I got a chance to mess around with Janome’s fancy needle felting machine last week, and it is all kinds of mad fun! I’ve done a lot of manual needle felting in the past, even demo-ing it on Stylelicious and in Not Another Teen Knitting Book –so I was eager to see what the big woop about the machine version was. It’s cool because it allows you too free-form felt in no time, using yarn, roving or scraps of certain fabrics. For detailed work like geometric shapes or letters , I’ll probably always stick with the original method of using a single needle and foam square (I’m old-school like that)–but for larger pieces or when I’m going for a collage effect, I’m totally a machine convert.
As I’ve now entered what I like to call the ANFM (after needle felting machine) Era, I also needed (I promise, there was need involved) to make something to commemorate the occasion. Combining my current felt obsession with my vow to stop wasting so much yarn, I whipped up this little Seaweed pillow. The body and weird grassy-looking shape are made from plain old felt, and the underwater-foliage-looking design is needle-felted using scraps of Vegas yarn in colors: Casino and Martini. I kinda dig it!
Enough about felting, how are you feeling? In the mood to learn to knit? (I know, cheap segue. They can’t all be winners.)
If you’re in Austin and have wanted to learn but just haven’t yet OR are in need of a refresher course, I’ll be teaching at Craft-O-Rama for several Thursday evenings over the next 2 months beginning, this week. Check out their site here for scheduling and sign-up info. Hope to see you there!
Time to pick up the boys from school. Ciao for now!
I am devastated by the loss of @hillcountryweavers founder, Susanne Middlebrooks.
I wrote a longer tribute to her on my blog and Facebook (links in bio). In short, though, she had been sick for a long time but had been a master at not letting the illness get in the way of her living. So, it was often unimaginable that she wouldn't be with us for longer. Last June during an industry convention in Chicago when Susanne came over to the bar booth I was sitting at and plopped herself next to me to chat, I had no idea that it would be the last time I'd get to see her. I'm so thankful though, that when we parted ways to go back to our respective meetings, it was with a hug. Rest in purls, my friend....
When I came across this Knitting Needle Patent greeting card by @patentpress , I couldn’t resist selecting it as one of the items for the YarnYAY! September box! (Link in @vickiehowell bio or got to YarnYAY.com)
What looks like part circular knitting needle, part Tunisian crochet hook is illustrated as the patent drawing for flexible knitting needles. This greeting card memorializes the creation of tools that we stitchers can now, not do without!...
The sample yarn for both palettes of this year’s 12 Days of YAY! Advent Box have arrived. I cannot wait for stitchers to open up a new color everyday!
I don’t want to spoil the shade surprises, but I can share just how much yarn we’re sending you this year — FIFTEEN mini hanks of beautifully hand dyed yarn, by two rad boss-lady dyers.
Historically, we have sold out of these so I’d you’re prone to FOMO, be sure to pre-order tour 12 Days of YAY!
Nineteen years into this knitting career, it’s crazy-pants that I’ve never had Learn to Knit or Learn to Crochet kits before. So, I finally made it happen. If you know someone, or ARE someone that wants to learn — while also making something wearable— check out our new hats and scarves kits in the YarnYAY! Shop!
hi felting diva!
the felting machine is really cool – thanx for sharing the info…it’s a great way to use up my extra felt & yarn. Felt On!:)Marg
That is super CUTE! I want to needle felt so bad. I know once I try though, I won’t want to stop.