Ruffle Scarf Workshop
Last week I taught a Ruffle Neck Scarf workshop. This was the first time teaching it and it went very well. I was worried about the timing but it all worked out. I thought the class at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. They have a nice big classroom with lots of light. and water.
As usual, I forgot to take pictures early but here are two of them being laid out
You can see the template they used to get the layout right and keep it even from one end to the other. I drew it with the outline to follow and a line on them to let them know when they had shrunk enough.
Here they are using the plastic under their scarves to make nice edges.
And a shot of the class working.
Here are the results. I really like the ones where you can see the wool that migrated through the silk.
The Class was a lot of fun. I made the written instructions more detailed than normal because I want to make it a kit. If I ever figure out video iI would like to make an online workshop. If you were to buy a kit for a ruffled scarf would you want it to be a short neck scarf or a long scarf? the only difference really would be the amount of wool included and the length of silk. I was thinking a short scarf but include the sizing to make a longer template too. I am wondering about the template I usually use thick plastic to draw it on. but it is too bulky to fold flat and too big to ship cheaply rolled up. Should I include a template on thinner plastic or just the instructions on how to draw it up on whatever you want to use?
14 thoughts on “Ruffle Scarf Workshop”
Lovely variety of scarves, Ann, I’m sure your students were thrilled. And what a great venue.
Good questions about the kit. I’d be inclined to offer 2 different kits – a long & a short with a suitable price difference. Mulling over the template question. I think it’s better to include everything that you can so would lean towards a thinner plastic one. However, if it’s going to push up costs or prices significantly (or take a lot longer) I don’t think it’s essential. Customers are obviously going to have to provide some of their own gear (towels etc) so I imagine can mark up a bit of plastic.
Thanks Lindsay. Two kits may be the answer. Thin plastic may work for the template.
I enjoyed this post, many felt projects leave me a bit…. ‘meh’… but I like these very much – practical and beautiful. As for your template dilemma, if you really can’t include the template then a pattern to be transferred to plastic would be helpful – sometimes people buy a kit because they really don’t want to be bothered with the measuring and drawing. Would you make the kits in a wide variety of colours? You could be giving yourself a lot of work.
Thanks Jane. I am glad you like it. I would offer the kit in a few colours I keep on hand.
Lovely scarves and a fab venue Ann!
If I bought a kit I would want all things included but in reality I can see that it could be impossible because of cost and difficulty of postage.
If I had to supply my own plastic I would very much appreciate a paper template. As long as it’s clear what’s in the kit and what’s not then all should be ok.
Good luck with the kits!
Thanks Lyn. It is a great place to do a workshop. I think a thin plastic template might be the easiest and lightest option.
Looks like a great class Ann. Sounds like the thin plastic template is the answer. You could roll it up around the other items in the kit and that would keep everything together and fairly easy to ship. Since things are soft and squishy, perhaps you could put it in a large padded envelope to ship? You could do this as an online class without the videos. Teri’s classes have no videos and students really like her classes. Sounds like you’re ready to go. We could start the class in 2019.
I think I can get everything into a large freezer bag and then into a shipping envelope I did that with the nunofelt bracelet kits. If I say yes then I guess I would have to do it wouldn’t I. I think I could enlist help in taking pictures. How do you ladies take pictures of the process for your classes?
I just go through the process and take step by step photos with the camera above the layout of stuff on the table. If I have a need to show hands in the photo, then my husband takes them. I use a tripod and that helps get better shots too.
I would like the ruffle scarf short to fit around my neck, with maybe a 6-7” overlap. The pattern template could just be drawn out on paper, which would allow a template to be traced on to the plastic of the maker’s choice.
Thanks Debbie. I like the short ones best myself. Paper would be good but its quite big to start and may end up adding a lot of weight. I think I will go with the thin plastic and then it can be used as is or traced onto somthing thicker.
It looks like a great class, Ann. I love the photos of the turquoise locks/red silk detail on the yellow and brown scarf.
I use cheap IKEA shower curtains for my templates, they are soft and vinyl and can be rolled up small. It takes the same amount of time and effort to put together a bigger kit as it does a smaller one, and it’s hard to explain the ‘costs’ of that to buyers and why one with half the fibres wouldn’t be much cheaper or even be half the price. So, I’d do a larger kit, and draw the two sizes of scarves on the template, then it is one kit for making one large or two small scarves.
If the plastic you use for templates is one you’d recommend, could you do what Ruth suggests and roll it around the other contents, and maybe ship the pack in a poster tube?
I think the thin plastic should work. the template doesn’t take any abuse like a resist does. Yes, they do take a lot of work to prepare. It would be nice to get a sale page set up on my site. I will work on taking some pictures. I think Jan might help me there.
It looked like the perfect venue for a classs. The students did a great job with the lively colored scarves. I’m with Debbie. A neck scarf with some overlap. Good luck with the kits. I think that’s a great idea and a sismple enough project.