Machine Felting: Petals And Leaves At Play…

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Introducing my Janome Xpression Felting Machine. Oh, you have seen it before. Several times. But this time you get a bonus. You get to see what I MADE with it!!

It has been so long that I don’t even remember when I bought it. I am thinking about five years ago. Worth every penny I paid.

I finally cracked open the manual. Read the few pages of instruction. Mostly the manual told me about the tools that came with the Felting Machine. I didn’t see them the two times I took the machine out of the box to photograph it. Ah. Inside the removable arm thingy. 5 needle cartridge, a single needle cartridge, 3 extra needles, two screwdrivers and a cleaning brush. Plus a one hole felting plate. All there. Thank goodness!!

Even a DVD came with it. I watched it twice and got started.

Machine felting is so easy. A baby could do it. Within less than a minute I was going at top speed. It is all done by pushing whatever I pile on top down into the fabric on the bottom. Preferably wool felt, denim, something sturdy as the base fabric.

I made this first.

This is the back. Even pretty and usable from this side. I think I will make it into a necklace.

It was too easy. So I decided I had enough practice. And started on a larger piece. No clue where I was going with it. I was thinking, clean slate, just start laying pieces.

I had plenty to chose from. Felt from my macrame projects.

Yarn from my stash.

These came from Salvation Army’s Thrift Store. 25 cents each. What a deal steal!!

And roving. Which I bought a couple years ago.

Immediately after starting and taking the first photograph, I knew I should have selected a different base color. Oh well. I tried to brighten it up by adding white and bright colors.

I just kept adding stuff.

See my leaves. They are just halfway pushed into the felt. I gave them a tug to see if they would pull out. Nope. They are in there tight.

For border #1 I used avocado wool felt. For border #2, I used this linen/linen look fabric I got from Salvation Army’s Thrift shop.

Now I have to decide how to finish off the back.

I am sorry it took me so long to try machine felting. My lost. Just think what I could have accomplished by now. Clean up is a breeze. Open the trap door. Remove the lint collected.

I have loads of ideas. Embellished fronts for handbags. More wall hangings. Baskets. And somehow I will incorporate felting into my quilting.

I guess I won’t be needing this.

LOL!! No since mailing this off now. Janome has since switched out this model for something else. It is a good thing, too, that it works just as it is supposed to. 😀

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Guess what? Another project comes off the MAY To-Do list. (I will keep plugging along until they are all finished.)

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Linking to…

http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/06/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-ive-got-my-work.html

Umbrella Block, Prairie Points and… Still Crocheting

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This week I made quilt blocks. Never tried before blocks. Called the Umbrella Block. So cute. Made them for my quilt group’s Block Lotto. However many blocks you make, that’s how many chances you get to win the pot.

I made six but the first one I made ended up being a tad off the true-up measurement so I am keeping it. These are the ones I sent off (minus the bottom right one) to the quilt block coordinator. I have my fingers and toes crossed that they will come back to me along with any others submitted.

The “flawed” one is up top in the first photo. I have an idea what I will make with it. Something Springy. And I may make up a few more. It really is a cute block and easy to make. Did you see my Prairie Point up in the right top corner of the block? My first. So easy. Just need a fabric square and an iron. 😀

The best part in making this block… except for the white fabric, it was all scraps.

Debra, do you see the fabric scraps you sent me? Yep, used several in both the purple ones and the green ones. Thanks for sending them!!

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What else have I been working on, you ask?

More crocheted hexagons. Using my pattern I posted several days ago, I made this smaller version in purple and apple green. Purple on the top and green on the bottom. Five granny rounds instead of six.

And have a 3rd one almost finished. This is the last of the green wool yarn and since I bought it about three years ago, no way will I be able to match up the dye lot. So… that does it for this project.

I already picked out the yarn for my next crocheted project.

Going to make a handbag and felt it. Delicious looking!! I can already see it. And I have the purse handle picked out, too. Ready to go.

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Remember the red sunbonnet potholder I showed you? Well it is finished and already mailed off to my buyer.

I am thinking it should have arrived by now. Hope she likes it. I am going to make more in a dark peach color. Michaels had some really pretty cotton yarn on sale last week. I got 8 skeins. (Like I needed more yarn!!)

Well, that does it for me. Another crafty week gone by. And March has gone by. Can you believe it!! March will be gone in one more day and I only just got started. I hope this year slows down a bit. Or I will never get even half way through my To-Make List.

How about you?

Are you on track to accomplish the stuff on your To-Do/To-Make list?

