nap riser brush

nap riser brush (not actual size)

I was signing my book at Knit'n from the Heart, a local yarn store here in Minnesota, this weekend as well as demonstrating a few needle felting/embellishing techniques. I pulled out my trusty nap riser brush, and everyone oohed and awed: What is that? and where do I get one of those?

The brush fits snugly on your thumb.

I am always surprised that everyone doesn't have a brush since I have been selling them for years. So I would like to reintroduce it to you. I use my brush for fluffing up most of my woolly sculptures: my penguins, the chicks, the bunnies, the owls, and even my snowmen. The little brush fits snugly on your thumb or whatever finger gives you the best brushing action, see photo to the right. This woolly robin was knit using Lamb's Pride worsted yarn.

As you brush the wire bristles raise the nap of the wool's surface to create a fuzzy, soft hairy creature. This is especially true when using yarns with mohair or alpaca in them, but it works on most any yarns to create a softer surface. The brushing can also help to hide some of the imperfections in felting too, smoothing out the surface to a more even consistency. 

Same bunny before and after brushing with the nap riser.

I originally found these brushes in an embroidery store. It is designed to fluff up the beards on your embroidered Santa.  How will you use your nap riser brush?

Happy knitting!

a 'before' & 'after' bunny

I got this great idea to show the 'before' and 'after' photos of my little brushed bunny. Yes, that little nap riser brush makes all the difference. Who would know such a small brush can create such hairiness?

The brush fits nicely on your finger and gives you lots of control while brushing, to get into those delicate spots like around the face. The nap riser brush works great on alpaca or mohair yarns, pulling out the fibers especially after felting.

The bunny screams "touch me" again and again. And if you do and the fibers become flattened, simply brush again! That simple.

The yarn used on this little Woolly Bunny was Frog Tree's alpaca sport grey, two strands carried together. I love Frog Tree yarns! A great yarn for knitting and felting with. 

Happy knitting!

A Bird For Your Nest?

This little robin is from my Woolly Birds pattern. She was first knit using 2 strands together of Frog Tree Alpaca sport weight yarn, #0012 dark grey. This yarn felts beautifully! Then she is brushed with a nap riser brush to pull out the yarn's hairy fibers, creating a soft fuzzy little bird. Every nest needs a little bird to roost in and to call home. Look out, then come the eggs!