Sewing Techniques
Crazy Wool Technique – random effects
The crazy wool technique is not only suitable for making striking jumpers, but also for cost scarves, bright wraps and original bags, all in the typical Crazy design.
This natural looking novel Crazy technique will give the best effect when a wide variety of yarn is used. For elegant items, be sure to use glitter yarns and glitzy effect wools.
The huge, continually changing range of yarns means that you can make many interesting variations. Each can of course be made in other colours and in similar quality yarns.
The technique uses a combination of wool, water-soluble stabilisers and machine stitching. The wools are sandwiched between two pieces of stabiliser before being stitched in place. You will also need craft spray adhesive to temporarily hold the wools on the stabiliser.
How to make ‘random effect’ crazy wool
1. Cut two pieces of water soluble stabiliser to the right size and spray with a very thin layer of adhesive. Unwind the yarns from the balls and lay them in both directions on the stabiliser. If you are laying the yarn in several layers, spray between the layers with adhesive. To achieve a fringing effect, the wool and yarn threads can also be liberally laid out over the edge of the stabiliser.
2. Using your fingers, arrange the threads evenly over the whole surface of the stabiliser so that when you have finished, you cannot see the stabiliser any more. The close the threads are together, the less see-through the finished ferment will be.
3. When all the threads are lying nicely, spray on a final thin layer of adhesive. Lay on the covering stabiliser and press down well with your hands. This will press together the layers of yarn, which will make it much easier to sew afterwards.
4. Lay the second piece of water-soluble stabiliser as a covering over the whole piece of work and press down carefully with the palm of your hand. Secure the work in the corners with a couple of pins, so that it will not lose its shape when machine stitching later. Press down again with your hands so that the yarns bind together really well.
5. Set your stitch length to 3 and machine stitch in a random design using the sewing machine by starting anywhere and sewing in both directions over the whole area until there are no remaining free spaces larger than 3 cm square (1 ¼”). Finish sewing at a particular point.
HANDY HINT: One way of achieving random machine stitching is to use the reverse-stitch button. The resulting jagged stitching will ensure small, free machine stitched areas.
6. Rinse out your sewing with water to ensure that the base material of water soluble stabiliser will dissolve. If desired, use a little detergent for delicate fabrics. As spray adhesive and stabiliser dissolve best in water, it is advisable to leave the piece of work to soak in the water for 15-20 minutes. Spread your work out on a towel and leave to dry thoroughly.
HANDY HINTS: The stabiliser is needed as a base material until the garment is finished. Only when no more machine stitching is required and the item is completely ready should it be rinsed out.
For a project using this new technique, turn to the Sewing Project pages, for A Hint of Lilac.
Further information and special offer
Crazy Wool is one of the two new books by Jeannette Knake is published by Search Press (ISBN: 978-1-84448-357) (the other is Crazy Felt). With this colourful and practical craft book you will learn how to make great selection of fashionable garments and accessories combining wool, machine stitching and water soluble stabilisers.
ISEW web browsers can buy this at just £5.99, p&p free to UK addresses (rrp £6.99). To take up the offer, call Search Press on tel: 01892 510850, quoting isew.co.uk. You can also www.searchpress.com to see more of their great range of art and craft titles.
