Make your own paper?

[QueenRed]

Hello there,

I'm new to the forum so bare with me. Well, I've actually been lurking for a few weeks, but that's just a technicality.

Anyway, I've been trying to learn new skills (I learned to crochet last night!) and I thought paper making would be interesting. I saw someone on here offering milkweed seeds and I know milkweed can be used in making paper, so I was thinking maybe I would grab some of those.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone around here does that and if so, could you give a girl some pointers along with some instructions?

Also suggestions on other skills to learn would be awesome. I'm interested in needle tatting as well. Need some way to decorate my knitted hats.

 

[HannaLee]

I'm fairly new here, too. I do not make paper, but follow the blog of a couple of ladies that do. It's a very good blog, all around.

http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/

Sewing basic clothes is a great SS activity. Knitting socks, hats, etc, too. I crochet well, but haven't learned to knit. Maybe you can inspire me...

 

[Farmfresh]

Welcome QueenRed!

Again no paper making knowledge. People around here would probably be MOST interested in making toilet paper! We are an odd lot.

I just wanted to welcome you and congratulate you on your new crochet skills.

I am a knitter myself. I just never could get very fast with a crochet hook.

 

[Bettacreek]

I had thought about doing this to make sleeves for my soaps. How do you make it out of milkweed? With the fluff?

 

[FarmerChick]

I saw it being done and seemed very time consuming and that was something I don't have --time...LOL

paper turned out really nice.

 

[Wifezilla]

I taught kids to make paper. It was a riot. Messy, time consuming, but fun.

 

[okiegirl1]

I did it once for a mother's day gift.

it turned out more like card stock, but I mixed a packet of flower seeds in the paper pulp. That way mom could just tear up the card and bury the pieces. poof, flowers! Great idea, but she never did it. The card was too "special", so it just sits in a drawer.

 

[Bettacreek]

Okie, that is a really great idea! I love it.

 

[Ldychef2k]

I did have a paper making phase some years ago and enjoyed it a great deal. I made the paper out of paper toweling and junk mail, used a deckle and frame that was half of a 8 1/2 x 11, so I folded it and made a kind of a cover for a note card. Cut parchment or vellum a bit smaller for the inside "write on" part, attached the two, some with punched holes and raffia for a tie. I also used homemade paper as the backing for my wedding invitations.

L-O-V-E the idea of using it to plant flowers. VERY cool.

You asked for instructions, well, here's what I did. YMMV.

Build or buy two open frames that are the size you wish your final piece of paper to be. Across one, staple a piece of fine screen. You will place the unscreened one on top of the screened one and hold them together when dipping in the slurry.

Make a slurry ! I used a plastic tub or a small sink which was about half again the size of the frame. In it, I placed very warm water and torn up paper towels and junk mail. Sometimes I used white paper towels and turn up bits of construction paper if I wanted a particular color. Let these dissolve in the very warm water and then add a couple of tablespoons of liquid starch.

The amount of paper in the water (together called a slurry) will determine the thickness of your paper. Too little paper will result in gaps in the final paper, too much will make a thick sheet that will feel unnatural. However, very heavy sheets can also be made as covers for albums or scrapbooks. You will have to test this to find the right amount for your liking. You can add extras like seeds or threads of color, etc., at this point, or as below*.

Disturb the water with your hands so that the pieces are floating in the water. Placing the open frame on top of the screened frame (screen side up) and with an away downward scooping motion enter the slurry with the frame. Watching the water for even distribution of the paper pulp, swish the deckle and frame slowly and then slowly lift from the slurry. The water will mostly drain through and you can see the paper in the frame. If you are satisfied with the appearance, remove the contraption from the water and let it drain for a minute or two. If not, return it to the water, dip swish and lift again until you like the result.

Place the deckle and frame on a bath towel. *Add extras at this point, if desired. Using a sponge, press down on the wet paper to remove as much moisture as possible. Remove the frame.

You will have prepared rough squares of muslin or some other fine grained cotton fabric to receive the page. Invert the deckle on this sheet of muslin (which is on something absorbant) and again using the sponge press firmly to remove more water. This pressing should transfer the paper from the deckle to the muslin. Peel the muslin with the sheet of paper on it from the deckle, make sure it is flat, and set aside for a day or so to completely dry.

At this point, if you are not happy with the result, return the page to the water and try again. Actually, you can do that at any point.

When you have mastered this process, you can advance to such things as imbedding dried flowers between two very thin layers of pulp. I never got that good !

Hope that wasn't too confusing or didn't dissuade you from trying to make paper. It's really a lot of fun. When I was in my paper making phase, I had squares of muslin drying all over the house!!!

Oh, when the paper has dried and you peel it from the muslin, be sure and remove the bits of residue from the muslin, and then iron it flat, or the wrinkles will transfer to thinner sheets of paper. Sometimes, though, that texture is welcome.

 

[QueenRed]

Wow, lots of replies! Thanks everyone!

@HannaLee:

Thanks for the link. I checked it out last night and will start taking notes today!

@FarmFresh:

I can't crochet very fast. In fact, I can't hold it right. Your supposed to be able to pull the strings over the one you just wrapped around the needle with just one hand, but I haven't managed to figure out how to do that. :/

@bettacreek:

I believe you use the stems and things like that. I was going to use the fluff for other stuff. You can use all sorts of plants to do it though. It's really interesting!

@okiegirl1:

I love the idea of adding seeds to it. I think my mother would like that as well. She loved the knitted hat I gave her, so I may try that for Christmas or something. We're poor at the moment and can't afford normal gifts.

@ldychef2k:

You are super! About the frames, where would I find one of those? Could I modify a picture frame (i don't know if that will work..) or something like that?