How to create a “cobweb” scarf in wool and silk using the wet felting technique
Scarf material:
- Merino Wool
- Silk thread
- Water
- Washing-up detergent or neutral soap
- Bubble wrap
- Rubber mat (a bamboo mat can also be used)
- Water spray bottle
- Thin and flexible plastic (Clingfilm can also be used)
- Malleable roll (e.g. tubes used to insulate hot water pipes or tubes used in swimming classes)
Exemple of Merino Wool in shades of pink:
Silk in shades of pink:
Instructions for Scarf manufacture:
Choose a suitable work surface that can tolerate water, e.g. a table or bench where you can put an old Turkish towel.
Lay the rubber or bamboo mat and place on its entire length a plastic.
On these (mat + plastic) open and stretch the wool. Important note: in normal felting there is a “shrinkage” of about 30% in length of wool fibres, thus, if you want a scarf of 1,40m, e.g. you’ll have to stretch the wool approximately through 2,00m.
In this project the width of the wool is about 45cm and the length 2,00m.
Stretching the wool on the mat:
Stretched wool:
Pictures of silk spreading over the stretched wool (buy these materials now!):
In the Felting Process some of the materials exemplified in the following picture are used:
Over the wool and silk, once properly stretched, sprinkle tepid water and detergent or soap.
Picture of impregnated work in the solution of water/detergent
After this operation, place over the work a transparent plastic or a polyester thin fabric similar to those used in curtains. Press the work with the hands in order to ensure that all the wool is soaked in the solution water + detergent or soap. This stage is important because it will ensure a smaller displacement of fibers during the rolling process.
The next phase is rolling the work using a flexible roll as a support according to the following images.
And the process is repeated between 100 and 150 times thereafter unroll in order to verify the work and invert (alter/change) the rolling direction.
Then make the "pinch test" to verify if the fibres are stuck together.
Unroll and rinse the work first in very hot water and then in plenty of cold one to remove all soap or detergent. Dry it using a Turkish towel and stretch the work preferably in a smooth surface, then leave it in the shade to finish drying.
Final result: an extra chic and gorgeous scarf. CONGRATULATIONS!
You can buy these materials here!
