Issue Twenty
Fun with felt
Be inspired to make and create for your home
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Fun with felt
Issue Twenty 2015
Welcome Many cultures have legends as to the origins of felt making. Sumerian legend claims that the secret of felt making was discovered by Urnamman of Lagash. The story of Saint Clement and Saint Christopher relates that while fleeing from persecution, the men packed their sandals with wool to prevent blisters. At the end of their journey, the movement and sweat had turned the wool into felt socks. Whatever its origin, felt is a very versatile product and comes in many different colours and forms. For many children it forms the basis of sewing and craft activities at school because it is easy to cut, glue and sew. We both have fond memories of felt projects we made at school as gifts for our mothers. As mums now ourselves, we also smile each year at the felt Christmas ornaments our own children have made us and so the tradition continues. In this issue you will be delighted by the collection of felt inspired projects we have included for you, whether it is a decorative item for your home, a useful pouch for your next project or something fun for the kids, you're sure to find something to tempt you. We hope you have as much fun as we did, sewing with felt.
Warmly Lenna & Janice
Inside this issue: App Instructions
2
Welcome
3
Feature Photo
4
Designer Profile
5
Violet
8
Let’s Create
12
Ducky with a Daisy Blanket
13
Feature Photo
15
Let’s get Crafty Birdy in the Nest 16 Blogger Find
18
Autumn Garland Candle Mat
19
Demonstration Video
21
Book Review
22
Finger Puppet Friends
23
Pinterest Favourite Finds
26
Tutorial Inspiration
27
Etsy Find Trio of Babushka Dolls
28 29
Let’s Decorate
32
Felt Knitting Caddy
33
Tutorial Inspiration
35
Felt Find Subscriber Page Newsletter We Need your Help
36 37 38 39
Printable
40
Back Issues
41
Copyright Disclaimers
42
Being creative is not a hobby, it is a way of life.
MAY BLOSSOM
Simone Gooding, a creator at heart.
Designer Profile
Simone Gooding of May Blossom
My design journey has fundamentally never changed. My desire has always been to use naturally produced materials to create creatures who bring a smile to the face of others. I hope to make you feel like there is a story to be told behind every rabbit, squirrel or bear, and a big dose of cute thrown into the mix! My whole creative journey is based around using natural, organic materials wherever I can. I love to work with felt, yarns and cloth that are as close to nature as possible. I feel a real connection to them and love the knowledge that they have
been worked and created by hand so that I now can design and bring life to my work. I have been using 100% wool hand dyed felt for many years now and all my creatures are made with this element as the core ingredient. The delicate palette of the hand dyed felt colours has a beautiful softness and a reality. This helps to bring my creatures to life. I prefer them over using solid felt colours which can be too bold, cold and uniform causing the creatures to take on a ‘cartoon’ like feel, which is not what my design heart is about.
“I have a huge desire to create real and true with an element of magical and fantastical. ” More recently my hands have turned back to knitting and I have been incorporating knitted elements into many of my designs, such as a knitted bobble hat or scarf to keep those furry heads warm. There are so many beautiful pure wool, cotton and tweed yarns available and they compliment hand dyed felts perfectly. Linen and high quality cotton fabrics are also favourites of mine and I use them for clothing, head wear or bedding for many of my designs. More recently I have started designing mini quilts for my creatures.
Designer Photo Gallery
Inspiration for my designs essentially comes from imaginary worlds from the books I read as a child like Mabel Lucie Atwell books and Jill Barklem’s Brambly Hedge. And there is of course Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit, the biggest influence on the ideas that come to me. My other major influence is the natural world, including woodland, trees, streams and gardens and all the creatures you just might find there if you look hard enough, and sit still and quiet for long enough. I have a huge desire to create real and true with an element of magical and fantastical, the idea that those mice just might share a pot of tea by the stream under the oak tree gets my imagination flying. This of course is where the name for my business came from, Dusty Dogwood and his wife Poppy Eyebright live in May Blossom cottage in their world under Brambly Hedge.
