Glossary

Terms Related to SWiFT

D:

Divided Stack: Sections of a single stack that are felted individually with the same or nearly the same stack height.

E:

Edge blocking: Holding a finger or tool at  the edge of a stack to prevent core wool from creeping past the edges.
Edge Gather: felting a boundary edge of a pile of core wool before felting down the center of the pile. (See sidebar for details.)

M:

Methods (within the SWiFT process):
Divided Stack Method: A layer that is felted to similar heights, but with separated sections.
Blended Stack Method: A layer is felted to specific height points or lines and then core wool is felted in between them in a smooth gradient blend.
Squared Stack Method: Felting each Stack with (mostly) hard edges that are rounded off after the profiles are combined.

S:

Sculpture Firm: The wool is felted firm enough that the sculpture is solid and won't move if picked up and put down.
Side Packing: Felting in the edges of a stack to remove creep and pack the wool in tighter.
Spit Rolls and Balls: Making tighter rolls of and balls of wool by licking the palm of the hand or fingers (or wetting lightly with water) then rolling wool between the hands/fingers. Click here for a picture and more details.
SWiFrame: A method for making legs using a frame of thin wire, and winding wool around it while securing it to sheet felt.

T:

Types of Sculptures:
Cute Sculpture: the sculpture is a dog (for example), but is cartoony caricature of one.
Recognizable Sculpture: The end result would look like a dog (for example) but not a specific pet. Details should lean toward realism.
Likeness Sculpture: The sculpture resembles a specific pet 
Realistic Sculpture: Attention is paid to every detail to create a photo-like sculpture in appearance and pose. The personality of the specific animal must shine through. No detail is too small.

P:

Profile Marker: Profile lines that use a gradient to indicate a high point. Felt the high point then blend down to the previous Stack.

W:

Wool Mash: Most color top coat wool is roving that is brushed so that all the fibers flow in the same direction.  You turn roving top coat wool into wool mash by pulling it apart, crossing the fibers, and pulling it apart and crossing it up some more.