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The word “felt” reveals so much about how this fabric is
made. Its
creation is a gradual (and somewhat messy!) process, in
which the fibers are
“felt” by the maker into fabric. The touch of
human hands, kneading and pressing
the soft fibers together, can almost
be seen in the finished fabric, giving it a
natural, organic quality.
The result is a fabric perfectly suited for this
project, which is
inspired by the vibrancy and warmth of autumn leaves.
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Project Designed and crafted by Nancy Rosenbaum •
Text by Jane Asper
Even if you can’t tell a knitting needle from a crochet hook, you’ll love
making these luscious felted wool scarves. The process of felting, in which
clouds of colorful fibers are pressed into a sturdy fabric, is more like
kneading dough than it is like any kind of traditional needlework.
What is felted wool?
All fabrics are composed of threads or yarns held together in some
way.
Unlike woven, knitted, or even crocheted fabrics, which are
all created
by
methodical and precise manipulation of yarns,
the process of felting
is much
more free form. There are three
basic steps in making flat
pieces of felt:
first, a pile of
wool fibers that have not been spun
into yarn is laid out in a
certain way. Then water is applied to the
pile of wool, or
batt (see felting
terms, on your left). Next, the pile of wet
wool is
pressed and manipulated by hand
until the fibers bond with each
other. The felt is allowed to dry, and the
result is a soft,
spongy
fabric that, because of how it’s made, can’t ravel at
the
edges.
Felted Scarves page
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