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Mona Sams, MA, OTR
(540) 204-4480
mjsams@monasark.org
 


Working with Fiber

 

     The fiber from llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats and rabbits has tremendous potential for assisting with specific therapeutic goals.  Persons of all ages with special needs can learn to clean, card and felt fiber.  With felting there is wet felting and dry felting with specially designed needles.  Projects can be made from the processed fiber.

     Some of the therapeutic goals that can be accomplished while working with fiber:

  1. Increase in fine motor skills

  2. Practice with sequencing events

  3. Potential to overcome tactile defensiveness

  4. Increase self confidence with completion of worthwhile project

  5. Increase gross motor skills while carding wool with mechanical carder

  6. Allow for contact with natural fiber rather than plastics

  7. Allow for creativity through designing the colors and the projects

     Here are some photos of completed projects with a brief explanation.

Angel:
Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid,  cut from a pattern and stitched together.  Pipe cleaners used for wings and cross fiber was carded and wet felted

Chicken Coffee Cup Warmer: Fiber was carded and wet felted. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Details were needle felted to project.  Project was lined with cotton and hand stitched.

Fiber Ball for Stress Reduction:  Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid and wet felted into a ball.

Decorative Wall Hanging:  Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Background wet felted,  characters needle felted.  Yarn needle felted into flowers.

Door Hanging: Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Background wet felted,  Letters were needle felted in a cookie cutter.  Edge stitched with Blanker Stitch.

Shoulder Purse: Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Fiber wet felted,  characters needle felted. Purse lined with cotton and hand stitched. Braid made with wool.

Desk Decoration: Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Background wet felted,  Letters were needle felted in a cookie cutter.  Project mounted on an art board and placed in a hand made wood frame.

Clutch Purse: Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Fiber wet felted. Purse hand stitched.

Wall Hanging (Farm):  Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Background wet felted,  Figures were needle felted in a cookie cutter.  Wall Hanging lined with muslin.

Wall Hanging (Llama):  Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.  Background wet felted,  Figures were needle felted in a cookie cutter.  Wall Hanging lined with muslin.

Decorative Pins for Christmas:  Fiber carded with mechanical carder. Fiber dyed with Kool-Aid.   Pins were needle felted in cookie cutters.  Pins sewn on back.

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Last Updated 09/22/2009