Felted Fiber Art Night Light

Materials:

night light frame
6" x 12" sheet .7ml mylar
two 12" x 12" pieces water-soluble fabric stabilizer
1/8th pound Merino wool rovings: yellow, black
black marker
sewing machine
black thread
fast-drying strong glue
sushi mat
scissors
votive candle
white paper
pencil
embroidery hoop
paper towels
iron
beaded fringe
lamp

1. Use a pencil to trace the frame on a piece of white paper. Draw a grid or a design on the shape of the frame you just traced. Be sure to extend the design lines at least 1/4 inch past the frame to allow for shrinkage (figure A).

2. Use a black marker to trace the design on to the center of one of the water-soluble stabilizer squares by laying the design under the stabilizer (figure B).

3. Lay wool pieces on top of the design on the stabilizer as desired. If making stripes, roll snakes of the wool on the dry sushi mat (figure C). Tip: When working with wool rovings, gently tear small hanks to separate pieces. Do not cut with scissors.

4. Once the design in covered, lay the other piece of water-soluble stabilizer over the wool to make a sandwich. You will now need to flip the whole thing over so that you can see the design (figure D). You may pin it to help everything stay together, or simply roll the sandwich and then flip.

5. Put entire piece in embroidery hoop and stitch lines (figure E). You may need to move the hoop from time to time. To ease in sewing, lightly sprinkle top and bottom with baby powder.

6. Once the sewing is completed, remove from hoop and place on sushi mat in a kitchen sink with the drain open. Pour a full kettle of boiling water on the wool piece (figure F).

7. When cool, rinse with cool water if necessary to release any stabilizer that did not melt. Fold in half and then in half again, and gently squeeze water out of the piece, but do not wring.

8. Place between two pieces of paper towel and iron dry with a medium/hot iron (figure G).

9. Use design pattern to trace for shape of mylar. Cut mylar with scissors (figure H).

10. Glue mylar piece to frame, shiny side out (figure I).

11. Glue wool piece over mylar. For control, glue top first, then bottom and then sides (figure J).

12. Trim wool edges to about 3/8 inch (figure K).

13. Use 1/2-inch-wide black cloth tape to tape wool edges to inside of frame (figure L).

14. Glue fringe trim on top and bottom (figure M).

15. Attach light.