"Orange You Glad?" Table Topper

I used variegated handmade pre-felt...

                                     ...and a double layer of commercial pre-felt...

                                               ...to prepare this table topper.

                                            Wetting out the project (back side)...

                                                                 ...and front.

                                                    Mid-way through felting...

       ...color from the pre-felt squares begins to migrate through the orange pre-felt.

                                            The finished table topper (front)...

                                                               ...and back.

 

                                                  To make a decorative edge...

                                  ...I hand-stitched around the perimeter of the felt...

                                                   ...with embroidery floss.

                               Next time: I use more of these variegated pre-felt squares...

                                     ...to make a "windowpane" table topper!

"Roaring Twenties Cloche" (Blue Versions)- Part 2 of 2

My foam hat resist (newly reduced in size).

                                        Fiber from a hand-blended, mixed batt...

                                         ...is applied to the surface of the resist.

                                              After flipping the project to side two...

                                           ...additional layers of fiber are added.

                                                  Mid-way through felting...

                                      ...the hat is starting to shrink and take shape.

                                                         Removing the resist. 

                                          Cutting rows of slits into the soft felt...

                    ...and trimming the bottom row into teardrop-shaped extensions.

                                              The two finished cloches, together...

                                                ...but staged as 'bowls'! :)

                                       I think they look pretty interesting this way...

                                                             ...don't you? ;)

                                      

"Roaring Twenties Cloche" (Blue Versions)- Part 1 of 2

Laying out fiber from a blended batt...

                                     ...made from wool in various shades of blue...

                                      ...and sections of shimmery, dyed tussah silk.

                                    Mid-way through felting, the pre-felt is cut open...

                                                  ...and the resist is removed.

                                          Rows of slits are cut into the soft felt...

                                                   ...and the felting continues.

                                                    The nearly completed hat...

                                            ...after vigorous fulling in a sushi mat.

                       As you can see, here, several rows needed to be trimmed off... 

                                              ...before the hat would fit properly.

                 
                                                          The finished project...

                                                        ...drying on a hat block. 

                                              ...and, here, all ready to wear' :)

                              Because I've posted my hat projects a bit out of order...

                             ...you're seeing the results of my initial resist attempt here.

                               (You'll notice that it's 'shorter' in my later versions).

                         Next time: a slightly more aqua version of this blue cloche...

                                   ...and a sculptural twist in orientation! ;)

'Marbled' Green Cloche

For this project...

...I created custom-blended batts in my drum carder...

                                 ...using several different shades of green wool...

                           ...and dyed tussah silk fibers in dark green and chartreuse.

                                        I wrapped the resist with layers of fiber...

                                       ...and felted it until it passed the 'pinch test'.

                                                    Mid-way through felting...

                                           ...I cut rows of slits in the soft felt...

                                              ...just like I did to make this hat...

                             ...but instead of trimming the terminal edge into 'teardrops'...

                                             ...I left the brim long all around...

                          
                                          ...for a more casual-looking 'cuffed' style.

                           Because I used so many different kinds and colors of fiber...

                               ...the finished hat has quite a 'marbled' appearance...

                                              ...and the bits of dyed tussah silk...

                                                  ...add a welcome shimmer! 

Three New Christmas Stockings- Part 4 of 4

Even though I rarely needle felt anything...

...since I was felting this stocking from the inside-out...

                       ...it just seemed like the most expedient way to get a tidy result. :)

                                       The 'labeled' white pre-felt is flipped over...

                   ..and stripes of wide pencil roving are added to the resist surface

                                  Next, I cover them with layers of wool roving...

                                                  ...except at the (white) top.

                            The project is wetted out and covered with bubble wrap...

                                                  ...then flipped to side two.

                                            As I lay out additional pencil roving...

                   ...I do my very best to match the new stripes with those on the back.

                              Working carefully (so as not to disturb the stripes)...

                             ...I wrap the wool 'rays' from side one to side two...

                             ...and cover side two with layers of red roving, as well.

                                                     Mid-way through felting...

                            ...I remove the resist and turn the project right-side out.

                                                       Fulling the stocking.

                                              The finished project (back side)...

                                                                ...and front.

                                   Here, the stocking joins the others on the mantle.