Needle Felting Adventure

As a crafter, have you ever gotten an idea and been unable to let go of it? No matter how hard you tried? Well, this needle felting adventure is one of those ideas. I don't know why, but I had the idea to make some wool dryer balls. Can I buy wool dryer balls? Absolutely (link at the bottom of the post). But where is the fun in that?

Because I wanted to make dryer balls, I grabbed a box of roving. I estimated I could make several with this box.

I wanted some colors so I added in this box of 24 colors. Each of these isn't enough to make a ball, but it should be enough to color a dryer ball. I haven't tried that, yet. 

I didn't want it all to be work, so I also added this kit to make weird and wonderful cacti. If you just want to give needle felting a try, there are so many small kits available. this one just seemed fun to me. 

I wanted the dryer balls to be dense, so I grabbed some 100% wool I had and wound it into balls. I felted in the end and then wrapped the ball with the roving, felting along the way. If you're curious, just poke around YouTube looking for needle felting.

I made four felted balls. These are ready for the dryer! My felting journey isn't done, yet. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Wool Felting Needles

100% Natural Wool Roving

Woolbuddy Felting Wool

Woolbuddy Needle Felting Kit

Just want to give wool dryer balls a try but don't want a new craft? Check out these options. They come in so many colors and designs!

Felted Slippers

I have this collection of blue yarn perfect for felting. 

I used the LK150 and a video tutorial to make some more slippers

I finished them what seems like ages ago but I didn't wash them to felt them up until recently. Here is how they compare to my earlier experiments. Felting is not very precise and more of an experiment each time I do it. 

They came out great! I still have yarn that will felt so expect to see more of these. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Knitting claw weights (5 each)

Silver Reed LK150

Felted Slippers

After the last pair of felted slippers turned out too small I decided to give it another try. I modified my notes to make the slipper wider and longer. 

I knit up the pair on the LK150. 

And sewed them up. I so enjoy the color blocking on this design. It's something you can't do easily while knitting in the round. 

Here is what that unfelted (top) slipper looks like next to the felted slipper I made (bottom). 

Here is how it felted up. Sadly, it is still too small for me. I figure the size is around a ladies size 6 shoe.

I learned even more and I'm going to give it another try. They are just too cute to give up now. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Felted Slippers

I decided to give felted slippers another chance. This was my second attempt. I make major changes to the design I was using and I'm much happier with this style. Yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It felts up so nicely. 

These are knit flat on the LK150 knitting machine and then the sides are seamed by hand. The color changes are partially a style choice and partially to assist with lining up that hand seaming. 

This time the felting was just awesome! Unfortunately, I didn't knit them big enough so these are really a child's size. I learned so much making them. I learned how this knit fabric felted (so great!) and how many rows I need to knit to get an inch of felted material. The next pair will be so much better! 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Felted Slippers

I've been experimenting with making felted slippers on the knitting machine. This was my first try. 

Sure, it started out huge, felting works like that. 

While it felted very nicely, and the length was about right....

The width just wasn't workable. Even more felting wouldn't fix this problem. This was a great learning experience. 

I've gone back to the machine and tried again. I changed tension and the way I'm forming the heel and toes because I'm not a fan of that boxy toe. Now to get the second pair assembled and washed. Wish me luck!

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Fiskars 7 Inch Softgrip Student Scissors (snipping yarn)
5 Pieces 5 Different Size Bent Latch Hook Crochet Needle Hook
addi Express Hook

Silver Reed LK150

Purple Felfs

 

Last week I finished up this pair of felfs. I determined each of these felfs takes about 70 grams of yarn. That meant the two 50 gram balls of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in purple wasn't enough to make the pair. I worked through one of the balls and switched to the lighter, heathered yarn for the remainder. 

These felted up beautifully! 

Such a fun pair of felted slippers! The best way to fit a pair of felted slippers is to put them on when they are still damp. That way they can stretch to fit your feet. I should make a couple more pairs. 

Pattern: The Art of Felfs by Cat Bordhi

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Addi Turbo circular knitting needle 32 inch - Size US 11

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
blunt tip scissors
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader

Purple Felfs

Felfs in the making! This is really simple knitting. Worked flat on big needles. 

Then sewn up into a foot-like shape. These are made to be mirror images.

This is the basic shape once sewn up. I hope those lines show up nicely after felting. 

I wanted to show the size before and after felting. These are made with Sheep's Pride and felt up nicely, even if they do need a couple trips through the wash cycle to get down to a slipper size. I'm going to make some using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes next. I think the felting will come out differently but felting is an adventure! You don't really know how it will turn out until you're done.  

Pattern: The Art of Felfs by Cat Bordhi

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Addi Turbo circular knitting needle 32 inch - Size US 11

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
blunt tip scissors
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader

Colorful Felfs

Several years ago I purchased The Art of Felfs by Cat Bordhi. 

I pulled out some Lamb's Pride and knit up another pair. I also knit up a test square using a different yarn. If you have the pattern, this little square is how you make your felt swatch so you can calculate how many stitches you need for your slippers. It's brilliant, really. They look terribly large before they get felted.  

One trip thought the wash in a zippered bag and the test square is perfect but the slippers need another trip through the wash. Felting is an interesting process when you are trying to felt something. 

Tools and supplies (affiliate links):

Addi Turbo circular knitting needle 32 inch - Size US 11

Clover Locking Stitch Markers
blunt tip scissors
Large eye needles 
Clover Yarn Threader

Quilt Shop Shopping

Today I went up to Bear's Paw Fabrics.  This great shop participated in the Quilter's Quest last year and is on the list again this year.  You can find out more about the Quilter's Quest at their site. It doesn't start until November and I'm already excited.  I should hurry up and finish the quilt from last year.  I have the top finished but need to get the back pieced so I can quilt it.

I couldn't pass up some coordinating prints for the charm pack from Moda called Mixed Bag by Studio M.  Such a fun line of fabrics.  The origami print could not stay on the shelf.  It had to come home with me.  I also picked up a couple pieces of wool felt for a simple project.  A skirt pattern that I thought I had to have.  The two rulers from Jaybird Quilts are something I wanted to try, too.  I was really looking for the Mini Hex N More ruler, but I figured coming home with the big ruler wouldn't hurt me.  

I need to quit admiring my ability to break my fabric diet and go finish my Big Bold quilt.  I did piece the borders today.  I hope to share the finished top soon.  I am still thinking and planning my custom quilting for that one.