Cathy’s Nuno Felt 2
Today we have another guest post from Cathy about Nuno Felting. If you’d like to read the previous post and all the comments, please click here.
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Recently, I posted for the blog my first experience with nuno-felting, which was not too successful. Many of you replied with terrific advice and tips on nuno-felting. I used those tips, along with Zed’s e-book on Nuno Felt, to make another attempt. I am happy to report success!
I began with a pale green silk gauze scarf, hemmed, measuring 56″ x 20″. This was purchased on Etsy, as was the orange scarf used in my first nuno-felt experience.
Armed with my new knowledge, I laid out merino roving in green, teal and gold, covering one side with 3 layers. This time I used a rubbery rug mat as my base, covered by bubble wrap, then wool.
…and then flipped the package over…
and laid out pale green merino in bands, about every 6 inches.
This time I covered with a white polyester curtain sheer and began spraying using a Brauser ball and olive oil soap water–COOL this time–I began hand rubbing, spreading the water and continually rubbing GENTLY. I lifted the sheer to make sure fibers were not coming through (but they were!) Repeated process on underside of scarf, replacing bubble wrap with curtain sheer.
After sufficient felting by hand rubbing, I laid on bubble wrap…
… and began rolling my wooden foot massager over the nuno-felt package.
I remembered to turn several times, so as to cover all angles. Repeated the process on underside. I forgot to time myself. After sufficient rolling, checking first side … then second side … I now felt ready to try the washer spin method of felting/fulling. So I rolled the package in a wet towel, leaving bubble wrap inside and tied shoelaces around it.
Four minutes in washer spin cycle, then popped the scarf only into a lingerie bag and put in dryer for 4 minutes. Good thing I looked after 4 minutes, because the scarf jumped out of the lingerie bag and was folded in half. I carefully peeled it apart (phew!) and there you go!
Long view:
Close up:
Underside, see prominent green bands:
Close up of underside:
There was a little shrinkage (finished scarf measures 49″ x 15″) but I would have liked to see more ruching or ruffling effects. I consider this a success and am ready to try my third scarf, hopefully improving along the way!
Many thanks to all of you who wrote in and provided sound advice to a newbie nuno-felter!
19 thoughts on “Cathy’s Nuno Felt 2”
Perfect!!
Sent from my iPhone
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Well done Cathy, I’m pleased to see your perseverance has paid off 🙂
Great job! I would try less wool if you want to see more of the ruching effects. Also, gauze doesn’t ruche as much as some other fabrics like habotai. But now that you’ve gotten the idea, just keep experimenting and you’ll find what you like best.
Okay, please disregard the first message “Perfect” which was for Zed in response to her working with my text and photos above. Don’t know how I managed to do that! Did I mention I am technologically challenged?
Thanks Teri and Ruth! I do plan to switch to other kinds of silk for further experimentation.
It’s lovely! And it sounds like you enjoyed the felting – I reckon that foot roller might be more effective than those fancy rolling pins. Yes, less wool for more ruching though.
Nice job Cathy! Definitely less wool, just wisps work nicely. I will have to try the roller and washer and dryer. I use gauze a lot and have gotten some nice results. I have yet to felt the habotai. Keep experimenting!
Thanks, Lyn and Marilyn. I really have enjoyed this nuno-feltng process! Of course it’s much more rewarding when you have success. I remember reading somewhere that habotai can be tricky to felt, but I’m ready for the challenge.
i read on Dharma Trading Company’s site that habotal is very good for Nuno Felting – any comments from those who have used it? Also is it sold in fabric stores – I like to touch and feel before I purchase if possible.
Great results Cathy. If you want it to rush more you could wet it again and throw it a little. It will shrink more though. You are on your way to many hours of happy nuno felting.
Shadyrr I use the 5 mm habotai from dharma all the time. It is what I use when I teach as well. It works well.
Thanks for the tip, Ann! I did not know that you could ruche more after felting and fulling but I think I will move on to the next project. Good to know for the future.
I think I’ve only used scraps of silk gauze for embellishment, but it isn’t as shiny as some other silks is it? The silk chiffon I use just sinks into the wool, that’s not ‘shiny’ either. I know shiny isn’t really the word I’m after but you know what I mean 🙂 Habotai does give better results for ruching and rippling. If you can find some cheap to experiment with, make a few samples with different amounts of wool. Like Marilyn said try wisps, very fine amounts. You don’t have to cover all the silk, that will give you ‘pockets’ or ‘bubbles’ of silk when it’s felted.
It looks like you’re really enjoying experimenting and the colours are really nice and the rippling on the underside 🙂
Zed, the silk gauze I used is not shiny at all, and neither does it have much of a sheen. I agree, same for silk chiffon. Although I usually go with the “less is more” approach, I think I overdid it with the amount of wool I used in this scarf, since in my Nuno 1 attempt, I used very little wool. Now I understand it was not just about the wool! Thanks for all your help, particularly making sense of my wording and photo line-up for this post.
You’re welcome, sorry I was so dense about it!
We learn something from everything we make. As long as you’re having fun and learning along the way is a bonus 🙂
Havin’ a ball!
I replied to this but it’s gone – sigh. I use habotai and it isn’t hard as long as you use 8mm or less. 8 is a little tricky when you first start so i would begin with 5. It does have a more shiny appearance. Heavier silks will work with a lot of patience but not good for a beginner. I haven’t been able to find habotai locally but Dharma is great and will send out swatches if you want to see/feel the different silks before investing your money.
Thanks, Ruth. I’ve looked on Dharma and see their wide selection of silks, but since they are all white, that means dyeing. Another challenge!
But a fun one 🙂
You might try Thai silks – I think they have more selection of colored silks. Might be pricey though.
Checked out Thai Silks, and their colored scarves cost about what I paid on Etsy. White ones are a bargain, but we’ll see how I do with the dyeing process tomorrow. And yes, I will post photos!