Finishing up some loose ends...

I finally got back in the studio today, to finish the scrim scarf from a few days ago. I thought I would share the process of nuno felting here... I recall when I was first learning to felt, I studied a lot of blogs!

After laying out the wool, thinly, on the scrim, I covered it with a sheer curtain, wetted it out with warm, soapy water, and rubbed. I use both my hands and a felting stone. It needs to develop a type of "skin," and hang together. You know when you're done if when you pinch the wool and it sticks together.
At this point, you roll it up in bubble wrap (or bamboo).

 Here's when I took a diversion. I felted in the dryer. It feels like cheating. Roll it up in the plastic, then roll it up in a towel. Secure it, and pop it in the dryer for ten minute increments. Air dry. No heat. Pull it out and re-roll the bundle after every ten minutes. I did this four times. In the meantime, I layed out another scarf! Trying to make good use of time!

After it appears to have firmly migrated and felted, it needs to be fulled. I like to use a washboard with hot, soapy water. Then I throw it until it looks pebbly and has shrunk. 

After it dries and is ironed, it needs to have a photo shoot. I have a dress form I made myself from papier mache. I love her. All told, felting takes me several hours, from layout to finished product. A labor of love? Yep.