The Martha Stewart Show

Spider Shawl How-To

The Martha Stewart Show

Martha and Hoda Kotb make a spider shawl using a no-sew Nuno felting technique.

Spider Shawl

This lightweight shawl -- a perfect Halloween accessory -- requires no sewing thanks to an innovative technique called Nuno felting, which brings two different materials together to create a new, textured fabric.

Tools and Materials

Bubble wrap
Duct tape
1 yard silk organza
Merino wool roving
1 yard tulle
Olive oil soap
Pool noodle
Pantyhose
Bucket
Crystal beads (optional)
Hand-sewing needle and thread (optional)

Spider Shawl How-To
1. Tape pieces of bubble wrap together with duct tape to make a base that is slightly larger than silk piece. On a flat surface, layer silk organza over bubble wrap with bubbles face up.

2. Outline silk fabric with a border of merino wool roving. Place strips of wool in an "X" pattern across piece, overlapping strips of wool if they are too short. Make another "X" pattern offset from the first. Make arches with wool in between the lines to form a spiderweb design.

3. Place tulle over entire piece.

4. Break up bar of olive oil soap and soak in water to make a soap mixture that is slightly looser than dish soap. Sprinkle soap mixture over design. Pat the mixture into the piece with hands until just slightly dampened.

5. Place a pool noodle at one end of the piece and loosely roll the bubble wrap, base fabric, roving, and tulle around the pool noodle. Secure the roll with pantyhose.

6. Roll entire piece across a flat surface, starting with piece in hands and rolling to elbows, then rolling back. Roll at least 100 times.

7. Unroll and carefully separate wool fibers from tulle. Sprinkle more of the soap mixture over fabric; rub soap and fibers together against bubble wrap. Continue to rub piece for about two minutes, squeezing out suds as you go.
Tip: Flip a corner of work over to check wool as it's beginning to felt through the organza. Organza should ripple when roving is fully attached.

8. Put shawl in a bucket of warm water and soak for a half hour or more. Remove shawl, wring out water, and hang to dry.

9. Embellish shawl with hand-sewn crystals, if desired.

Resources
Wool roving from Blue Goose Glen. Fabrics from B&J Fabrics. Crystals from Swarovski Elements.

Get the Full Article

The Martha Stewart Show

Spider Shawl How-To

Related Videos 23 Videos