DIY Network

Scarf With Felt Medallions Be a fashion leader in this medallion-embellished scarf. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-223

Carol Huber Cypher and Melissa Halvorson, of the Fearless Fiber Mavens, add colorful hand-felted medallions to a silk chiffon scarf.

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	Scarf With Felt Medallions
	Finished medallions

Materials:

bubble wrap
plastic grocery bags
a piece of pipe insulation used as a roller
skewer
cool soapy water
basin
towel
scissors
rubber gloves
size-10 beading needle
leg portion of pantyhose
90"x12" piece of silk chiffon
1/4 oz.merino wool roving for each of 4 colors
beading or upholstery thread
polyester sewing thread
45 grams of size-6 degrees seed beads
single-edge razor blade

1. Grasp the end of the wool roving with your hands at least 5" apart. Pull some wisps of fiber from the roving. Notice that the fibers are parallel to each other. Overlap about 8 pull-offs of wisps, covering an area 5"x5".

2. Lay a skewer 1" in from one edge (figure A). Swirl the skewer until it catches the fiber in the grain of the wood. Continue to simply swirl the skewer until the wool collects (imagine a scary cotton swab) (figure B). Roll just the skewer, pressing against the table or your hand, compressing the fibers.

Figure A

Figure B

3. Repeat step 1 with another color. Choose one of a contrasting color or value.

4. Repeat step 2, but collect this layer on the wool that has already been collected on the skewer.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4.

6. Exercise the option to repeat steps 3 and 4 once again.

7. Slide the stick out of the wool cigar.

8. Use the razor blade or very sharp scissors to slice dry 1/2" slices from the wool cigar (figure C).

9. To design the scarf, place one end of the scarf on the bubble wrap, smooth side up. Decorate it with the slices (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

10. Pour 1 oz. of cool soapy water on each medallion. Cover the decorated are with crispy plastic (such as the high-density crinkly plastic used in grocery bags) and rub the area with a flat hand in large circular movements.

11. Twist the scarf once and place the opposite end on top of the plastic-covered end. Be sure to twist it so the design is on the same side of the scarf on both ends.

12. Decorate this end of the scarf.

13. Repeat step 10. Continue to rub for 5 minutes.

14. Neatly fold up the undecorated portion of the scarf and place it on top of the plastic.

15. Place the roller (a piece of pipe insulation cut with a bread knife to fit the bubble wrap) on an edge of the bubble wrap. Roll the bubble wrap/silk/plastic sandwich up snugly on the roller (figure E). Secure with a leg of the pantyhose tied in a bow (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

16. Roll this back and forth from elbow to fingertips, in broad motions, using no pressure, for about 100 times.

17. Unroll, place the roller on another edge and reroll. Continue rolling for 100 times.

18. Repeat step 17 on all 4 edges of the bubble wrap.

19. To full it, remove the scarf. Roll it gently along the bubble-side up for about 5 minutes (figure G). Check the back of the silk to see that the wool is working its way through the weave.

20. Dunk the scarf in hot water. Roll again with more pressure.

21. Dunk in hot water again. Throw it powerfully again the floor or table to shock the wool into the weave of the silk. Notice the ruche of the silk caused by the shrinking wool.

22. Vigorously rinse in hot water, cool water, hot water. Squeeze out excess water and hang the scarf to dry.

23. Bead the edge using South African scallop stitch, picot edge, netting or fringe (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

RESOURCES :

Hand-Felted Jewelry and Beads: 25 Artful Designs
By Carol Huber Cypher
Interweave Press, May 2006
Website: www.interweave.com

GUESTS :

Carol Cypher
E-mail: carol@carolcypher.com
Website: www.carolcypher.com

Melissa Halvorson
E-mail: spinninganddyeing@yearofthegoat.biz
Website: www.yearofthegoat.biz