Requirements List 16” x 18” (40cm x 45cm) rusty brown wool felt 6” square (15cm) ecru wool felt 8” x 11” (20cm x 28cm) violet wool felt 5” x 9” (13cm x 23cm) deep green wool felt ¾” x 24 (2cm x 24cm) wide ribbon Bright yellow Perle cotton Rusty brown Perle cotton Two ¼” (6mm) English glass dolls eyes Black DMC embroidery thread DMC embroidery thread to match the felt Sewing machine thread to match the felt Cosmetic blush Good quality fibre fill or wool roving Extra long doll making needle General sewing supplies
Violet
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Designed by Simone Gooding Approximate Size 12" (30cm) tall A ⅛” (3mm) seam has been used throughout this project
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This stunning little deer character is sure to delight. Embellished with a garland of dainty Violets around her neck, she looks very happy as she frolics through the forest in search of her woodland friends. Handy Hints from Simone ~ Please read all instructions before beginning. Cut out all pattern pieces for Violet very carefully and lay them aside. A very tiny seam allowance is needed for Violet, approximately ⅛” (3mm) on all pieces. I highly recommend you use very high quality wool felt for Violet, poor quality synthetic/blend felt will not withstand the small seam allowance, tight turning of pieces and firm stuffing required. Step 1 ~ Head ~ Machine stitch around the head pieces leaving open where indicated at the base of the head, leave the dart at the back of the head open at this stage.
STEP 1
Requirements List 32” x 40” (80cm x 100cm) cream wool fabric 34” x 44” (80cm x 112cm) lining fabric 6” x 8” (15cm x 20cm) yellow wool felt for duck body Off cuts of wool felt for wing, feet, beak, eyes and leaves Matching DMC embroidery thread for all felts chosen No 9 Crewel needle Tapestry needle No 4 crochet hook 1 ball of cream 6 ply wool (50g) Walking foot (optional) Small applique pins Fabric glue (optional) General sewing supplies
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Ducky with a Daisy
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Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size 32” x 40” (80cm x 100cm) Keep a precious bundle warm with this woollen baby’s blanket. This blanket has been embellished with felt applique and simple hand embroidery, then lined with fabric. Trim with a crocheted edge as shown, or attach some cotton lace. It is sure to become a family heirloom. Step 1 ~ Trace each of the pattern shapes onto the dull side of the freezer paper. Cut out each shape on the drawn line. Use a warm, dry iron to secure each shape onto your chosen felts. Cut out all shapes using a sharp pair of scissors, remove the freezer paper.
APPLIQUE DESIGN
Let’s Get Crafty Requirements List Wool roving, assorted colours—I used brown, orange, white and green for the bird and a grey/brown for the nest Needle felting needle Sponge or brush Small glass black bead Needle and thread Scissors Polystyrene ball for nest General sewing supplies
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Little Birdy, in the Nest Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate Size 2” x 3” (5cm x 8cm)
STEP 1
This little bird in the nest is an easy, beginners project for those wanting to try their hand at needle felting. Experiment with shapes and amounts of wool, as it is difficult to give precise quantities. Select contrasting colours of wool roving for the body, head, beak, chest and tail. Use a sponge or a brush mat to felt the fibres together, with a needle felting needle. Be aware that the needles are very sharp, so watch your fingers! Step 1 ~ Nest ~ Wrap a length of wool roving around a foam ball. The amount will depend on the size of the ball. I used a 1½” foam ball with approximately 12” of wool roving. Using a felting needle, pierce the wool to interlace the fibres together to a felt consistency. Continue until you have a solid nest form. Remove the ball from the nest and continue to pierce the wool roving inside and outside of the nest. Lay the nest on the side and pierce continuously all around until you are happy with the felting effect. Note that my nest is quite ‘fluffy’, however it has a solid form.
Requirements List Requirements List 12” x 24” (31cm x 62cm) felt for background and backing 1” x 24” (3.5cm x 62cm) contrast felt for wave border Wool roving For each pointed petal flower cut 1½” x 7” (5cm x 19cm) felt for the petals and ¼” x 3” (1cm x 8.5cm) for each stamen For each fringed flower cut 1” x 4” (3cm x 10cm) for the petals and 3” x 1½” (8cm x 4cm) for the centre 4” x 13” (11cm x 34cm) felt for leaves Matching DMC embroidery thread and crewel needle Needle felting mat or sponge Needle felting needle Matching thread and needle White water soluble marking pen Freezer paper General sewing supplies
Autumn Flowers Candle Mat
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Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate Size 12” (31cm) round Using two styles of hand crafted felt flowers and a scattering of leaves, this little candle mat will add interest and charm to any table.
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The wave border worked in Blanket stitch compliments this display, which is topped with a decorative candle in the centre.
