Yep, I was on a wool craft kick a couple weeks ago. You already saw my felted bead necklace. I planned more posts about Houston, but I'm super jazzed about these three needle felted abstracts that I finally popped into some inexpensive Ikea frames - I couldn't wait to share. It is hard to capture on camera, but the abstracts are three-dimensional, and really vibrant.
I used my favorite of the three paintings I made for the bedroom as my colour inspiration:
Here's the how-to.
Supplies:
- A square piece of foam
- Felting needle
- Piece of felted wool (you can felt an old wool sweater, or buy felt in fabric or fibre stores - the piece will act as your "canvas")
- Wool rovings
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| Felting needle and foam block |
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| Wool rovings |
How-to:
Needle felting is super simple. Just sketch out your plan on a piece of felted wool (or free-hand it). Lay your piece of wool on your foam block and grab some wool rovings. Tear pieces of the wool roving off, like you would cotton candy. Then you use the felting needle and pierce the wool roving through the piece of wool, using the foam as a surface to stop the needle. Just keep piercing again & again (& again & again - this is a good craft for tension relief!) The felting needle has barbs and it catches the wool roving, pushing through the piece of wool which tangles the fibres and locks them. Like paint, you just build up layers of rovings - you can layer different colours to create depth or just to mix new colours.
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| What the back of your piece will look like |
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| The felting needle has sharp barbs - so be careful |
Here are my pieces unframed. I used a piece of paper with a square cut out to help me frame up the composition as I worked.
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| My "faux" matting for framing up the composition |
Some other felted wool pieces I have made:
These look very nice. I actually couldn't believe it was felt until I saw the how to pictures.Beautifully done :)
ReplyDeleteThose are so cool! I love them. Thanks for the tutorial.
ReplyDeleteI love the color and the texture. They're spectacular. I'm really fascinated by the next-to-the-last one. It must have taken an unbelievable amount of patience to felt that so tightly and intricately.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone!
ReplyDeleteDana: yes, the middle one did take a while. More free form shapes are easier to do. But the sharp edges were tricky - I had to pay attention a bit more. My mom has it now, and plans to turn it into a tote or pillow, or something with her nifty sewing skills.
Tanya, those look great! You have such a good eye.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Where were you able to find that great mid century chair in one of the photos?
Thanks, Amy. I found the chair by posting a want-ad on the online classifieds. I posted a photo of a similar chair and a mid-century mod collector emailed me. She hadn't thought about selling the chair until I asked! BUT it sure didn't look like that when I bought it. I picked the upholstery & had it professionally done. Check out this post to see the "before"
ReplyDeleteWow, talent you have! Have you ever thought of selling them on easy. Or maybe you do?
ReplyDeleteThanks Barbara! Nope - don't sell anything. Well, I do sell Christmas spider ornaments (like the wedding favors I gave away - see them under the "Mawiage" tab) but not online. Etsy overwhelms me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya, never thought to post a want ad. Instead I'm always pouring over craigslist looking for the right chair. Going to go look at the before right now...
ReplyDeleteI've been interested in doing these for quite some time. I think it's time for me to just do it. These look fab.
ReplyDeleteLeone: Thanks for your kind words. I promise this craft is super easy & super satisfying. You will love needle felting!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I usually do photography and have a number of "texture" shots that are great inspiration for a felted piece. Can't wait to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteHi Jaci - using a photo of your own as inspiration would be amazing! I'd love to see your work - esp. if you tackle a project like this.
ReplyDeleteWow these are really beautiful! I love the texture (texture addict here), as it adds so much interest to the pieces.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I was thinking I could make a seascape out of wool felt and then as I read I saw yours... GORGEOUS pieces! Thanks for sharing. I might have to try this. If I do I'll send you a picture.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary,
DeleteThanks!!
Definitely send me a photo of your project! I'd love to share with my readers (and just ogle the gorgeousness - I loved felted wool).