Making Cobweb Scarves

Last year I wrote about award-winning textile designer and artist Barbara Wilson and her cobweb scarf kitsets. Now I would like to share with you my experience making those cobweb scarves.

The kitsets come with everything you need to make a designer scarf including water soluble film, various wool and silk fibres and cotton for sewing it all together.

You need a flat surface that is long enough to take the full length of the scarf.

Spread out the water soluble film and hold it in position using blue tack or washi tape.

Using a water soluble glue (PVA or glue stick works well) stick down the silk ribbon to form a frame for the scarf on one half of the water soluble film. Don’t use tacky craft glue as I did at first because it doesn’t dissolve in water afterwards and is a real pain to try to remove.

Take half of your spun fibres and teased silks and ‘drizzle’ them along the length of the scarf. Remember that both sides of the scarf will be visible.

 

Tease out the coloured merino wool to cover the full length and width of the scarf. You can make the scarf as ‘light and wispy’ or more densely filled as you wish.

Then add the remaining spun fibres and silk.

Fold over the other half of the film to completely cover the scarf. Carefully pin right around the outer edge of the scarf (through the film) ready for stitching. Use plenty of pins evenly spaced in rows to hold the middle of the scarf together as well.

First stitch all the way around the outside of the frame of the scarf to secure the silk ribbon edge.

Then stitch 4 equally spaced rows lengthways down the scarf.

And finally create a grid pattern by stitching across the scarf to give approx 3cm squares.

For the last stage, put the scarf in a tub of very hot water to dissolve the film. Gently swish the scarf around several times to remove any remaining film. Squeeze and rinse, then wash again in a wool wash such as Softly, rinse and lay out to dry. Stitch in any loose threads and then iron on a cool ‘silk’ setting.