STEP 1 Step 1 ~ Using a 12” dinner plate as a guide, mark out two 12” circles with a white water soluble marker pen onto your selected felt. One will be the front of your candle mat and the other will be the backing. On the candle mat front circle, mark out an 8” circle in the centre of the 12” circle, using the marker pen. Use a smaller plate such as a entrée or bread and butter plate. Tease out a handful of wool roving, and lay around the 8” circle markings, approximately 1” wide. Using a needle felting needle and an up and down action, work the wool roving into the background felt.
Let’s Get Crafty Requirements List 6” x 8” (15cm x 20cm) wool felt for main colours (pink, grey and white) Off cuts of felt for nose and snout Off cut of fabrics for heart, tummy and inner ears 3" (8cm) square fusible webbing Freezer paper DMC embroidery thread to match felts chosen and black for facial features No 9-10 Crewel needle Six black seed beads for eyes Small, sharp pair of scissors Quick vanishing marker General sewing supplies
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Finger Puppet Friends Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size 2” x 4” (5cm x 10cm) Amuse and delight little ones with these easy to make finger puppets. Each puppet is constructed using a small even Whip stitch with 1 strand of matching DMC embroidery thread unless otherwise stated.
STEP 1
Step 1 ~ Using the pattern sheet supplied, transfer the body shapes for each character onto the dull side of the freezer paper. Include the name of each template so that you do not get confused. Cut out each shape on the drawn line. Use a warm, dry iron to secure each shape onto your chosen felts, then cut out. Some shapes require you to cut out two. For these shapes, peel off the freezer paper and re iron onto the felt, then cut out. Remove the freezer paper as you construct the finger puppets.
Trace the templates marked with a pattern onto the smooth side of the fusible webbing. Cut out roughly, then iron onto the back of your chosen fabrics using a dry iron. Cut out each shape on the drawn line and set aside to cool.
Requirements List Two 6" x 8" (15cm x 20cm) rectangles of cream wool felt for the doll bodies Off cuts of brown felt for the hair Off cuts of felt or wool fabric for the hoods Green, black and cream DMC embroidery thread No 9-10 Crewel needle Decorative beads to embellish Fibre fill or wool roving Rice, lentils or other material for weighting Quick vanishing marker pen Applique pins General sewing supplies
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Trio of Babushka Dolls Designed by Lenna Green Approximate Size ~ Large 3” x 5” (8cm x 13cm), Medium 2” x 4” (5cm x 10cm) Small 1½” x 3” (4cm x 8cm) The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin, designed by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter, a Russian industrialist and patron of arts. Malyutin's doll set consisted of eight dolls—the outermost was a girl in a traditional dress holding a rooster. The inner dolls were girls and a boy, and the innermost a baby. Savva Mamontov's wife presented the dolls at the Exposition Universelle (1900) in Paris, where the toy earned a bronze medal. Soon after, matryoshka dolls were being made in several places in Russia and shipped around the world. The dolls often follow a theme; the themes may vary, from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders. The matryoshka dolls are often mistakenly named babushka doll meaning "grandmother" or "elderly woman". (graphic and information sourced from Wikipedia)
Requirements List 15” x 18” (38cm x 46cm) wool felt for outer bag 15” x 18” (38cm x 46cm) fabric for lining 1½” x 27” (4cm x 69cm) strip of fabric for ties 6” (15cm) square felt for needle felting Wool roving in three colours Needle felting sponge or mat Needle felting needles DMC embroidery thread and crewel needle
Felt Knitters’ Caddy
Freezer paper and water soluble marking pen Rotary cutter or sharp scissors General sewing supplies
Designed by Janice Kellaway Approximate Size 7” x 15” (18cm x 38cm) NB a ¼” seam allowance has been used throughout this pattern This knitters’ caddy with hold not only your knitting needles, wool and a small project, but has a handy tie around to keep your work secure. Embellished with a reverse appliqued heart and some simple needle felting, this project is ideal for knitting on the run.
Step 1 ~ Cut a rectangle 15” x 18” from your chosen felt and lining fabric. Round the corners of both the felt and the fabric along the 15” length using a CD or crockery saucer. Mark a curved line using the water soluble marker and cut out using a rotary cutter or sharp pair of scissors. Print the template page and cut out the heart shape. Lay the felt on a table with the rounded corners at the top. Fold the bottom edge up by 7”, as if you were assembling the caddy to form the pocket. Place the heart template in the centre, 1” from the fold at the bottom. Pin to secure. Draw around the heart using a water soluble marker. Cut out carefully and smoothly on the line.
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STEP 1
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