loom block shapes and/or sizes to then, manufacture multi-functional felted woven, fibre art textile shaped merchandise, textile lengths, objects or apparel shapes, in many varieties of sizes, shapes, colours, textures, structural frameworks and/or constructed fibre art textile compositions, with many possible end usage applications; and
- produced in very economical time frames, compared to other time and functionally demanding handcrafting techniques, as said; and
- felted woven, fibre art textile shapes, with similar properties and utility to handmade knit wear, crotchet, hand woven textile shapes or hobby loom handcrafting techniques, may be created, when manufactured according to the inventive method process; and
- when considering how long it might take artisans to create handcrafted shapes or products, by hand, with hand weaving, knitting, crotchet or hobby loom handcraft techniques, the comparative economic time frame to complete similar sized and shaped articles, with similar qualities, properties and utility, on a felting loom framework structure, and by the said method process alternative, is exceedingly shorter, than the other, above mentioned more time consuming, labour intensive, handcrafting techniques; and
- the said method process when carried out by utilizing the felting loom system's manual and portable handcrafting apparatus kit, could thus provide the means for considerable creative flexibility and time and labour saving advantages for artisans, when producing comparable or similar shaped and sized products with similar qualities, properties and utility; and
- the new inventive method process, facilitated by the new handcrafting apparatus kit, as disclosed and described herein, could thus, provide many benefits and advantages to craft, textile and fibre artisans, fashion designers, textile designers, craft groups, artisan or charity communities or artisan cooperatives, of many ages, artistic abilities and skill levels.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 7, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2015
Inventors: Bonny Lawrence (Camberwell), Michael Anthony Burge Oam (Camberwell)
Application Number: 13/998,129
