Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Mary Jane Slippers

Abby needed some new slippers and I was ready for a new pattern hunt. I found the perfect slippers that are easily made into whatever size you need! My only changes were that I did half-double crochets instead of the double crochets the pattern calls for.




Thursday, October 14, 2010

Happy Halloween!

My own creations! No patterns here! New Trick-or-Treat bags for the kids! Ben will have a bloodshot eyeball with red nerves as handles (eew!), Abby's will be a kitty face, and Conor's a Jack-o-lantern!



New Zealand Wool

I am a lucky girl! My friend in New Zealand sent me oodles of yarn! Thank you SOO much Susan!


And one of my first projects with it was this adorable little hat for a new wee-girl:)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Needle Felted Pumpkin!


Here is my first needle felted pumpkin! It was so much fun! Send me ideas for more projects!
Here is a link to the starter kit I use. I have watched many youtube videos on the subject, trying to teach myself different techniques, and it seems as though I am using the wrong grade of wool for needle felting. I am using roving which is very straight long fibers, excellent for wet felting, but what I really need (and will be getting my hands on soon!) is wool batting which is less expensive, has shorter fibers, is already a bit disorganized (cutting back on the amount of needle pokes you need) and has a less processed look to it.

Beauty is in the Eye of The Beholder

I started a new fiber craft and I LOVE it!!! Needle felting! My first project is a hat for a Halloween Hat competition at a local yarn shop. I decided to make a hat that looks like a Beholder (a crazy scary multi-eyed creature) and when I was unhappy with the crocheted eyeballs I was originally planning on using, I turned to needles! It is so much fun. I can't wait to try my hand at more projects soon.


Here she is! With wires inside each "tentacle" you can make them look wherever you like!


I debated on putting teeth around the brim of the hat. I am still on the fence about it but have decided not to at this point in time. Here is a swatch with a tooth felted onto it just to see what it would look like. I think it could work, maybe I will add them later!

Eyeballs!

Ben and I tried wet felting for the first time ever. He wanted to make an eyeball of course!





Once you get all of the fluff (wool roving) placed where you want it, you put soap and hot water on it, pat it down, and roll it up (in the bubble wrap). I put it in a bin of shallow hot water and started gently rolling it. It takes time and elbow grease but it's fun!

And when you are done you have a hand made piece of felt fabric!