Nuno scarf

Yesterday I spent the afternoon at the "studio" (my new digs) working on the nuno scarf I mentioned yesterday.

This was my first ever nuno project: felting into a fabric background.  It was a perfect day for it: sunny and warm, just right for working with water outside.

 In the kit I bought from Dancing Leaf Farm, there are instructions for felting using bubble wrap and tulle, but I wanted to try out this bamboo mat that I bought last summer at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival.

The scarf is laid out on the mat, sprinkled with cold water, then rolled up like this.  Applying pressure starts the felting process.

I mostly used my hands to apply the pressure. I found that rolling out bit by bit, rolling back and forth and back and forth over each section did a good job of getting the fibers to adhere to the silk scarf.

Adding hot soapy water really helped crinkled up the sides to form the ruffles.  I continued rolling with pressure, alternating hot water, cold water.

After a final rinse with cold water, the scarf was ready to hang up to dry.  Here it is fluttering in the eastside breeze.

Today's assignment: embellishing the scarf with beads!

Today's blog visit: Carla Sonheim starts a new online class today.  And it's not too late to take her husband Steve's class on photographing your artwork.  I'm signed up!