Wrist Warmers - Long & Trim

Bulky weight yarn.
(Lion Brand Alpine Wool in Barley)
4 size US 8 dpn
Stitch marker.

Cast on 32 stitches.
Divide stitches onto 3 dpn.
Join and mark beginning of round.
P2, K2 for 14 rounds.
Knit next round, reducing to 24 stitches by knitting two together from each set of purls from previous row.
Knit for 22 rounds.
Mark place for base of thumb gusset.
In next round increase one stitch by knitting in back and front loop where marked.
Rearrange stitches on needles so that gusset stitches are on their own needle.
Continue knitting rounds. On alternate rows, increase two outermost stitches on gusset needle for 8 rows.
On next round, increase one stitch directly opposite the gusset.
Continue rounds, increasing width of gusset at edges until there are 12 stitches on the gusset needle. Move 2 stitches from each end of gusset needle onto adjoining needles.
Begin finger rib by purling moved stitches, then continuing in K2, P2 pattern. When you return to gusset needle, bind off gusset stitches.
Continue rib for 2 row worked back and forth, then rejoin in round.
Reduce purls above thumb hole to 4 using k2tog.
Continue in K2,P2 rib until rib is 13 rows long.
Bind off snugly.
Weave in ends.

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Oak Leaf Wool Hairbands

I've finished another two felted wool hairband adornments. The spring leaf one is made from wool felt traced from a set of oak leaf cookie cutters, then stitched together and beaded.

The fall leaf one is merino wool roving needle felted onto wool felt, and decorated with a needle felted acorn. Both are edged with a simple whip stitch of cotton embroidery floss. They're adult sized, but this pic of Fergie is just too cute.

Lotsa Felted Wool Hairbands

I've been diligently working on hairbands decorated with wool felt designs.

The wings and triple moons are made from wet felted sheets, with the pieces cut out and needle felted together. The stitches from the beading secures the pieces in place, along with the blanket stitching around the edges in embroidery floss. The beads are glass seed beads, gemstones and Austrian crystal.

The roses are three dimensionally sculpted from merino wool roving using a felting needle and a heart shaped cookie cutter form. 

 The hair bands are just ordinary plastic hairbands from the corner drug store.

The wings are just so cute... They'd look better on a blond with big hair though.

Felt Goddess Pendant

I'm trying a new technique; cutting shapes from flat wool felt and joining and sculpting them with a felting needle. It's turning out pretty well. Feeling a little wary about the durability of the pieces with only wisps of wool holding them together, I added stitching to secure the pieces. The beading also adds more stability along with the decoration.

It is made with plant-dyed, 100% wool felt, about three layers, with a little bit of eco wool batting to fill the belly and a touch of merino wool roving for the hair. The sparkles are basic glass seed beads. The blanket stitch in cotton embroidery floss around the edge is decorative and holds the two base layers together.

I'm thinking of stringing it on three twined strands of rose quartz and flourite beads.

Needle Felted Wool Harvest Mother & Daughter

This happens to me all the time.... I get inspired to make a new design and then when I'm done it's too precious to me to sell it. Sigh. So then I have to make another one like it to actually sell. The top picture is the first one I made. The picture below is the second, the one that will be for sale. Of course, they do each come about a bit different. I'll run out of a certain color and have to use another. And since I don't look at the old one while I make the new one the details of shaping will be different. When I copy my own works I tend to copy the idea, not the exact piece. Same as when I'm inspired by other peoples' works I guess.

These figures are made with my ubiquitous supply of American grown, undyed eco wool and Germany grown, plant-dyed wool.

How is it made? Well, first, using the eco wool, I needle felt a ball for the head by taking a small strip of wool, tying a knot in it then rolling it up in the loose ends and needle felting it firm. Adding more strips of wool to make the ball to the size desired. Then I roll a flat piece of wool into a cone shape, needle felt it firm, adding more wool on the bottom to weight it. I take a strip of wool, wrap it over the head and use the "tails" to secure the head to the top of the cone. I roll another flat piece of wool into a long narrow sausage which becomes the arms, which are attached to the back of the body. A few more layers of wool needle felted in place to form the desired body shape, be she slim, busty or round.

Switching to the colored wool, I create the clothing and decorations by laying small tufts and strips of wool across the figure and needling them down. Details like the cornucopia and the apple are made much like the figure, with a balled or rolled eco wool core, covered in tufts of colored wool.