10/31/2023
These wool wings were made around 2013 for a Make It With Wool contest I never actually entered. They are modeled after the ermine moth which is named for its mostly white wings with black speckles, reminiscent of ermine fur garments worn traditionally by British royalty. The wings are fairly heavy so the front is counterweighted to keep the chest piece from pulling against the neck of the wearer. Ermine moths have a fuzzy thorax, recreated here using craft fur fabric. The distinctly sheepy smell has faded from the fabric in the decade since it was made, but not before it could attract a few wool moths.
Storage in my shed was not quite air tight and some caterpillars made a home in this garment. I have chosen to see this as a collaboration rather than damage. I took inspiration from their ilk and they took their food and board. When I discovered the state of the wings I checked the piece over for any live moths in any stage of development but the tunnels appeared vacant. I cleaned the affected areas of caterpillar droppings, chrysalis, and shed exoskeletons and put the whole thing in the freezer for two days to reduce chances of bringing more wool moth eggs into my very wool-filled crafty house. The piece currently resides in a cedar linen closet to reduce recurrence of hungry visitors.
The materials used were cream colored wool fabric, black wool needle-felted to form spots, cream lining fabric, white craft fur, black frog closures, small curtain weights, and thread. And a few live moths 🦋
