Several weeks ago I found a knit skirt at the thrift store made of 100% lambswool and I just now got around to doing what I had planned for it. I decided to make a scarf (now that winter is over?) but I wanted to add some texture to it. I had seen this technique used ages ago - can't remember where - and decided to give it a try. This picture shows how I tied pennies in a random pattern to the wool, and it's all ready to go into the washing machine and dryer for felting. The idea is that the wool stretched over the pennies will stay the same size, while the other areas will shrink. I raided hubby change jar for this and used at least 100 pennies!
Below shows the finished product. The pennies wore holes in some of the wool as it was tumbled around so that wasn't good, but I do like the bubbly effect they made. Instead of doing them all on one side I alternated front and back so it would be reversible. I'm not thrilled with the outcome, but it was fun to play with.
A close up of the bubbles.
Edited to add: I found out where I had seen this technique done before - please visit Betz White's blog to see more about it. She's the queen of all things made using felted sweaters.......
