My current project: A needlefelted silk/wool shawl
This is a work-in-progress of a silk/wool blend twill shawl that is being entirely overlaid with silk roving (I think there's a bit of Merino wool mixed with it, too). I'll be adding additional yarns and fabrics for texture but I'm finishing the initial 'fabric creation' stage right now.
I want to share a fringing technique that has worked well with this shawl project to give it an interesting edge finish. The possible finished length of your fringe will vary somewhat according to the staple length of the fibers you are working with. This is not filament silk, so it does have a somewhat consistent staple length, similar to wool, cotton or other natural fibers. (Silk is the only naturally occurring filament fiber.) Silk that is not in filament form is technically considered lesser quality than filament silk, but it's perfect for incorporating into needle felting.
The Needle Felted Fringe: Step One - Fiber Preparation
In preparation for creating my fringe, I first pulled staples of fibers from my roving. You can see the long piece of roving just to the right of my pile of staple length pieces. (click on any photo to see a larger image)
Pulling the staple pieces first helped me to keep the fiber length consistent. I piled my pieces just to the side of my needle felting machine to make them easy to reach.
Step Two - Fiber Placement
Lay the fiber so that the middle of the length is approximately centered over the edge of the hem, or just to the inside of the hem.
Step Three - First Row of Felting
Punch the fibers into the fabric along the edge of the hem, which is also approximately the middle of your chunk of fiber staples. Make just one needle punch width, as shown. (click photo for larger image)
Step Four - Fold Toward Edge
Fold the fibers toward the hem edge along the needle felted 'seam'.
Step Five - Second Row of Felting
Punch the fibers into the fabric again, along the folded edge of the fibers and the hem edge. The more thoroughly you punch the fibers, the stronger the attachment of your fringe will be.
Enjoy! My silk fringe does shed a little bit but it is plenty strong to hold up to normal shawl use. I love the shaggy look and softness it gives to the edge of my shawl. These gorgeous hand-dyed fibers look like a sumptuous, exotic fur when needle felted into a fabric base. I'm gearing up for teaching a class of needle felting silk onto silk to create textured 'fabrics' at the Houston International Quilt Festival at the end of the month. I can't wait - I am very excited to share these wonderful fibers and fabrics with my students!
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