Boiled Wool - Grey Marl (100% Wool)
Price is per HALF metre. 1 unit = 0.5metres. For 1.5metres, add 3 units.
All cut length orders are sent as one continuous length.
Order a sample of this fabric first to make sure it's exactly what you expect.
Specifications & Certification:
Weight: Medium
GSM: 410
Composition: 100% Wool
Width: 140cm / 55.1inch
Certifications: Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Mulesing-free
Laundering: Dry clean only
Colour:
This first-rate knitted 100% Boiled Wool fabric boasts a fabulous storm-like hue consisting of a melange of mid-smoke grey and black yarns used to make the knitted construction. This storm-like colour combination has a calming and grounding effect like the natural grey black hues in certain breeds of sheep fleece like the Cumbrian Herdwick.
Something is decidedly comforting about marled grey tones, they evoke a feeling of reliable comfort and in the case of wool- a warmth you want to snuggle into. Grey is a superb hue for grounding brighter tones so you can use this excellent storm grey fabric to create all those reliable key pieces to get you through the A/W and add pops of colour along the way!
Properties:
The standout properties of boiled wool are that this chunky woolly fabric boasts a soft and malleable drape quality, with a slight natural knitted stretch across the width and a natural ease down the length, yet is still stable and easy to work with!
The closely fused yarns mean that boiled wool does not fray so you don't need to finish or neaten the edges. You can even forgo adding a lining too, since boiled wool is cosy enough and easy enough to wear that lining isn't necessarily required. Win! Create garments with unique styles, try putting seams on the outside and use them as a feature. There are so many projects that you can get your teeth into with this one!
One part of the manufacturing (during the finishing processes) that creates boiled wool is to treat the fabric so that the knit shrinks. It is then felted together - just like if you put a jumper in the hot wash by accident, only with Boiled Wool this is a deliberate process that helps to create all those great properties that dense knitted fabrics carry. Made using bouclé looped yarns, the classic textural detail of boiled wool is apparent, adding a depth to the colour and, although all designs of this fabric are plain, the colour is definitely not 'flat'.
Scroll further down this page to see our suggested makes using this fabric!
Garment Suggestions
With a collection of fabrics where you simply pick your preferred colour, try mixing & matching tones together for colour-blocking projects. This is a must if you can't decide on only one. Find coordinating ensembles to add patch pockets, contrast sleeves and other colourful quirks.
Dresses, tunics, pinafores are all excellent key layering pieces to make for your A/W wardrobe. Cardigans and jackets are a seasonal must, we recommend The Biker Jacket Pattern by Sew Different, as an accessible simple make.
Basic: Start your boiled wool journey with a super quick and easy tube skirt: 1 seam & an elasticated waist. Equally simple are no-sew drapey wraps: cut to your desired length, work out the spacing for your arm holes and then drape and tuck this around your body to create your own style. Alternatively, unlined waistcoats with a few simple seams are also easy makes, creating easy-to-wear and quick-make garments that you'll be proud to wear!
Waterfall front coatigans, wraps, ponchos and capes are enough for beginner sewists, using this versatile fabric. Customise yours with needle-felted or embroidered pockets or add a fancy trim to the edges. Simple contrasting wool yarn blanket stitching looks great on boiled wool fabric edges.
Advanced: Asymmetric skirts featuring 3 yokes and 3 skirt pieces are ideal for more advanced makes using boiled wool. As featured in From Stitch To Style, a Great British Sewing Bee book (2016), inspired by Japanese fashion school Bunka, for those who understand the true construction of clothes. The skirt looks like a puzzle when all the pieces are laid flat, but once constructed the geometric shapes combine to form a softly flowing and elegant contemporary skirt. 2 metres of fabric required for this make.
To add the finishing touches, simply add oversized press stud fasteners or edgy leather buckle fastenings, or close with a chunky belt or brooch.
Other Uses
Create matching accessories for your winter wardrobe. Boiled wool is perfect for creating cosy, hats, caps, scarves, mittens, fingerless gloves and wrist warmers, headbands, ear warmers and the warmest cowls and snoods. Let's not forget matching bags and purses!
