Second Time Around

You may remember me posting a while back about trying out needle felting.  While I enjoyed it, I didn't really get the feel of it.  I did pretty well adding details to things like birthday banners but, I just couldn't seem to get the hang of the 3 dimensional needle felting.  That all seemed to change last Sunday. 

I had run into the craft store for a few supplies (we recently moved to Frankfurt so I was craving something familiar.) and I came across the felting section.  I quickly snapped up a foam block, a few needles, and an assorted bag of wool.  (all for less than 15 euros)  That next day (Sunday) I felted the entire day.  I didn't really start out with a plan I just looked around on Pinterest for some "pinspiration" and started felting. 

Now first of all let me say...I'm totally not an expert in needle felting.  That said, this little project turned out so much better than I could have hoped for. 

The Wonky House

It also helped me see where I might have gone wrong before.  So here are a few felting tips based on my (totally unprofessional) experience.

1.  Use the material.  Seriously.  Last time I remember thinking "I don't want to use too much wool" and that was totally stupid.  You're supposed to use it.  Quit being cheap!

Interior detail.

2.  If you're making something 3 dimensional with walls and you think they're thick enough...they're not.  Double the thickness and you may come close.  With this house I realized after I attached the walls to the base that they were not thick enough.  I "cheated" this by making another wall section and adding detail for the inside and putting those layers together.  It would have been waaaay simpler to just make them super thick to start with. 

Two walls stuck together.

3.  Use quality wool.  Now, I'm not saying you should spend a fortune here (my wool was only 7 euros)  but you want it to look like it came off an actual sheep.  The roving I had purchased in the US was not the same quality I bought here.  It was too shiny and too "perfect".  This stuff LOOKS like it came of a sheep and was dyed funky colors.  I could have totally imagined this but the wool here looks less processed.

4.  The more you mess with it...the worse it looks.  Less is totally more with this free form stuff.  I like tightly felted beads as much as the next guy, but structures look better with less felting.  (again my unprofessional opinion)

I really like the furry little details.

5.  I think the most important thing to remember is that you'll probably suck at first.  How unfair would it be if you were just great at everything on the first try?  Try it again.  And again.  And again if you have to to get the hang of it.  The wool really isn't that expensive. 

Those are really the main lessons I learned with felting.  It was so much fun and I can't wait to get more wool (my house needs furniture).  And I'm thinking I want to try one of those play mats too.  I'll keep you posted of course. 

Oh and don't poke your finger! 

Kristin

Making Progress and Something New

In my quest to become a knitter I think I'm making pretty good progress.  It's become quite addictive and I've actually had knitting dreams once or twice.  (Is that normal?)  I do find it calms my brain down which I desperately need sometimes.

I've been learning to knit ribbing and to change colors.  I really like the look of the ribbing.  I like that I still have to think knit knit, purl purl, knit knit, purl purl.  It helps with the brain chill. 

I hope to learn how to bind off today as I'm headed to my sister's house later.  (She's an excellent teacher.)  I've also ordered a book from the library that I hope to pick up today.  It's another Debbie Stoller book called The Knitter's Handbook.  I have her crochet book I talked about here.  

I've also found my other crafting has become knit/crochet related.  Carly and I had gone to this fancy knit shop a few weeks ago and they were selling "project bags".  We both had a "what a great idea" moment with those.  What with tiny hands always reaching for our current projects and all. They also make it very simple to take your project with you.  So, we made our own. 

I have two different styles here.  The one on the left has a circular bottom which makes for a happy little area for your yarn ball to bounce around while you're knitting or crocheting.  The right side has a rectangular bottom which I'm testing out to see how happily the yarn deals with that.

I will say the knitting needles rest more happily in the rectangular one. For now I have crochet in the circular one. 

Here's an interior shot.  Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial for these.  They are fairly quick and easy to make.  I plan to have a few laying around so I can keep each project separate.

In other fiber related news... I think I'm also becoming a needle felter. I had done some 2 dimensional felting on another project (I'll share later) and enjoyed it very much.  Last night I started thinking about all the cute 3D projects out there and started trying it out.

It. Was. So. Much. Fun.  I made this cute little cave and bunnies.  (which also look kinda like mice? - so maybe bun-ice?)  My sweet Piper immediately claimed them for her very own and took off.  She's played with them nearly non-stop since last night.  She even slept with them.

I see more needle felting in my future for sure.  Along with knitting.

As for what I'm reading, I'm still working on The Exiled Queen.  I haven't mastered knitting well enough to be able to read while I'm knitting.  I have been listening to audiobooks though.  Right now we're listening to Classic Fairy Stories which we all love. 

I'm yarning along again with Ginny today (and all the rest of you). I can't say enough how encouraging and wonderful everyone at the yarn along has been.