What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

As a crafter, have you ever gotten an idea and been unable to let go of it? No matter how hard you tried? Well, this needle felting adventure is one of those ideas. I don't know why, but I had the idea to make some wool dryer balls. Can I buy wool dryer balls? Absolutely (link at the bottom of the post). But where is the fun in that?
Because I wanted to make dryer balls, I grabbed a box of roving. I estimated I could make several with this box.
I wanted some colors so I added in ...

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It has been a hectic time, but I am determined to do at least one December post!

Lots of shopping has happened, including these gorgeous biscuit tins. Love the way the bauble has been incorporated into the tin. And, yes, it spins!

The colour and the design on the tin could have easily fitted into my quilt. This is another panel being used and completed.

I have kept it simple with just a few borders added. Each of the squares have delightful images.

I found a lovely piece in my stash to use on the back.

The binding was a ...

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It seems to be so far away, but I know from past experience that Christmas creeps up really quickly.

I am trying to get ahead, but I know it will still be a mad rush in the end.

I started with one of these decorations from a Bareroots pattern, Everything Nice Christmas Ornaments.

And then added a couple more.

They are a lovely collection. There are six in the set, so I have a few more to make.

The same design is on the front and back panel. The other two sides each have holly leaves.

Just to also explain ...

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A few little bits and pieces have been finished. And all have been worked in felt.

I made a box/cube using four Sue Spargo designs.

Each of the designs was stitched onto a felt square.

At first I was a bit stumped as to how to use the pieces. I think they were originally in a wall hanging. But the size made me think about a cube box.

Each piece was backed with more felt and had plastic inserted like a sleeve to stabilize the sides. Looks like it has worked okay.

The sides are about 10 inches square ...

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I have this collection of blue yarn perfect for felting. 
I used the LK150 and a video tutorial to make some more slippers
I finished them what seems like ages ago but I didn't wash them to felt them up until recently. Here is how they compare to my earlier experiments. Felting is not very precise and more of an experiment each time I do it. 
They came out great! I still have yarn that will felt so expect to see more of these. 

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I am still working on lots of little things and achieving some finishes.

My Party Penguin is complete and now in its hoop ready to hang. This is a design from Bustle And Sew.

Next in line were a few felt decorations from The Wooly Thread Co. I think I purchased one of the patterns a few years back. Good to finally get them done.

And finally a little peacock pin cushion. I know I bought this as a kit many years ago, but unfortunately I don’t have the designer details.

I have also been working on bigger projects ...

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After the last pair of felted slippers turned out too small I decided to give it another try. I modified my notes to make the slipper wider and longer. 
I knit up the pair on the LK150. 
And sewed them up. I so enjoy the color blocking on this design. It's something you can't do easily while knitting in the round. 
Here is what that unfelted (top) slipper looks like next to the felted slipper I made (bottom). 
Here is how it felted up. Sadly, it is still too small for me. I figure the size is around ...

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I decided to give felted slippers another chance. This was my second attempt. I make major changes to the design I was using and I'm much happier with this style. Yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. It felts up so nicely. 
These are knit flat on the LK150 knitting machine and then the sides are seamed by hand. The color changes are partially a style choice and partially to assist with lining up that hand seaming. 
This time the felting was just awesome! Unfortunately, I didn't knit them big enough so these are really a child ...

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We are having a gorgeous Easter long weekend with beautiful sunny days. Even the resident magpie family agree and have been out and about checking out the Autumn foliage.

Easter decorating has been happening and there are a couple of new additions.

A little crochet bunny.

And a new hoop embroidery.

This is a Kathy Schmitz design that I was lucky enough to receive from Marina. ( Thanks, again, Marina.)

I reduced the size so that it would fit a hoop.It is ready to hang on the wall.

I found this cute little paper tree that I was planning to ...

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Brrr and Good Morning from chilly North Carolina! The poor sea of daffodils are all weeping from this cold! Of course, for me, this means a day of sewing!

Two years ago I cam across a Twelve Days of Christmas ornament series made from felt. It was love at first site! Uncharacteristically, I ordered the full set of patterns (from Larissa Holland, mmmCrafts). At first the pattern set seemed pricey, but oh the detail, exquisite design and excellent instructions made it so worth it. I even ordered the set of felt to make them with. I printed the patterns out ...

