More Felting and Cute Chicks

During the half term holiday, Robyn and I spent several afternoons dyeing , carding and felting fleece. We dyed the fleece in two batches, one yellow and one red. First we mordanted the wool with a few tablespoons of vinegar and left it to stand in boiling water for about ten minutes. This process allows the dye to bond permanently to the wool, making it colourfast. We rinsed the wool and covered it again with boiling water.
We then used some food colouring which had gone beyond its use by date (I knew I was keeping it for something) and added it untill we like the colour. We left it to bubble away for about five minutes and then turned the heat off and left it to stand for another five.After that we rinsed the wool and left it to dry.The colours are amazingly bright, and at least with food colouring not too toxic.

Once dry, it was carded and ready to be made into felt.
I made a square of yellow felt and cut out some Easter chicks which I have threaded to decorate an Easter tree.I have also threaded some little hearts from my first batch of homemade felt.
Robyn is busy decorating a hair bobble with long strips of her own felt...pictures to follow

Acorn Hat

My talented crocheting sister,Elaine made me this fantastic Acorn hat. I love it. Its made from thick wool which will keep me nice and warm for the remainder of this winter into spring.Cheers Elaine. See some of Elaines other creations on her blog www.gwiblog.blogspot.com

Ladybird Garland

A ladybird garland I made from felt. They are all 2-spotted ladybirds. I cut out the spots from thin black felt using a hole punch and stitched up the centre using black thread to make the wings.

Finished Garland Using My Homemade Felt

Here's the garland I put together with my homemade Northumberland felt.It's very sweet, soft and lovely.

My Homemade Felt!!!!!!!

Today was an exciting day, I made some felt....myself from scratch. I have a bag of fleece I acquired from the farm at Haydon Bridge High school, probably from a breed of sheep called a blackie. Not the best kind of wool for felt making, but as an experiment I thought I'd give it a go.
I didnt dye the fleece as I am after some ivory coloured felt anyway.
Heres how I did it......
1. I carded the fleece with the dogs brush, she doesnt mind and even likes the smell of the fleece.
2. I layered bits of carded fleece out on a large sheet of bubble wrap.
3. I wet it with warm water and drizzled washing up liquid on top.
4. I folded the bubble wrap over it,I did these bits on the sink drainer.
5. I pressed it down gently with the palms of my hands for about 15 minutes.
6. I gently rinsed the felt/fleece in warm water.
7. I rolled it tightly in bubble wrap and in a tea towel and then rolled it back and forth quite vigorously for about 20 minutes. At this point the felt shrinks and thickens.
8. Finally I rinsed it in warm water, left it to dry and marvelled at the results.


It is soft, natural looking and nice and thick. Not bad for a first attempt with a pretty rough fleece. Thinking of moving to the Scottish borders with a flock of Merino sheep.

I have cut some small heart shapes and intend to make a garland 100% made in Northumberland.

Think I have caught the felt making bug.

Rainbow Hearts

The latest in my line of felt heart garlands, probably the funkiest to date. Some of my red and pink garlands are for sale in the florists in Wylam. Think I will keep this one and put it in our window.