How to Make Faux Persian Lamb From Wool
Persian lamb fur was popular from the early 1900s until the 1970s. The coats and hats made of Persian lamb fur were created from the hides of Karakul (also known as Astrakhan or Broadtail) lambs, which are native to African and Asian regions. The items made from the pelts are now almost exclusively vintage because of the level of cruelty involved in making such articles. Creating a faux Persian lamb fabric is a great way to achieve the look of Persian lamb without affecting the population of Karakul sheep, which are considered rare in North America.
Things You'll Need
- Lightweight, sturdy woven fabric
- Karakul wool or similar wool of another breed, whole fleece
- Lingerie bags with zipper closures
- Hot water
- Enzyme-free liquid dish soap (such as original Dawn)
- White vinegar
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Scissors
Instructions
-
Preparing the Wool
-
1
Lay your fleece on a flat surface with the cut side facing downward. Remove any short pieces of wool (known as second cuts), wool with manure on it or wool containing excessive grass or straw.
-
2
Separate the fleece into sections that will fit easily into the lingerie bags. Put the wool into the lingerie bags with the tips all facing the same direction. This allows the dirt in the wool to wash out and any bits of vegetable matter to collect in the tips of the locks, where it can be easily removed.
-
-
3
Fill a sink, tub or container with very hot water (at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit) and add enough dish soap to tint the water the color of the soap. Do not allow the soap to create suds.
-
4
Gently push the lingerie bag of wool into the hot water with the tips of the locks pointing downward. Do not agitate the wool as this will cause it to felt. Allow it to soak in the soapy water for 20 minutes. Remove the bag from the water and drain the tub.
-
5
Fill the tub with hot water again, this time without soap. Allow the wool to soak for 15 minutes in the hot water. Repeat the wash and rinse process until the water runs clear, usually after two washes. On the last rinse, add 1/4 cup of vinegar to balance the pH of the wool.
-
6
Squeeze any excess water from the washed wool. Run the bag of wool through your washing machine's spin cycle to remove all excess water and speed drying time. Remove the wool from the lingerie bag and lay it out flat to dry completely.
Creating the Faux Persian Lamb Fabric
-
7
Lay the base fabric right side up. Ensure it is lying flat. Cut it to the desired size.
-
8
Separate individual locks of the washed wool from the pile and lay them onto the fabric so that they line up as they would on the actual sheep.
-
9
Sew layers of the wool locks onto the fabric using a sewing machine and a straight stitch over the cut ends of the locks. Overlap each layer so that it covers the thread from the previous layer. Stagger the layers so that they have a more natural appearance.
-
10
Fill the entire space of the fabric with sewn locks of wool, leaving the tips loose. Fold the edges of the fabric over to cover the sewn edges at the ends of the fabric and stitch them into place. If you are sewing the fabric to other pieces of fabric, leave the hem off of the edge that will be seamed.
-
11
Line a finished garment made of this faux Persian lamb fabric with a soft liner, or use the wooly fabric as a liner for a coat.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can use wool other than Karakul that has a similar texture to get the same effect.
Removing debris from the wool is known as "skirting" and is often done at the farm.
Use care when sewing the locks of wool to the fabric as the detailed sewing will cause your fingers to be rather close to the needle of the sewing machine and risk puncture.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
