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From: Sparky
Date: 12-06-2005, 09:53 AM (1 of 5)
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Help? I've seen this done, and it looks like something I'd like to try, so I thought I'd google it up some instructions. But I can't look it up because I don't know what it's called! The technique is this: you stitch through several layers of felt. You stitch rows--or if you're more advanced, patterns-- through the several layers, then you carefully cut in between your stitching but only cut the top layer(s). When you're finished, you throw the whole thing in the washer (and dryer???) and the cut edges of the felt curl up, and the whole thing looks like chenille, or almost like corduroy, or ... like something really pretty, anyway. I've seen scarves (mufflers) done this way and they looked almost like they'd been knitted and were very soft. So, like I said, I don't quite know how to do this. How many layers do I use? Do I make the scarf wider to allow for shrinkage? Will it shrink? Should I wash it in cold or hot water? Should I put it in the dryer? Is it harder than it looks? Is it as hard as it looks? Where can I learn more? How far apart do I make the rows of stitching? Oh yeah, and what is this called, anyway? I just know some of you have done this. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 12-06-2005, 05:37 PM (2 of 5)
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Sparky, That technique is called making chenille. I have not heard of anyone doing it with felt, though. That seems too heavy to me. Most people use cotton or cotton flannel and do about 4 layers and cut through all but the last layer to make it fluff out prettily. Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: SummersEchos
Date: 12-06-2005, 06:10 PM (3 of 5)
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Sparky, Yep that is chenille. I used the wool felt that fabric stores carry now a day. The wool felt was a jacket. I used 3 layers of the felt to chenille and it was only for the pockets. I threw it in the washer and dryer, to get it to shrink as much as it would and to fluff it up some. Then I cut the pocket out of the washed and dried wool felt and placed on the jacket. The whole jacket was made of this wool felt, and I do not know if the person I made it for has it washed or dry cleaned. Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: Sparky
Date: 12-13-2005, 03:33 PM (4 of 5)
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I did it! I took three layers of wool felt, stitched rows and sliced between the two outer layers and the middle with a handy chenelling slicer. That gizmy worked like a dream! I also cut through all three layers on the ends to make a fringe. I machine washed (hot water) and dried it and it looks like it was knitted. It's really thick and warm. It's a bit scratchy, but what can you expect with wool? And it only took a few hours to make. Thanks for your help. Sparky
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User: Sparky
Member since: 03-13-2005 Total posts: 94 |
From: AndreaSews
Date: 12-13-2005, 07:55 PM (5 of 5)
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I'm so glad you got back to us about how it went! I saw Nancy Zeiman demonstrate the same technique on her show, Sewing with Nancy. Her book, (https://www.nancysnotions.com/NNVia/index.jsp) goes into more depth about what you can do with it. She demonstrated it using organza. It's so sheer, so you can get some intresting color effects, using multiple layers of either the same or different colors. It was very pretty (not warm though like yours!).
Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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