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Permalink Reply by Sharon Panozzo April 11, 2015 at 12:34am

To get a good stiff bow you must really start with good quality felt.  If you are using cheaper felt it will not have the body you need without using tons of stiffener. The other option is to wire it. This gives it structure and you will be able to form it creatively.

I have used both the lacquer based and the gel (more environmentally  and people friendly) and either will work if you adjust your mixing ratios properly. 

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Permalink Reply by Kylie Gould April 11, 2015 at 5:34pm

Thankyou for the tips, I am a newbie working with felt, do you make your bow first and then stiffen or do you stiffen felt and form bow before it dries? Cheers, Kylie

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Permalink Reply by edith f April 11, 2015 at 9:15pm

well if wiring do that first after you have suitably steamed or stretched the felt with felt stiffener! then it is easier to manipulate the shape once you done this, use steam or warm water to dampen and shape the bow as you wish, pin into place, leave to dry and complete!

all the best --- we each have different techniques but this is the one my beginners seem to understand better

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Panozzo April 11, 2015 at 10:23pm

I agree with Edith. If you decide to wire the bow steam, stretch, stiffen, then wire.  If you are not going to wire you can stiffen before or after but after it is more difficult to get uniform stiffness.

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Permalink Reply by edith f April 11, 2015 at 1:16am

I concur with Sharon!

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