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Linking up to:

http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2012/04/wednesdays-wowzers-14.html

http://conniekresin.blogspot.com/p/linky-party-tuesdays.html

http://sewhappygeek.co.uk/index.php/2012/04/02/manic-monday-linky-party-31/

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2012/03/finish-it-up-friday-week-21.html

http://www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2012/03/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-feed-sack.html

Sunbonnet Potholder Is Almost Finished. Assembly Today.

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WooHoo!! Almost finished.

The shell edging has been stitched to both sides. 13 shells per side.

The flowers, leaves and hanging tab are done and ready to attach.

Now it comes down to how many flowers. Which colors? And where to place?

Waiting to hear from my buyer. Will post a finished photo once I am done.

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Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat12.htm

Got My Crochet Groove Back!!

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Yay!! For one panicky moment, I thought I had forgotten how to crochet. So glad it all came back. Sunbonnets are made and stitched together.

I made this leaf which I am going to use for the hatband. Now I have to make the flowers.

I have missed crocheting. A lot!! So I spent about 30 minutes yesterday looking at photos of crochet stuff I have saved on my hard drive. These are the ones I wish I could reach out and touch.

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Granny Square Handbag

Stunning… takes my breath away.

http://www.crochetconcupiscence.com/2012/02/designer-crochet-dolce-gabbana/

And another handbag. This one felted. Wow!! I love this one too.

Don’t have the link to it, unfortunately. 😦

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Crochet Shawls

Lucy, over at Attic24, made this shawl. Gorgeous. I WANT ONE!! (Crystal at Beadhappilyeverafter was making one. Wonder if she finished hers.)

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/japanese-flower-scarf-ta-dah.html

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=17586

I do believe this version is what got the crochet hooks a-hookin’. I like the more colorful versions best.

I like the flowers in this one too. (no link)

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Crochet Pincushion

I am totally smitten by this little pincushion. Saw it on Crystal’s blog.

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=12352

Here it is on Etsy. Going to make one. I guess it will be OK. Doubt anyone can stake claim to the basic Granny Square as their own creation.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/88650749/gift-set-linen-pincushion-and-needle

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Crochet Pillow

I love this ripple stitch pillow. A few years ago, I bought several crochet books on the ripple stitch. All different kinds. I would love to make this one day.

I think I first saw this on Lucy’s site. Let me go check.

Yep… 3 years ago. Time sure does fly.

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/2009/04/ripplesome-ripples-cushy-cushions.html

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Crochet Clock

Can’t remember where I saw this. Isn’t it just adorable? Would brighten up any room. Anyone know what crochet stitch this is? I have some old clocks I got dirt cheap at the thrift store. I could do this.

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Crochet Hexagon Afghan

Isn’t this pretty? So colorful. I would make it larger, wider. And not cut off the bottom hexies. I would let the full hexie extend and go with the odd shape. Or use white yarn where the half hexies are cut off.

No link. I just save photos of stuff I like.

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And last….

Crochet Tissue Box Covers

OK, OK, don’t laugh. But I love these. With tissue boxes now gone all super ultra high fashion, no one probably puts them in covers any longer. But I still do. I may have the links to these stored in my Bookmarks. Let me see if I can find them.

Found one.  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grannys-tissue-box-cover

Thanks for coming along with me on my Crochet Eye Candy tour. What fun!!

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Dear Crochet,

Now I remember why I loved you so much.

Sincerely,

Donna Wanna Crochet 😀

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Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

http://www.craftown.com/crochet/pat12.htm

Making Hot Pads To Go With My Chickens

Or they could be table mats, place mats, pot holders, dish cloths…

The chickens can stand alone but I thought they would look nicer sitting on top of something. So, I created these mats. They are double-sided, nice and thick. I played around with the design, had a few flops, but finally got it to match up with the design in my head.

The hot pad is my own design. (Chicken potholder pattern is in Gooseberry Patch, Fun-to-Crochet Gifts book.)

I am calling them Granny Hexie Hot Pads/Table Mats. I used Patons Classic Wool. Ecru and Rich Red.

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Update 2-2-13: Pattern is available for purchase here. Thanks much!!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/96058755/pattern-hexie-granny-crocheted-hot-pad

4 More Crochet Squares Completed=94

Four more squares finished. The 1st one I can’t stop staring at. The last one I bet I photographed a 100 times trying to get the color and details to match up.

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Well, here goes.

Square 37 – Stunner

• green, white & pink
• hook G
• measures 9″
• long single crochet stitch

Can’t take my eyes off of it!! And to think I cringed when I added ALL THAT green. Was thinking, “what did I do to my square?”, the whole time.

But I am glad I stayed the course. It is beautiful!! I used the same colors as in the book.

I think my old favorites have been replaced with this square.  Now the question is. Do I make more?

Oh!! I forgot to tell you. I added a third layer of petals to the flower.

