Virgin needle felting

I bought a needle felting kit from Wildhare Fiber Studio on Etsy. It was reasonable, and had everything I needed.

I have never done any needle felting, but was intrigued by the Spin, Knit and Life blog and her results. She directed me to this great site.

I decided to begin with my first attempt on my Sophie bag by Julie Anderson (rav link) . Which I actually saw on the Instructables site first and became interested in.

It is a very easy felted bag, it would be great for a first time knitted project, the handles provide a quirky interest and make it look more complicated than it is.

Bag is quickly knit and I start on the handle, along the way I decide to make it a tri handle twined bag instead of two twined together. Because, hey who can make a pattern without a little tweaking.

Then just twist them all and attach. Easy.

Prefelted photo and a close up of the handle.

Here we are post felting.

Then I decided to pick out some fabric to line it with, I hate to have a knitted purse that droops and stretches out.

Inspired by the leaf print, and looking for something simple I tried to felt a tree like silhouette and add some buds of color, then wondered if I should add leaves or grass or maybe a bird, and then realized I might be headed toward the Bedazzler syndrome, (no one with a Bedazzler can put just one stud or rhinestone on an item)

Start with a branch?

Make two

I decided to stop here. Although it was really hard not to keep going, I was afraid I would make my purse into a ugh.

Lining your bag, especially if knitted, makes it sturdy, and resistant to stretching. It is easy to do and you can include pockets if you wish. Adding a zipper is also an option.

After needle felting I decided my first choice of fabric wasn’t the best. I wanted something to high light the buds on the branches.

I decided on two different prints with red in them.

A little measuring, pinning and sewing and …..

I’m done!

Ready to organize all the things you need.

Ready to go….

May your knitting needles fly as fast as dragonflies…

Technorati Tags: sophie bag,knit,kntting,felted bag,felting,needle felting kit,needle felting,wildhare fiber studio,etsy,lining a knitted bag

Fibonacci and Knitting

Some time ago I learned that Fibonacci can be applied to knitting. If you are not familiar with Fibonacci, he was a mathematician from the middle ages. He figured out the relationship of proportions, now known as the golden ratio (or number), Fibonacci sequence or 1.618 or Phi. This sequence is seen in practically everything. I’ll link to several articles if you wish to learn more. From reproducing animals, to sea shells and galaxies, the human form and sunflowers. (Mona Lisa, Parthenon, and the pyramids of Egypt, just to name a few). This ratio is present in many, many more surprising things. The first time I used this was in my felted bag. I loved the random look of it. This pattern is The Big Bag Pattern (free on Ravelry) by Maia Discoe (link ) Below are a couple of links if you wish to learn more.. Fibonacci Numbers and Nature The Wiki and Fibonacci Mona Lisa -- Da Vinci's Use of Sacred Geometry (you tube link) In mathematics, the Fibonacci numbers or Fibonacci...

Review of a Kick Spindles Or Mother Marion to spin

When I made the decision to buy a Kick spindle I could find very little info on it, anywhere. Below is what I gathered, bought and my experience with mine. I could only find two being marketed, since I purchased mine I have found a third. Below is my views on the Kick spindle I purchased (Little Meggie from Heavenly Handspinning), and some info on all of the other Kick Spindles that I could locate. Links and costs are included. Review: Things I like about my Kick Spindle. 1. Long spin time, I like the addition of the ball bearing. 2. Leaves both hands free to draft 3. It's my "wheel" 4. I like using my foot, I am moving around and don't get stiff from one position. It's a very "active" type, rhythmic motion. 5. You can actually stand and use it also. 6. Great price point. 7. I have never spun on a wheel and when I sat down at one the first time, I could actually spin (some) I think this action of foot/hand coordination helped. 8. ...

Hills and Valleys Cowl/Hood (free pattern)

I was searching for the perfect cowl that I had in my mind to knit. Trawling on Ravelry, I wanted one, just the right size around, only once around my neck and not too tight, loose enough to pull up around my face and tall enough to get it around my ears during a windy dog walk, but able to squish it down into my collar of my coat and not be too thick and bulky. About a third of the way into the pattern I decided to make it long enough to pull up as a hood also. I finally just un-vented this one, as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say. Add caption This is a simple stitch textured cowl/hood (you decide the length). Suitable for beginning knitters. Purl ridges make the cowl easy to scrunchy down or pull up. You can wear the ribbed end on top if you are wearing it as a cowl to make it snuggie around your neck or, wear the purl ridges on top if you are pulling it up as a hood. If you have any questions or find an error please let me know so I can correct it! I’ve added some tuto...

Knitting Dragonflies

Search This Blog