Scarf 3: A Comfort Cloud

It's hard to describe the magic of Scarf 3. It's like the softest spider web, but strong enough that you can wear it without fear of it falling apart. It's super soft and light. I tested it out in 107 degree heat and it was super comfortable. I like it because it adds a lot of texture and interest without any weight or bulk.

It all began with the softest, thinnest baby alpaca lace yarn.

Even on the loom it looks like spider web threads, doesn't it?

Or some kind of fairy magic?

Here it is woven and off the loom, waiting to be felted.

You can find Scarf 3 for sale here, in my Etsy shop.

Let's Start at the Very Beginning

You've already met Scarves 9 and 10. Let me introduce Scarf 1, which was made and hugged and sent off to live with its new owner before I had found my current scheme of photographing scarves with numbers. Scarf 1 has a cotton warp (those lengthwise strands of yarn) and a fuzzy mohair weft (the side-to-side strands). After weaving it up, I hand felted the mohair until it got all matted and soft and secure, essentially holding the cotton threads in place. Here's a close-up:

I'd intended to use the teal mohair for both the warp and weft, but after I'd gotten it all set up (not a quick process, let me assure you) it became clear that it was too hairy and was sticking to itself too much to weave with. So I had to take the whole thing apart. It looked really beautiful while getting set up though, didn't it?

Lessons Learned:

1. Don't try to use sticky yarn for the warp.

2. Closely related but slightly different shades look pretty together.

3. When at first you don't succeed, make 99 more scarves anyway.

Scarf 10 - All Ruffled Up

I finished Scarf 10 today. It's appropriately named Scarf 10 because it took me well over 10 hours to complete, but boy-oh-boy is it worth it. I can't possibly describe how absolutely luscious this scarf is. See for yourself:

It has a row of wool running down the center, which I felted to create a soft band in the middle flanked by asymmetrical ruffles down the sides.

Only yesterday, when it came off the loom, it was flat:

It was so pretty and soft I almost couldn't bear to plunge it into the hot water, but plunge I did. It took about two hours to hand felt the wool stripe.

And now it's done!

You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.