Rebel With a Cause

Have you ever done something that seems so wrong yet felt so good? I feel a little like a rebel. I was taught from a very young age to never put a wool item in the wash. I was also told that if you made the mistake of washing wool in the machine don't think about drying the wool clothing in the dryer. I have been guilty of shrinking beautiful sweaters down to toddler size by accident. Hmm, that was a long time ago. How things have changed. I have found that I adore shrinking old wool sweaters in the washing machine and then burning them in the dryer to felt the fabric even more. Here are a few of my creations. I had a pincushion swap last month and my mind went crazy with ideas. I was only suppose to make one pincushion. I can never seem to make just one of anything. If I'm going to go through the process I going play and let the creative juices flow.



You start out with some thrift store wool sweaters. Most of the sweaters I purchased were way out dated and already felted.




I found a few really nice wool sweaters from Ireland that I'm not sure I can cut up.






After the washing machine does it's job and felts the wool like magic start cutting.






To make the handle for your tea cup you need to make lots of i-cord. I found this cool tool that makes I-cording at Joannes. Remember to read the directions for the cording tool. You can only use a skinny 100% wool yarn.




You just use the colors that you like and create a cool tea cup or coffee mug. Here is a great video of the pattern here. I love the way this one turned out. I'm sure that if I hit some other thrift stores I could find better patterned sweaters.






I couldn't stop with the teacup. I had to create a sweater pincushion.




This one is made out of a cashmere sweater. I made sure to cut the sweater so I could put the cable to good use. Cashmere is a little harder to felt.
It's cute!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out my little pincushion parade!

Felted Pumpkin Patch

It's that time of the season to pick a few pumpkins. I have a few surprises growing. Want to see?





I have a wide assortment of pretty pumpkins out in the garden. I have a few white pumpkins and some rare potimarron squash.





These miniatures are my favorites. Wool Winder designed one of the cutest felted pumpkin patterns I have ever seen.





Don't you love the way they turned out? My fingers are itching to knit up some more. I have given away a couple of these cuties. I am pondering the thought of an entire Thanksgiving arrangement. I can just see felted pumpkins all over the table!






I used Lambs Pride by Brown Sheep Company in a few different colorways. Orange you glad, prairie goldenrod and orange creamsicle. This pumpkins is orange you glad.





For the stems I used Lambs Pride colorway forest shadows. This was the tiniest little hat I have ever knitted. It's so sweet! It's the perfect cap for the pumpkin.





Here is a closer look at the Malabrigo pumpkins. The color is called Rhodesian. The variegation of the yarn adds a realistic depth to the shape. Give these little cuties a try. I promise the mini's will put a big smile on you face!