Wednesday, September 28, 2005

Foliage



Gone are the days of the thought that yarn must be 100% wool (or very close to it) to felt. The B-4 Bag pattern that I designed originally for Karaoke yarn (50 % wool, 50% soy silk) is shown here in another wool blend. This one is Berroco Foliage. Only 53% wool, and 47% acrylic, would you think it would felt this nicely? It's beautiful!


What I really love about the way this yarn felts is that the acrylic spun along with the wool is all one color, and the wool is what changes color. When felted, the wool shrinks around the acrylic, causing the acrylic to pop out in a beautiful pebbly texture. The wool colors intensify because the acrylic has basically been separated from it in the felting process. It doesn't show as well in this colorway as some of the other colors. We have swatches in the shop, before and after felting, that really shows off the felting properties of this yarn.

I'm not saying that all wool blends will felt this well, but don't be turned off by something you want to try. Swatch and see what happens! You could be pleasantly surprised, as I was, when I was told "Oh, that yarn won't felt....." WRONG!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

WOW I really love this one! Great choice of yarn.

Anonymous said...

It's GORGEOUS! :)

Anonymous said...

You're such a fiber explorer, Trish! Glad you don't listen to people who say something can't be done -- good on ya!
P.S. Check out the news on my blog today....

Amber said...

Just looking at that bag makes me wish I could felt in my dorm! (the sinks are too tiny and the washing machines cost too much!)

That and I'm popping in just to say I LOVE your bloom-shawl pattern! I've been looking for a circular shawl for ages!

Anonymous said...

Trish, you are an immensely talented designer. Your web site is eye candy!

Lissa

Anonymous said...

That is so cool!!! Thanks for sharing it. I had seen the foliage yarn and thought it was really pretty but I'm into felting. I'm glad to know I don't have to be limited to 100% wool as I thought!

Beth

Anonymous said...

I love the black that runs through it -- very cool!

Anonymous said...

Wow -- that's just gorgeous. You make me want to abandon the current endless litany of scarves and knit something interesting!

Anonymous said...
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