Feeling the Felt

Over to my big girl again today. She came home from school with these amazing felt flowers she had made with an artist at school. She was all fired up and wanted to show me how she made the felt and the flower...I didn't know; I was keen to learn. Luckily we are the kind of family where you can get your hands on some roving and a needle felting tool at the drop of a hat by rummaging around under the sofa. Over to you Heidi:

Firstly, make a piece of felt using a felting needle. Make two the same size and cut them down into squares.

Put some more fleece, soap and water into your hand and roll it to make the centre of the flowers. You might need a towel or some bubble wrap to get it to stick. Put the squares on top of each other at angles to make 8 points.

Use a washing up pad to rub the two squares together and use the needle to stab the stamen into the centre. I just kept doing it until it is all stuck together.

Poke your finger into the centre of the square and make sure the stamen are all pointing down. This makes the shape of the Lily.

 Using the heel of your hand keep rubbing the wet soapy flower until it all starts to fleece together. Be careful not to run the tops of the petals.

It takes a long time. It is better with merino roving because this felts more easily.

Ta dah! Arrange the petals by pulling and stretching them into shape. I put a brooch pin on the back.

Thank you Heidi. Aren't they wonderful? 

I want to make hundreds of them!

Jo and Heidi xxxx

Recycling presents

I love to make something out of nothing, it gives me such satisfaction. I made these needle cases for my sewing class friends. Grey photo alert I'm afraid folks but I wanted to show you nonetheless. I knew it would be, see the last post!

The outer shell is made from a jumper I shrank in the wash accidently, combined with little bits of fabric leftovers. For the applique design I used a pattern from my daughters sewing book by Jane Bull called Stitch by Stitch.

I used corduroy to make the cotton on the reel. My blanket stitch got better as they went along but I loved making them in one evening.

Inside is a felt flap to hold sewing needles. The use of pinking shears around the outside meant that I didn't have to turn it out and have bulky edges.

Ta dah! Four needle cases stitched with love.

Excitement for Father Christmas is building in this house I can tell you!

Jo xxx

Felting decorations

I have the great pleasure of being sponsored by Minerva crafts this month. I have made up a needle felting kit which you can buy from them and I have been having a little play felting up some Christmas decorations.

A good way to get a simple shape is to use a biscuit cutter as a guide. You can get the main shape going and then trim it up at the end. Place the cutter on the felting brush and stab away...



Next, turn it over onto the other side, which will be all fuzzy, then stab away at that for a minute. Keep going until all the fibres are matted together.

 

Make two so that you can sew them together and stuff them lightly for a 3D decoration. Trim them up to get a clean edge.

Sew the two hearts together with blanket stitch and add a little stuffing. Embellish the heart as you like with beads, jewels, buttons, more stitching or with a different colour felt roving as I have below. I added a ready made felt ball from the kit which hides the hanging loop join.

 

  

The Minerva kit includes:



 

 

Once you have mastered the simple technique you can start to go off piste a bit and make your own shapes. What about this festive little fellow?

 

Felting is also great for 3D creative work. I have seen some great stuff around, toadstools from Nicole and the Bee and awesome animals from sew recycled.

I had a go at a little Christmas pudding...So quick and easy.

 

Hope you have enjoyed my little makes. I have really enjoyed getting to grips with a new craft thanks to Minerva Crafts.

 

 

 

Jo xxxxxxxxx