I have a plan for some of that felt

Since starting this blog I've worked out how to actually follow other blogs, rather than just bookmarking them and forgetting all about them. I was very excited to see this post from Betz White pop up today. She's going to be doing an online workshop which sounds like a perfect way for me to get some Christmas crafting done, and eat into my pile of felted sweaters at the same time. I've signed up and it starts on October 12th so look out for some felty projects in the next few weeks.

Felt Owl Cushion

I've made something with some of that big pile of felted jumpers!

Freja and I were having a root around in my jewellery box the other day and I found an old owl brooch that I've had for years. I used the shape of the brooch to draw out a pattern template, cut the pieces out from felt, and zigzagged them together to make the owl. Even the buttons on the eyes came from a cardigan that I felted. The cushion cover was made from a really big jumper that didn't felt up quite so much because it wasn't 100% wool. I'm pretty happy with the result, but I do need to work on my photography. Off to browse the library catalogue for some books on that...

A big pile of feltiness...

I had a little go at felting last winter, boiled up some wool sweaters from the thrift store and a bit of needle felting from a kit. I found the process really satisfying so when I saw Betz White's book Warm Fuzzies at the library recently I checked it out. Last week while Freja was at pre-school Magnus and I hit the thrift store and came away with a big stash of wooly sweaters. This picture is the result of felting it all.

They've all had one cycle through our washing machine on the sanitise cycle, which I'm assuming is the boil wash. I did them in three batches and the dye ran a lot (that purple one was a light blue/mauve before it went in with the red jumpers) so I'm glad I kept the colours vaguely separate. I followed the instructions in the book to cut off and open up the arms before felting, so that they don't get a creased line all the way down them. I think I'm going to have a go at some more of the cupcake pincushions from the book and I'm also trying to think of ways to use the red and green for something Christmassy.

What am I doing?

This is me at the beginning of my journey to regain my craftiness. It has been far too long since I made stuff regularly, not since I was at school and I miss it. I miss planning projects in my head, spending time making them and then admiring my finished handiwork. One of the benefits of US houses is that they tend to have basements and I am lucky enough to have a room in ours that I have claimed as my craft room. That's about as far as I've got, I've moved all my craft supplies in there and claimed a few bits of furniture but it's still in need of a big sort out. It has no windows but it does have a lovely big walk-in cupboard, or closet as they say over here. This is a picture of it now, hopefully over the next few months I will be able to show the transformation to fabulous craft room and all the wonderful things produced from within.