How to Make Roving Wool Dread Falls
Dread falls are a popular fashion accessory that gives you a similar look to dreadlocks but aren't permanent. Because the falls are removable, you can choose different lengths and colors to match your clothing or your mood. Making dread falls requires a few easily found items and offers infinite opportunities for creativity. While you can make dread falls from either wool or synthetic fibers, wool is lighter and a better choice if you want to use long strands. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wool roving (unspun wool)
- Scissors
- Large glass bowls
- Warm water
- Dishwashing liquid
- Clean towels
- Ribbon and/or pony-tail elastics
- Beads, charms or other decorations (optional)
Instructions
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Prepare the Wool Roving
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1
Purchase wool roving. If this is your first try, choose a cheaper alternative until you become proficient at the process, then consider a higher-quality wool roving which may hold the felting more easily. Roving comes in many colors, so be creative.
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2
Cut the roving. You'll be folding each finished piece in half, so cut the roving to slightly shorter than twice the desired finished length. For example, if you want your dread falls to be 12 inches long, cut 20-inch lengths. During the felting process, the dreads will get longer and narrower, so don't cut the pieces too wide either.
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3
Experiment with falls of different lengths for a more random or layered look by cutting the roving in a variety of lengths and thicknesses.
Felt the Wool Strips
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4
Mix hot water and dishwashing liquid in the glass bowl.
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5
Put one length of wool into the hot water and let it sit for a minute or two. You'll want to do each strip separately or they'll felt together in the bowl and you'll have difficulty separating them into individual strands again. Keep your towels handy: at least one for the strips and one to dry off your hands while working.
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6
Remove the wool strip from the bowl. Make a fist and pull the wool through your hand, squeezing excess water into the bowl and slightly stretching the wool as you go. Roll each end of the wool between your palms to taper the ends.
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7
Place the strip onto a towel, rolling back and forth with your palms, careful not to stretch too much or you might break the strand. Set aside on another towel.
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8
Felt the remaining wool strands. If the water cools off, heat it up or add more hot water. Hang the felted strands overnight over the bathtub or sink to dry completely.
Assemble the Falls
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9
Arrange the dried wool strips in the desired order. You can add in ribbons with charms or other decorations if you want more variety.
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10
Tie everything together with a ribbon or loop a long pony-tail elastic around the middle. This will depend on how thick the set of strips turns out. You may find yourself rearranging them depending on what you're wearing or how many strips you want to achieve the desired look.
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Wear your new dread falls. If you don't like the look, try using more or fewer strands, a different arrangement or different lengths. Make additional strips if necessary to get just the right look.
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Tips & Warnings
You can dye your own wool roving using drink mix powders or wool dye.
Change your look by rearranging the strips and reattaching the ribbon or pony-tail elastic.
Add ribbons, yarn, beads, charms or other decorations to make them your own.
Not all dyes used on wool roving are colorfast. If any wool dye comes out in the hot water, be sure to change the water before attempting to felt another color of wool.
If any of the strands don't hold their shape or begin to unroll, repeat the felting process and dry completely before assembling a new set of falls.
