cut ends of locks migrating

[lomahfelt]

Has anyone got a sure tested method to stop the cut ends of locks migrating through to the surface of the felt when they have been added as a decoration at the edge of a project? In other felting pages I have been given a few suggestions...dyeing the ends to the background colour seems feasible...but a fiddly extra, various fibres or fabrics over the ends (but I am sceptical, because if the fibres felt in then I'm sure the ends of locks will migrate); widely spreading the cut ends...they will still migrate but not be as thick - however if the fringe of locks is thick then there  will be a lot of ends no matter what.
I recently made a hood with a fringe of natural locks. I laid a pattern with yarn around the edge over the area of the lock ends...the yarn had a metallic element that was to add some bling (main colour wool laid on top of the cut lock ends). The migrating ends were so thick the pattern was lost so I shaved them with a razor...however I took all the bling with it -  link 

[Cherry]

There's nothing I can say to help you with your migration issue. Just wanted to say that I saw that hood in another thread and it is fantastic. As is. Maybe accept the traits of wet felting and embrace the wild fibers doing their wild thing? Cause really, the hood is wonderful. I'm glad that wet felting fights strict boundaries. That characteristic is at the heart of its charm, at least for me.

[lindsay]

I’m with Cherry, the hood looks great & as we know, migration is how wet felt works. I’ve only done this type of fringing once, with a highly contrasting colour of locks, and there was some migration. I would try laying something on top that does felt but not that easily (eg a medium density silk) as surely that would reduce migration to the surface? Making samples, as ever, is the way to find out. Sorry I don’t have the answer!

[lyn]

I'm no help at all - just wanted to say how pretty it is!

[Shepherdess]

The migration, I think, is so pronounced because the locks are usually much courser wool and the cut ends are quite sharp. If you can use locks that are closer is fineness it should work better. If you poot locks on both sides then it won't show so much or maybe sew in a felted strip after. or needlfelt on a patern.

[Pandagirl]

Lovely hood,

[suede]

I don't know but I'm about to try wrapping the cut ends in merino and wet felting them that way. I have some Gotland curls to work with. I've only worked with mohair so far and it keeps shedding.
Any thoughts on whether this will work?

[MTRuth]

I would try a small sample first so that you can see how it will work and whether or not you like the results. Sampling saves a lot of time and effort in the long run.

[Shepherdess]

I think maybe doing a separate piece with merino to the prefelt stage and then adding it, might work but I would want to sample it first.