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MARLED MERINOS Marled (märld), adj. 1. made of mottled or different-colored fibers. 2. woven of yarn with such fibers. My marled merino scarves are my signature design. Woven of 100% Australian Merino Wool or Merino/Silk blend, they are bulky, dense, warm, and soft to keep you cozy in the winter. Each is unique from subtle monochromatic solids; to bold statements with bandings, stripes or plaids. The marled appearance is achieved by threading and weaving three threads at a time. I believe that I am the only weaver that uses this technique extensively. This process, being less labor intensive, allows me to offer this fine handwoven muffler at a modest price.

As with many other handweavers, I have worked my way through a progression of pieces from scarves to rag rugs to placemats to couch throws; always returning to the scarf and an occasional shawl as the definitive canvas for my work.  The scarf is just a simple piece of cloth; decoration, ornamentation, minimalism, bringing to the forefront the weaver's elements of design and color. I strive for a "subtle elegance", seldom loud, with an overall homogeny that frequently appears monochromatic from a distance yet with a subtle complexity upon closer inspection.

I have a passion for the finest natural fibers. My scarves are as much a tactile experience as a visual one. Although superfine Merino wool is my fiber of choice for winterwear, I occasionally use  hand-dyed silk and Mongolian cashmere for a lighter weight fashion scarf and, when available, rare fibers such as yak, camel, and qiviut (muskox). 

I take no short cuts in my work, every piece is individually hand threaded, handwoven, and hand hemstitched. For silk warps, I leave a loose fringe for a full look. For woolen warps, I finish the ends with a hand twist fringe to resist matting or felting of the ends over time.

I weave 2 or 3 scarves per week. With no plans to hire assistants or change my methods, this limits my production to about 100 pieces/year.  I don't guarantee my scarves to be one-of-a-kind but, clearly, proud owners of my scarves can be assured that they will remain among an elite few.

Fred S. Ullom

Home |  About me... | About my work... | About my fibers...  |  HOW TO BUY...