It's going to be a "wild and wooly day!" It takes practice and
time to choose good recycled wools. You want the wool to "felt
up" so it is easier to cut and hook. You also need to learn the
proper ways to store and dye wools. So let's get started.

 

"A Little Bit on Wools"
 
1. First, you'll want to test if this fabric is really wool? One
test is to put a small piece (1/4" x 1") of fabric in a small
jar, add one drop of liquid dish detergent and one tablespoon of
chlorine bleach, (Clorox, Javex or any other brand will do).
Screw the lid on tightly and give the jar a good shake. The
detergent helps break the surface tension and allows the bleach to penetrate the fibers. Leave the mixture for an hour or so.  You will see real wool effervesce or fizz as the chlorine and
the animal protein react and a gas is let off. Gradually wool
will dissolve.
 
Fine wools will dissolve quickly while coarser wool will take
longer. After 24 hours if still have a web like tracery of
fibers you know the material is not wool.
 
2.  A faster test is the burn test! Take a few strands of the
fiber and burn it in the flame of your lighter or match. Be
careful since some fabrics (other than wool) can be quite
flamable and dangerous. If it is real wool, it will "self
extinguish" and form an ash.
 
3. When using recycled wool, always set the color. To set the
color of your wool, fill your dye pot with warm water, add the
material and stir. Next add vinegar or citric acid and simmer
gently until the water becomes clear. If the material bleeds a
lot, you may have to change the water several times. This will
prevent bleeding colors from ruining your work later on.
 
4. Wash and dry all your wool fabrics when you bring them in the house. Some folks use warm water and some prefer hot water to felt the material. This is the first step in getting rid of any larvae from moths. Wool likes to breathe.  Wool stored  in sunlight also protects the material from moths as they dislike sunlight.
 
5. You can keep your stored wool smelling fresh and keep the
moths away by using a herbal mixture, like Pot Pourri, or dried
lavender. Just put some into a bag of muslin or fine cotton and
store it with the wool.

 

You can purchase a variety of herbal mixtures from the Herb Farm at: http://www.richters.com
 
6.  All wool should be cut on the straight of the grain which
means cut parallel to the edge of the fabric in a straight line.
It is more stable and will cut evenly in your cutter.
 
After you take apart your recycled wool, take the scissors and
cut approximately 1/4" into the fabric and tear to create the
"straight of grain". Sometimes you have to cut in further than
1/4" inch. You'll know when you have it right because it will
look straight.

 

Take a small sample of 100% pure wool in your pocket to use for comparison and enjoy your treasure hunt for recycled wool. You must be fair to yourself, it takes time to know your wools, and the only way to improve is with practice.

 

For those of you feeling the creative streak getting stronger,
 go to "Colors That Harmonize". This color theory can assist you in planning your colors for your rugs and pictorials.

 

Using this simple and straight forward "experts tool", you can
choose the colors  like a pro, finding the ones you like that
will create your rug or pictorial with the "intensity" that
suits your taste. To view:
http://www.linartdesigns.com/id78.html

 

 

Artistic Hint: When using complimentary colors, such as red and green, have one color take approximately 70% of the space and the opposite no more than 30%. This general rule of thumb
assists the viewer. Since they are both strong colors, if you
don't let one dominate, the eye will be pulled and you will lose
your focal point and the viewer's interest.

 

To view new wools and swatches click below:
http://www.linartdesigns.com/id97.html

 

Did you understand "How to Set your Color"?
If you have difficulty, remember we offer on-line
assistance: artsy@xplornet.com
We're happy to assist you!

 Happy hooking

 

Linda