shoes

After all the Pink Ribbon activity in October

came some serious felting

in the first two weekends of November.

The regional group

of our Dutch felting society

(VKG)

gave us the opportunity

to make shoes or boots.

(some of the members did a real shoe-workshop,

then made another pair and then

five of them wanted to teach us)

With three together

we carpooled to the tree-nursery region

where one of the members has a felting studio

in a greenhouse.

The sun was shining ...

but at first it was COLD !

(but we were warned :

and had many layers of clothing !)

After measuring our feet

we had to adjust the lasts according to those measures.

Iiiiiiieeeee not nice, cutting into the styrofoam !

We also made the reinforcement for the heel

Weighing the wool, making the resist for the felt,

and having a nice lunch filled up that first day.

The next day the serious felting began !

Still COLD but the sun heated up the greenhouse quit nicely.

Starting with the  B I G  resist !

The first of many layers ! 

After working for a considerable time

I could cut the form in half

making two shoes

After a bit more felting I put in the lasts

and continued felting

to let them shrink to the form.

We took the half finished shoes home.

Luckily I could take out the lasts without

having to cut the sole !!!

Then there was more felting, till they fit around my feet !

After they were dry I could cut the shape I wanted :

I decided for booties instead of shoes with laces.

Next weekend was the final day :

punching holes for laces,

gluing in the contrefort and putting on the soles.

...........

Ta-daaaaah !

Very happy !

(some others too !)

It was a LOT of work

but soooooo much FUN !