Silk Scarves & Fabric
What is Momme?
Momme, pronounced "moe-mie," is a term used to describe the weight of silk and is represented by a number such as 3.5, 5 or 8, etc. The number is the weight in pounds of a 45" wide fabric x 100 yards long. When considering what silk to use in a project, remember this: the higher the Momme, the denser/heavier the silk, the lower the Momme, the lighter the silk.
A few examples of higher Momme silk are Habotai or Pongee. These silks have a Momme of 5 with a tighter weave and beautiful sheen. These silks reject wool when used in wet felting and create a "puckering" textural effect.
Lower Momme silk would be Margalian or Silk Gauze. These silks are lightweight with a more open weave, allowing the wool to easily pass through it during wet felting.
What is the Difference Between Wet Felting and Nuno Felting?
Nuno felting is a beginner-friendly process that is tons of fun; if you can wet felt, you can Nuno felt! Wet felting is the process of creating a felt fabric or structure by layering wool and other fibers and using soap, water, and friction to create a particular shape or fabric. The difference between wet felting and Nuno felting is the addition of fabric during the feltmaking process.
Polly Stirling is credited with developing Nuno felting to create lightweight, fabrics with drape. The name comes from the Japanese word for cloth, “Nuno.”
When Nuno felting, you incorporate silk into your piece during the wet felting process. In the beginning stages of laying out your fiber, the silk fabric or other fabrics are incorporated in the design. Silk fabrics can be added for design or as a structural element in your piece. Nuno felting adds lovely texture, design, and depth to your wet felting projects. This process is excellent for wearables such as scarves, tunics, and dresses. You can also incorporate Nuno felting into smaller projects like wrist warmers, bracelets, and 2D wet felted pictures, or into functional and decorative items like purses, pillows, bags, vessels and wall hangings.