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3 New Things

3 New Things

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I chose a few felt pieces to make things from recently. One was a piece I made about 3 and a half years ago, it was my first attempt at a plaid-inspired piece:

I thought I could improve it by adding some machine stitching, so I just added a few straight lines and some zig-zg stitches. A couple of strips looked too plain so I added some offcut strips, then sewed it up into a book cover:

The strap is removable, this is the front:

This is the back:

And, opened out without a book inside:

The other 2 pieces were texturey nuno pieces. They were planned to be the right size for coin purses. I was going to make them my usual way, of cutting out and blanket stitching, but I thought the first piece was a bit too ‘grungey’ for neat stitching:

And when I got the other piece to cut up I thought the same thing:

So, instead I just cut one piece for the inside pocket, and tried to keep the natural edges, just folded and stitched. This is the ‘antiquey’ looking one:

I tried a button, but I think it’s too new:

Inside:

The bluey green nuno I made this from is one of my favourite pieces that I’ve made. It made a nice purse too:

Open:

There are so many colours and textures:


Sometimes it seems like a cycle of just making lots of felt, then making lots of things from felt!

Giveaway Winners and New Things

Giveaway Winners and New Things

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Thanks to everyone who entered the Wet Felting Class giveaway, and thanks for the nice comments. The winners are:  Lucette and Jan (comment at 2.38 am). We’ll contact you later today on the email you used to comment, with all the details.

I thought I’d get my sewing machine out this week and make a few things with offcuts, samples and test pieces. The first thing I made was a large notebook/diary cover. The main part only took a couple of hours, but then all the little fiddly bits, straps, flaps, attaching them and sleeves etc all seemed to take about another 4 once it was all added up. I got through quite a few cd albums making it anyway! This is the front with the clip closed:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis is the front opened:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis is the back:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAAnd the inside sleeve:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI don’t know if you remember this piece I made earlier this year, testing out a piece of viscose scarf:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI thought it would make a perfect coin purse. I measured it, cut out the parts and then chose some embroidery threads:

blue green nunoAnother felt piece I cut up for a purse was a flowery sample I made years ago for Beyond Nuno:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAChoosing More threads:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIt all started getting a bit hectic once I got the buttons out too 🙂

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAHopefully, I won’t be able to show you the finished ones because I’m taking them to the Christmas Fair at the well being centre today 🙂

Purses and Designs

Purses and Designs

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I’ve done a little bit more work on a couple of the purses I started. I’d already sewn up one of the slubbed white ones, and now I’ve added the button and button-hole. I thought doing large-ish blanket stitch around the button hole would suit the colours and style of this purse.

purseI used some slubbed wool I bought quite a few years ago to make the felt for this. I added some extra threads and bits of silk to the felt. I can’t find a photo of it, but this piece is very similar, and this is a close up of the texture.

backI used a cream vintage button, and kept the natural uneven edges again for the back pocket.

insideThe other purse I worked on was one made from a piece of felt and squares of silk paper. It was one of my favourite pieces, the silk squares are so shiny. I’m still undecided about the button, I’m thinking of using this vintage one:

frontThis is the back:

backAnd the inside, I like these purses with two pockets because you get to see more felt than on the zipper ones:

insideThe other thing I worked on last week were some collage sheets. I’m working on designs for sheets to sell on etsy and maybe even do some designs for fabric through Spoonflower and some printed silk. I hoped I might get some feedback on the designs, so I’ve made some samples and uploaded them here. Feel free to print them and use them, but please don’t sell/redistribute the designs.
image comp

Sewing and Experimenting

Sewing and Experimenting

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I’ve been trying to continue with the things I learned during Ruth’s challenge for getting 5 minutes of fibre time into each day. I don’t always manage that and often end up with one or two days where I have a couple of hours fibre time, and 3 or 4 days without, but I’m organising my time better and having projects at different stages, ready to work on when I do have the time. On my desk I have a box of  felt pieces that have been measured and cut and are waiting to be sewn. I also have a box of part made up items; things like purses, glasses cases and coin pouches which have been sewn on the machine and are waiting for me to finish off with blanket stitch. These are a few of the purses at various stages, the blue ones just have the back pocket mahchine stitched into place, the white piece on the left has some stitching around the pocket edges, and the one at the front is just in need of a button and buttonhole.

pursesThis is one of the camera cases I’ve been working on. The gray fibre is carded silk carrier rods. I blended some of the silk ‘fluff’ with merino and used some for surface texture.

carrier rodI mentioned last time that I had one more felted piece using the pink synthetic fabric. It isn’t really meant to be anything but an experimental piece, combining nuno techniques and using a resist. This is a compilation of images.

4 imagesAnother experimental piece I did was one using some crimped acrylic fibre that looks like a synthetic version of laps.

lapsIt produced a really nice effect.

acrylicI have managed to finish off a few pieces and must get them photographed for listing on etsy. This ring pouch is one piece I finished. I first made some heart ring pouches a few years ago so I had somewhere safe to put my rings and bracelets when I take them off for felting. I’ve made a few more for gifts. They’re only small, about 2 inches high and 2.5 inches wide, this photo makes this one look huge!

ring pouchIf any of our UK readers use a lot of fabrics (I know we have some who are doing City and Guilds courses) you might be interested in a post I did on my blog the other day, about Abakhan, the fabric/craft shop I buy most of supplies from. I’m always interested in learning about others though, so if you have a favourite, feel free to share it, we all benefit from others’ experiences, especially if it saves us money 🙂