ACCESSORIZE IT: IPOD COZY
Materials
» 1 oz. clean, combed, and carded
wool fleece
» Thick, flexible flat plastic
(large yogurt top works well)
» Scissors
» An old pair of tights or knee-highs,
cut off about 10" from the toe
» 2-3 quart bowl
» Hot water
» Ivory dish soap
wrap the first layer horizontally around the mold,
the second vertically, the third horizontally again.
Evenly cover both sides and all edges. Carefully
slip fleece-wrapped mold into second stocking,
all the way to the toe. Tie a knot with excess material
of the stocking (above mold), taking care not to
alter rectangular shape of the mold.
4. Prepare to felt.
Fill the bowl ¾ full with hot (not boiling — you’ll
put your hands in it), very soapy water. Mix to
make loads of bubbles.
5. Felt the fleece.
Dip stocking-covered fleece so that it gets soaked
and soapy. Squeeze out excess water. Felt fleece by
rubbing wet, soapy stocking on textured surface,
using a fair amount of pressure, and working all
sides while maintaining the integrity of the shape.
» Textured surface that can get wet,
such as heavy duty bubble wrap (from
pool cover, about 2 feet square), a piece
of fiberglass screen, a washboard, a
rattan placemat, etc.
When it cools or dries out, repeat the above process.
Continue to rub the fleece on the textured surface
until it feels like it’s hardening and turning into felt
inside the stocking ( 15-20 minutes, depending on
the surface and amount of pressure applied).
Untie and carefully remove cocoon — some felt
might stick to the stocking. To modify the shape
or surface of the cocoon, work it directly on the
textured surface as described above. The longer
you felt, the denser it becomes.
6. Finish.
Once you’re happy with the shape and density
of the cocoon, cut a slit in one of the short ends
and remove the stocking-covered plastic mold.
Continue to shape and work the felt further from
the inside until you’re happy with the look and feel.
1. Trace the pattern.
Trace your iPod onto plastic, rounding corners, then Rinse soap out of the cocoon under running cold
cut out “mold.” water, then carefully squeeze out excess water.
2. Cover the mold.
Block to desired shape, and let dry (if necessary,
stuff paper towels inside to help hold its shape).
Place the plastic mold inside one of the stocking
feet, and neatly fold over extra material.
Then have a blast decorating your cocoon!
3. Layer the fleece.
Pull out lengths of fleece, evenly fluff them out, and Emily Drury is a textile artist living in Harrisville, N.H.
wrap around the covered mold, creating 3 layers of She designs, produces, and sells a small line of handmade
fleece going in alternating directions. For example, clothing and accessories.
