Yarn-Embellished "Green Pumpkin" Bag- Part 2

After flipping the project to side two...

                                            ...the pieces of yarn from side one...

                                       ...are wrapped up and around to the center.

                                                     A pre-felt ring is added...

                                    ...and the 'rays' of wool roving from side one...

                           ...are also wrapped tightly around the edges of the resist.

                                            Additional layers of wool are added...

                                             ...over the entire resist surface.

                                      

                                          The project is flipped back to side one...

                                     ...and wool is added to cover this side, as well.

                                 The dry ends of a braided handle are splayed out...

                                        ...and applied to the (raised) pre-felt ring...

                                            ...then covered with a bit of roving...

                                                  ...to help hold them in place.

                                         Next time: the second handle is added...

                                                 ...and the purse is finished.

Yarn-Embellished "Green Pumpkin" Bag- Part 1

Fashioning a foam underlayment resist...

...in the shape of a rounded-off square...

...and assembling pieces of novelty and boucle yarn.

                                                  Braiding straps for the bag...

                                                      ...from lengths of yarn...

                               ...and long, narrow sections of colored wool roving.

                                 Covering the ends of each strap with plastic wrap...

                                                  ...(using tiny rubber bands)...

                                   ...to help keep them dry during their initial felting.

                          Placing snippets of colored pre-felt onto the resist center...

                                               ...and adding 'spokes' of yarn.

                                               A pre-felt oval is added next...

                                  ...and several layers of wool roving are applied...

                                             ...to the entire surface of the resist.

                                                        Next time: side two!

Colorful "Wizard Hat"- Part 2 of 2

The finished project, drying.

                                                        This "Wizard Hat"...

                                             ...embellished with boucle yarn...

                                                ...and snippets of pre-felt...

                              ...was made while I was in Boulder with felting friends.

                                  It came about after Tylar made a small ornament...

                                             ...in this exact shape and design...

                                          ...and I decided to scale it up for a hat!

                                          Of course I just had to give it to Cathy...

                  ...when I saw that she owned the perfect, coordinating garment.

                                        (Plus, she makes one badass Wizard!!) 

                        Here, "Catherine de Bergère" gives us a wooly benediction...

                            ...while holding the felted ornament which started it all! :)

Colorful "Wizard Hat"- Part 1 of 2

Covering a resist...

 ...with striped layers of wool roving...

                                          ...(using different colors on each side).

                                              Adding pre-felt embellishments...

                                                            ...corner cords...

                                             ...and 'squiggles' of boucle yarn...
  
                                                      ...to the resist surface...

                                               ...and repeating the process...

                                                            ...on side two.

                                          After the project passes the pinch test...

                          ...a circle is cut from the center of the partially felted wool...

                                                ...and the resist is removed.

                                                       The felting continues...

                                                   ...in different orientations...

                                                ...until the project is fully felted...

                                     ...and the hat is pinned and clipped for drying.

                                               Next time: the completed hat...

                                        ...with a beautiful 'wizard' as model!!! :)

"Hurrah For Hats!"- Part 2 of 2

Once the resist is removed...

...the hat is turned right-side out...

                                                 ...and the felting continues. 

                                                         'Making a point'. ')

                                                        As the hat shrinks...

                                  ...it's regularly checked against a hat form for size.

                                    The finished hat has a lovely, pebbly surface...

                                   ...and the yarn has virtually 'melted' into the wool.
                 

                                                          The felting process...                                  

                               ...bends the strands of yarn into interesting designs.

                              

                                         The hat interior with hand-stitched hem.

                                                   My friend's sweet daughter...

                                               ...modeling the hat 'her way'!! :)