Two of the scarves in my Christmas-scarf project that I started a little over a year ago (scarves for all my family members) ended up not quite being the right colors. I made green and cream for my niece and navy/purple/teal and cream for my sister-in-law before I learned that one of them likes watery blues and turquoise, and the other likes purples and darker blues. No problem, I'll just overdye them with blue dye, and end up with one that's turquoise and blue, and one that's purple and blue, right?

Here is a before picture.

I used Jacquard Acid Dye in Sapphire Blue, with the stovetop method, and the color turned out more intense than I'd expected. The scarves are pretty, just harder to tell apart than I thought they would be! Turquoise and blue on the left, purple/navy and blue on the right.


The main problem? I managed to gradually change the temperature throughout the dye process to avoid felting the wool, until the wash in the washer at the end to remove excess dye. I used cold water there...forgetting that at this time of year, that's icy rather than just cool (as the scarves were "cool" at that point)...and the fringe is now felted dreadlocks.

What should I do about the ruined fringe? Leave it as felted dreadlocks all straggly lengths...cut it off even but still kind of long dreadlocks...cut it off just below the knots...cut it off and hemstitch it...or something else?

Comments

endorph

off to a shortish length and see how it looks - might not be too bad if evened up. If that doesn't work I would zigzag the end, turn it up and hem it. If you still want fringe  you could add it on after hemming. I've managed to felt the fringe on a couple of scarves so far! It happens. . . .

ReedGuy

I totally ruined a wool scarf made in Scotland with the family tartan before I knew why it could happen. Trned into a piece of boot felt. LOL Don't feel bad. :)

weaver-dyer (not verified)

I would cut off the fringe; fold the solid area to form a hem. A nice touch is a picot beaded edge along the bottom edges of the scarves. It is simple and quick to do.

Janet 

 

 

Sue in VT

What if you cut the fringe shorter and brushed it with one of those carding wool brushes. Would it look intentionally fluffed? The overdying looks great!

pammersw

If I can untangle it enough, that might look good, 6024. I like the bead idea except for the time and expense - need to get these wrapped and in the mail. I don't have matching yarn for a new fringe since this was cream, dyed last night to a blue. An attempt to match it by dying some scrap yarn would likely be close but not exact.

I suppose I will try brushing first, and see how it looks. If I end up beading them, that could be a way to make one more "turquoise" and the other more "purple" too.

I'm open to other ideas as well! Before photo below (note some of the fringe tried to merge with the scarf fabric...I took care of that shortly after taking this photo):

pammersw

Using my boyfriend's file cleaning brush (with his permission) because I couldn't find the dog grooming brush that looks otherwise just like a small wool carder.

Left side mostly combed out, right side only combed briefly.

pammersw

Turquoise and blue one combed out, starting on the second.

pammersw

I think this is ok...will spritz with water and iron it flat then call it "good."

JeanOCuilinn

Yes, that looks much better! Im sure they'll love them...

Gone

Been there done it. Ahhhhh....the benefits of a good dog/cat brush. .