flowers: [machine_needle_felting] scarf

i love makeing things from reclamied items and haveing seen some very nice scarves useing needle felting techs but costing a weeks wages i decided to sit and experiment
i did however cheat as the lady in the shop was actually creating one of the scarves, so i sneaked a peek
the next stop was our local thrift shops for some chiffon or silk scarves.
the next day i decided to have a go at creating one of the scarves but only placing the felting at the two ends of the scarf but also giving it tassles.
What would I need . A nice flat surface, a large sheet of plastic to protect teh tqble top from water, some bubble wrap. A spray bottle of warm water with added washing up liquid to make bubbles. a sponge. and some saran wrap or clingfilmand of course the scarf and some wool roving in iether matching or contrasting coloures.
cover the table with some plastic sheeting to protect its surface from the water.
place a length of bubble wrap down
lay the scarf down with one of the ends faceing you on top of the bubble wrap
you will only be working on the bottom three inches of the scarf so be sure the bubble wrap is long enough for the three inches plus the tassels you will be makeing.
lay some of the roving along the bottom edge of the scarfe going up the scarf about three inches right eh way across it, pull off some long strands and let them fall one inch above the bottom line and at least four inches below, (these will be the tassels or fringing)
spray the wool roving gently with the water spray you do not need it too wet. take the sponge and dab it all over the roving to press the water into the wool and make sure there are no air pockets and to also take away any surplus. it should also generate some nice bubbles.
gentley rubb your hands over the roving to mesh it make sure the fringing is also worked and twisted and pulled into shape.
haveing made sure there is a nice amount of suds, place some saran wrap over the top of the wool roving and then roll it up like a swiss roll with the bubble rap the roving and thee saran wrap being kept nice and neat,
Make sure you go past the roving by at least five inches so that all the massage it will now get will work on the section you want it to
just roll it back and forward so that the bubble wrap will do the job for you
if unsure then google for wet felting vidios. Unroll it every few minutes and twist and rub the tassles and then keeping them long roll it all up again and continue till it has firmly meshed. keep this damp after ist all unrolled by popping it into a plastic bag and just pinning it .
repeat the above with the opposite end.
you can now take the scarf to the sink and useing alternate hot soapy and cold ring gently rub the meshed ends between your hands paying attention to those tassles.
I now like to actually steam dry the meshed section as that makes the wool shrink in even more and tightens the fabric.
do not burn the scarf.
you can add beads to the tassles if you wish or just let them hang down like icicles..
i will pop a photo into an album for you to see how my first one turned out. I uses some tartan organza that i had been given.
i do hope this will help you to experiment.
annie in the UK