Friday, August 14, 2009

Can we say... OMG! What were you thinking or were you?

Today was Pennsic laundry day. Today also required a nap but that was a different story. My daughter and I dragged mundane laundry, bedding and our garb laundry to the local laundromat with a stop at Starbucks on the way. Necessity, of course. *grin*

Filling the machines and then waiting.. when transferring to the dryers it was then I saw what I did! At Ice Dragon in 2008 I had purchased this gorgeous length of wool. Granted not my persona really but raspberry purple and deep forest green, I am so there. So I bought it and coveted it for the perfect project then decided that project would be a Turkish coat that I could keep the chill off at Pennsic and for winter garb wear. So.... boldly! I went at this piece of fabric with scissors and a picture in my mind of how I wanted it to look when finished and came out with a finished garment that was not to shabby. It was just the outside with the plan to line it this winter and it was oversize which I really liked and planned on making it super warm to wear. We needed it one night at Pennsic, I froze all night. (Air beds get cold and stay cold - which is another Pennsic camp box project. A wool blanket for a mattress pad.)

I have been working with wool for 15 years. I know the properties of it, know how to spin and felt it. Know how to take it from sheep to spinning wheel bobbin.... and apparently, today, I did not know NOT TO WASH IT IN A WASHING MACHINE! There, the ugly truth and confession... I agitated my wool Turkish coat! I know you wool experts feel my pain!

It did full rather beautifully though I didn't want it that way. And it might not be a total wash. While not an oversize coat (Ferace) like I wanted, it just might be a toasty warm Yelek though not silk that is lined but... fulled wool! So while not a total tragedy yet.. it just went with the vein of the day. I had a brainless day, it took two rides around the block to actually remember I was going to the bank... the look on my daughters face was priceless by the way.. so why not wash that wool!

Pictures:


The OMG, look at this moment.



As you see, it did full nicely!




The left over pieces were sewn into a rectangle shawl. This is not washed as you see.




Hrm.....