Friday 18 November 2011

How to Make a Wool Felt Scarf (in Photos)



  A photo collection of the steps I take in making one of my handmade wool felt scarves. 

Laying out the layers. Base layer is striped blended Merino & Blue Faced Leicester roving. Second layer is a fine distribution of solidly died BFL wool roving laid perpendicularly to the first. 
Third layer of green BFL roving matches direction of first layer.
Wet down with hot soapy water & close up any gaps with extra green wool.
Netting down and light felting using felting stone and soap. All the fibers will stick to one another, but still can easily be pulled apart like a cotton ball.
Tending the edges making sure all loose fibers get worked back towards the center.
Felting by friction. Rolled up in bubble wrap and then a towel, the lightly felted scarf under goes increasing amount of pressure in rolling. Takes about 20 minutes of solid effort. I like using my legs and feet- it saves my back!
Felt! Now it is time for Fulling. Fulling is the tightening up and solidification of felt. The scarf can hold together on it's own at the felt stage, but is not durable. Fulling makes it into the fabric most people consider a "felted" item. Fulling = Hot water + throwing + punching + squeezing + rubbing + time
The finish felted wool scarf. Notice, it has lost almost half it's length and nearly a third of it's width. 





Visit www.entworks.etsy.com for more of my hand made collection of woolen products.

Wednesday 2 November 2011

Poppy Appeal

The Royal British Legion has started their Poppy Appeal and EntWorks is supporting the cause with felted wool flower pins. 100% of the profit will be donated to help "providing welfare, comradeship, representation and Remembrance for the Armed Forces community." 

For more information, please go to http://www.poppy.org.uk/