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January is such a great time to be outdoors, but it does mean I forget to blog. Our weather has been mild so far with only a few really hot days, so the garden often calls. But, I have been caught up at times watching the cricket, and now the Australia Open, so some stitching has been happening.

Not a lot of work was needed so I was able to finish this one – a little Wendy Williams Travel Threads.

These are such sweet designs. I always enjoy making them.

I have also been crocheting some mandalas with 8 ply cotton ...

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The last day of the year crept up a lot quicker than I had expected. But here it is.

So before the New Year starts I managed to finish a couple of Christmas projects.

These are part of a series of wool stockings designed by Michelle L Palmer. Michelle kindly shares these designs freely each year just before Christmas. These are the two for 2021.

I have also shown the other two from previous years. These are the ones I have completed so far.

There are a couple of other designs in the set that I have yet to make ...

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One week until Christmas day. And another year nearly behind us. Wow!

Lots of Christmas sewing has been happening, but I have also managed to finish my quilt top for Over The Hill by Wendy Williams. This was the last block.

When it was joined to the others in the row, there were a few overlapping pieces to be added, then the rows were all joined to complete the top.

I am very pleased with the end result. Lots of work but very enjoyable. The original pattern has a border but I am not sure if I want one. It ...

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November has been a very busy time here. The weather has made sure we are very busy in the garden. The plants are enjoying the Spring rain and sunshine, and the weeds are flourishing!!! Lots of strawberries have been picked and turned into jam. And I think the grass grows behind us as soon as we mow.

The other part of being busy is that our state has opened up after lock down and we are able to catch up with family and friends. Masks are off outside and most venues are now open. So we started with family visits ...

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Plenty of yarn being used in these projects. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. I have been making a few bits and pieces for gifts and have accumulated a little collection. Most will be baby gifts.

I am sure most of you have seen the octopus toy with the curly tentacles that bubs love hanging on to. I decided it was time to make a few.

These are great for using up yarn scraps and make up quickly.

It is a pattern from

crochet365knittoo.com/crochet-octopus-preemies

Then I had a go at making this fairy doll.

The original ...

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It has been cold, wet and miserable here – but it is Winter! But out of the blue we have had two lovely, sunny days. Not warm, but appreciated. And I think it turns back to Winter normal tomorrow. So obviously lots of inside time. Sewing has been done but with the Olympics in the background. We are in a very similar time zone to Tokyo which means we get to see a lot of the events live. Much better that having to get up in the middle of the night.

I have been going back to some of my Marg ...

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Surprising to think that we are already half way through 2021. Maybe I have been busier than I thought. Although not sure my stitching shows that. We are having some lovely sunny Winter days. Still very cold but great to see the sun shining. After having little opportunity to sew for a month or more, I am getting back to some stitching. I am choosing to get small projects done as these are easy to work on when I am the taxi service or am sitting in waiting rooms for doctor and hospital appointments.

These little Llama ornaments will turn ...

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My finishes have been few and far between lately. Same with posts. And now they will all probably arrive in a rush. That’s the way it often works.

I have completed my colourful, woolly flower quilt. Blocks together and binding done.

It has been a pleasure to work with the wool for this quilt. It is so soft and stitches easily.

The backing is a black and white print.

And the binding is a black and white text print.

Not lot of quilting was needed so I kept to simple meandering.

Cornerstones in wool.

After all that work I ...

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Time seems to be flying by with lots to do. Is it because we are all still catching up on things since our long lock downs? I know I am still putting in time with my sewing but progress is slow. I do have a few quilts sandwiched ready for quilting but they are a couple of weeks away from being ready. I do have some little finishes.

The rabbit block from Round The Garden Path is complete.

I am now working on the final block which sits in the centre. Nearly done.

I have been busy making doll clothes ...

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Our tree out the front has been keeping a calendar and decided that on the first day of March it would start changing colours. It is still a very young Crimson or Scarlet Oak. This is what it looked like a week ago.

It has become a much deeper red and this is the colour today.

It will interesting to watch to see how deep the color goes before the leaves fall.

I have been working away on my woollen flowers. They are now ready to go together.

I have completed the stitching on all the corner stones so it ...

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