Boiled Wool Example Garments
Neat Blazers & Jackets
Smart & simple, but not too formal
Cardigan Styles
Simple, easy-wear, throw-on
Asymmetric Skirt
A style for advanced sewists for a couture look
Boiled Wool
Fabworks is delighted to be able to bring to you an extensive selection of solid coloured Boiled Wool fabrics. These are knitted 100% wool fabrics have come from a European textiles company known as an industry leader in high quality wholesale textiles. We can also repeat order this fabric, for those who need continued access to specific colours.
About This Collection
What is Boiled Wool? Boiled Wool is a knitted fabric (not woven) that has a dense and almost squishy feel to it. As the name suggests, this fabric is boiled (shrunk down) during the finishing process to create a nobbly and bobbly cosy fabric that offers ease of movement (due to its knitted construction) and differing properties to woven woollen fabrics, whilst still retaining all the benefits of the wool composition.
How to care for your Boiled Wool fabric: Do not wash. Do not bleach. Do not tumble dry. Professional dry cleaning in all solvents except tetrachloroethene.
Why is Boiled Wool so popular? Boiled Wool is a popular go-to for many sewists due to its flexibility and ease of wear. Due to its knitted construction, technically Boiled Wool qualifies as jersey fabric, just in a slightly different form than you may be used to seeing jersey. When buying clothes off-the-peg you will more often than not find that boiled wool garments are catered to less formal styles such as cardigans, vest jackets, and waterfall front outerwear. Its structure is relaxed and although you can create boxy styles with straight lines, it is unlike classic woven woollens which are suited to tailored styles.
Advantages of Fabworks' Boiled Wool? Boiled Wool does not fray! No fraying means easy wear, and usually easy to sew with, too. Boiled Wool is reversible! With its face and reverse sides the same, use this to your advantage with open/unfinished seams and garments that do not need lining.
What do I need to know before using Boiled Wool? Jersey needles are not required when sewing Boiled Wool, however we do recommend a sharp needle of size 90 or 100. Nor do you need any special threads! (When you add a Matching Thread to your order we'll send you a spool of standard Gutermann Sew All 100m thread). Remember, the properties of knitted fabrics are different to woven fabrics, and in turn will allow you to create less formal styles that are still cosy and with added ease of movement.
What does Boiled Wool feel like? If you own a big cosy pullover or thick warm cardigan, they are probably made using boiled wool fabrics. The texture is definitely woolly, but not itchy like wool tweed can be. Its nobbly & bobbly finish is created as the fabric is washed and shrunk during manufacture, creating a dense, cosy finish. The nobbliness and bobbliness adds depth to plain colours and makes a clean and smart style that suits unstructured garments, as well as being warm and naturally insulating
What makes this fabric expensive? For Fabworks to be able to offer Boiled Wool fabrics we have sourced this fabric directly from a European merchant who stocks this fabric as regular/repeatable. With stock supported colours, this fabric's availability is unlimited, within reason - great for those who need a regular supply or whom may have missed out on a recently sold out colourway. In true Fabworks fashion we don't ever compromise on quality and are proud to bring this fabric to you as OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (approved for having no harsh chemicals and safe to use against human skin) and it's guaranteed mulesing-free! The cost for fabrics with such specifications are significantly higher than deadstock/waste fabrics from the fashion industry. Rest assured, your self-bespoke boiled wool makes will be plush, cosy, colourful, available to re-order at any time, with consistency.
Benefits of sewing with Wool! 🐑
We love wonderful wool! Why? Because it looks beautiful, well yes but did you know wool has a series of superpowers that make it the most incredible natural fibre, suitable for more garment suggestions and sewing inspiration than possibly any other?
Wool has a unique naturally crimped 3D structure which attributes to some brilliant properties & makes it a great fabric to wear throughout all the seasons.
Naturally Breathable: This amazing 3D crimped structure promotes air circulation allowing air to pass through the fabric, allowing for circulation and ventilation for your skin to breathe, keeping you cool.
Shower Resistant: Sheep naturally produce a waxy substance called lanolin. As sheep live outdoors, this naturally occurring wax helps to protect sheep from the elements, naturally shedding water & keeping them dry. This same property is retained within the wool fibres when spun into yarn.
Moisture Absorbing: The moisture-retentive superpowers of wool! It’s hydrophilic core gives wool the ability to wick away moisture keeping you dry and comfortable – this possibly one of our favourite properties because you can stay fresh when wearing wool, from autumn right through to spring!
