Is it a Scarf or a Table Runner?

Laying out a layer of warm brown wool roving...

                                                       ...and wetting it out.

                                               A layer of white merino is next...

                                         ...(laid out in a perpendicular direction).

                               Handspun wool yarn is applied to the project surface...

                                                     ...as an embellishment...

                                      ...and thin wisps of white wool are added...

                                                   ...where yarn crosses yarn...

                                                       ...to help it to 'felt in'.

                                                    Mid-way through felting...

                         ...the colored wool is beginning to migrate through the white.

                                         The back side of the scarf/table runner...

                                             ...and the yarn-embellished front.

                                            The completed project (back side)...

                                                               ...and front.

                                              I made this project as a Christmas gift...
         
                       ...and because it can be used in either of two disparate ways...

                                        ...I left it up to the recipient to decide...

                                              ...'scarf or table runner'?!?!! :)

Handspun Knit-Embellished Tote- Part 2 of 2

                                                                  For side two...

                                             ...I added long, dyed wool locks...

                                               ... and more pre-felt pieces...

                                     ...then covered the whole project with pieces of a batt...

                                                    ...'infused' with cotton dots.

                                                     Mid-way through felting...

                                                    ...I cut a slit for the handle.

                                                  ...on both the front side...

                                                           ...and the back.

                                        I also stitched a fabric lining into the tote...

                            ...so it's sturdy enough to carry things like fresh produce or books.

                                                       The finished tote...

                                                    ...in all of its brilliant color!

                                           

Handspun Knit-Embellished Tote- Part 1 of 2

                                        Knitting small lengths of handspun wool yarn...

                                                      ...into a 'tote' shape.

                                                  With all of this crazy texture...

                                                     ...and 'boingy' locks...

                         ...I was afraid that the knitted piece wouldn't 'felt in'...

                                                     ...(like in this failed project).

                                                              My solution?
                             
                                         I basted my knitting to a piece of pre-felt...

                                       ...using a large-eyed needle and wool yarn!

                                           Wetting out the back side of the project.

                                                 Next time: the finished tote

Experimental "Hippie" Purse- Part 2 of 2

The bag front (closed)...

 

...and back (opened).

 

Trying out a piece of leather for color.

 

Do I prefer the suede or the firm leather side 'front-and-center' this time?



Lining the inner 'cell phone pocket' with print fabric from my stash.

 

Notice how some of the pieces of yarn on the bag body...

...can be pulled through holes in the flap when the purse is closed?

 

Adding a machine-stitched seam at the bag 'hinge'.

 

I think this bag is colorful and wild and a little unkempt...

...like the hippie fashions of the 60's! :)

 

Because the pieces of yarn were initially quite long...

...I felt the need to wrap them in plastic wrap, plus duct tape...

...or fold them carefully and put a thin layer of plastic between 'them' and the roving...

...to keep them from 'felting in' as I worked.

If I were to do it again, I would avoid the tape...

...since some of the yarn became a bit ragged-looking...

...from all of my pulling and tugging.

Since it was an experiment, and I wasn't sure 'where' I was headed with the bits of yarn...

...I found that I needed to shorten them on the finished bag...

...so I merely knotted them on themselves in a crude way.

The circles of 'felt applique' and blanket stitching...

...give a homespun look to the purse...

...and add to its vintage 'feel'.

To help secure the flap, I stitched a seam at the top...

...(so it folds over the bag easily and evenly)...

and attached a large metal snap as a closure.

Experimental "Hippie" Purse- Part 1 of 2

Beautiful handspun yarn from my friend, Kelly.

 

Laying out Bluefaced Leicester roving.

 

Adding duct-tape-covered, plastic-wrapped sections of yarn to the bag body...

 

...and adding some with only thin plastic layers between them...

...to the flap of the bag.



Covering the entire piece in roving...

...but leaving an open resist at the flap end.

 

The bag back, mid-felting.

 

Sewing on cut-out circles of felt...

...using lengths of wool yarn in wild colors.

 

Blanket-stitching around the cut-out holes and around the edge of the flap.

 

It all started with a box of glorious handspun yarn...

...and a bit of extra time on my hands during a workshop. :)

I decided to try another open-resist purse (similar to this one.)

...using pieces of yarn as the embellishment, instead of 'dreads'.

When I had partially felted the bag...

...I trimmed the flap and did a 'purse-ectomy'...

...cutting out holes and then re-attaching them (in new places!) with wool yarn.

Next time: the finished bag (after final felting)...

...with a short, suede-side-out leather strap.