Please do check out the other crafters taking part because there is always something lovely to discover. Thanks again to Wendy at 1st Unique Gifts for hosting this for us.
Well, you might remember that it was my birthday over the summer (you can read what I got up to in this post) and one of my lovely prezzies from hubby was a gift voucher to go on a felting course. It's something I had been hinting about quite heavily so I was amazed, thrilled even, that he actually noticed!!
Anyway, on Saturday I spent the day felting with a lovely lady, Lisa Marie Olson, who runs Tigerlily Makes - a felt-making boutique. I have to say, we all had a wonderful time - lots of coffee and cake was involved,
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| Cake is very important in crafting, isn't it?! |
as well as a surprising amount of soap, water and lots (and lots and lots) of rubbing and agitating the fibres. I didn't realise how much effort it takes to make felt from wool fibres - our arms were quite tired by the end of it all and I think Lisa's catchphrase of the day was "nearly there.... just another 5 minutes!"
Once we had made our felt - we were making cushion covers - we then had even more fun embellishing them with whatever we fancied. I had a go at needlefelting and LOVED it!! I can feel a new hobby starting (and hear my husband sighing in resignation!). Basically, you get a really sharp needle, and stab at bits of carefully placed wool until they embed themselves into your fabric - and hopefully not your fingers....
So.... do you want to see the finished result?
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| My handfelted cushion! |
Ta daaa! My first ever felted project - and probably the first of many! I am really pleased with how it came out - it makes me think of windy, autumnal days. Here are some close-ups of my favourite bits:
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| I love this little swirly bit! |
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| I'm pleased with how this leaf turned out too! |
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| Another swirly bit! |
So there you are! If you are thinking about trying a new craft, I would say 'Go for it!' because you never know what wonderful new ideas it will give you. Felting is great fun, and of course you don't just have to make cushions. I'm just trying to decide which felting course I want to try next - a wall hanging? a vase? a lovely new handbag.... maybe I'll have to do them all!
Better go before husband disconnects me from the internet...
See you next time! xx
They are lovely - I am always so impressed with how good felting looks.
ReplyDeleteWell done. It always looks so complicated and time consuming but the results are lovely. I am almost tempted to have a go, only almost. lol. I am too impatient.
ReplyDeleteGosh Jenny what a wonderful post and so beautifully explained... thank you for taking the time to sharing this wonderful craft with your readers on Handmade Monday. :)
ReplyDeleteI really like the cushion, such a gorgeous effect, well worth the arm-ache I'd say!
ReplyDeleteWow, love the effect you've got there. Your photos show up the tactile element of the felt so well. I'd love to learn this one day! x
ReplyDeleteFelting is such fun... especially when there is cake involved. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ros,
ReplyDeleteI haven't done felting for a while, I have a couple of squares hidden away in a drawer awaiting a bit of top embroidery, now I'm convinced that I'll have to go hunting for them. I really like your cushions.
Jan x
I had a go at felting years ago as I remember it is very time consuming and very hard work but the satisfaction is well worth all the time involved.
ReplyDeleteWell done on you fabulous new cushion.