The Science of Felting

As an educator in training years ago, I learned all about the scientific method.  Hypothesis, controlled variables, experiment, results....   And years before that I worked for several scientists at Montana State University.  I love science!  It was always my favorite subject to teach.

So as I sat at my felting table the other day it struck me how much of what I am doing today as a felter is all about science.  Yes there is very much an art form to it, but there is also a great deal of science too.  Each time I set about to do a piece it is an experiment....I combine wool and other natural fibers with a variety of natural (silk) and synthetic materials and see what happens...problem is I often have blown the controlled experiment process by introducing more than one new variable in each new experiment....but I like the surprises!  They are what keeps me going...the anticipation of seeing what the result of all my combinations will yield.  I know if I approached this more scientifically - having only one new variable - I would be able to replicate my work.  But...well...that is just too stifling and so I guess that is why it is called art instead.