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Square 36 – Loopy Flower

• cream, dusty blue & lime
• hook G
• measures 6″

Different how the flower is created. Easy to do. I like it. If I make this square again, I think I will go with just a couple rows of double crochet around the edges instead of the single crochets.

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Square 22 – Bobble

• teal (turquoise)
• hook G
• measures 7 1/2″
• bobble and mini-bobble stitches

Oh, boy!! Where do I begin!!  😀

My plan was to do this one last but I wanted the end to be joyous and not frustrating. I just KNEW the BOBBLE would be frustrating.  Number 1, I had never heard of it or it’s mini.  Number 2, the directions didn’t make sense to me for either.

But… it wasn’t so bad. Actually the bobble part was easy. The challenge was the MINI-bobble. What the!!?? Did the author “make” up this stitch. It was too weird. Nothing describes it other than to say it feels like you have two left hands when making it.

Here’s how the square starts off. You can see the bobbles here. They look like clusters or popcorn stitches.

These next two pictures show a mini-bobble on the hook and the actual mini-bobbles. They look like knots. Like a knot on the head. (I think I did them right. This is the only way I could figure out how to get 2 loops on the hook to yarn over with!!)

OK, mini-bobbles are done.

And the finished square……

Will I make this one again? Probably not. Nice experience though. Adding the stitch to my brain. WAAYY in the back. (So far, I think this was one of the hardest squares to make.)

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Square 93 – Poppy

• cranberry, black & white
• hook G
• measures 6 3/4″

I like working with white yarn but it is SOOO hard to photograph. I know I took enough pictures of this square to run down the batteries in my camera. AND I still did not get the result I wanted. Oh well. Hope you can make out the pretty poppy. It is cranberry with a black center.

These 2 are the best of the bunch.

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Patterns can be found in the book, 101 Crochet Squares, by Jean Leinhauser. (7 squares left!!)

Introducing the “Holiday” Squares

It’s been several days since I updated you on my Project 101. I have been working on the Holiday squares and just finished them up today.

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Square 92 – Halloween

• orange, gray & black
• hook G
• measures 8″

I really like this one and have an idea to combine several together. Make a Family of Cats.  This was my 1st cat. It came out better than I expected.

Here’s the back view which gives a better picture of the colors and the granny square design.

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Square 85 – St Patrick’s Day

• dusty green & forest green
• hook G
• measures 5″
• added a row of single crochet around edges

I like this one too.  It was kind of nice getting back to the simple granny square pattern. The little shamrock was easy to make. I attached it to the square using Trilene fishing line.

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Square 7 – Wreath

• red, green & white
• hook G
• measures 6″
• popcorn stitch

Can’t you just see this larger!! With cute little glass lights or crystals?

I made a couple changes.  Increased stitches in the corners and also added an extra round of single crochet around the edges.

Don’t know if this “dome” is supposed to be here in the center but I flattened it. Looks better.

I made the 8 berries per the instructions but found a better way to insert them in between the popcorn stitches.  Pattern called for making one berry, finish off, weave in ends. Then, make 2nd, 3rd, etc.

No way was I going to be left with 16 dangling pieces of yarn. Just for the berries!!  So…  I cut a LONG piece of yarn, threaded an embroidery needle and weaved in and out of the popcorn stitches along the first row. Made a berry, moved on to the next one. I ended up with just TWO ends to weave in, not 16!!

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Square 86 – Poinsettia

• red, gold & ivory
• hook G
• measures 6 1/4″

I like this square but it kind of pulls in. If I make it again, I will allow for that.  The poinsettia flower is just gorgeous!!  I didn’t have any acrylic red yarn so had to use Patons Classic Wool. I thought the petals would turn out flat but it worked out nicely.

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Square 91 – Santa

• green, red & white
• hook G
• measures 7″

Look at the face in the 1st photo. Notice anything? I didn’t until I was finished. The face and beard are flip-flopped. LOL!!  So, I had to make a 2nd face. Was good practice since it took a bit of time figuring out how to make the 1st one. I breezed through the 2nd one.

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Square 62 – Holly

• red, green & white
• hook G
• measures 7 1/2″

I saved the BEST for last.

LOVE, love, love this square. I will definitely make more!! Even with all the pieces to it.  The square was fast to make so I had extra time to make the 3 holly berries and 3 leaves. I assembled and sewed them together as one piece before attaching with fishing line to the square.

Well, that does it for the holiday squares. There is one square with what looks like a cross. I guess that one could be an Easter square. But I will make it later.

Only a few more to go!! Bet you didn’t think I was going to make all of them, did you!!

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Patterns can be found in the book, 101 Crochet Squares, by Jean Leinhauser.

You Need Sunglasses To View These!!

3 more done…..18 squares to go!!

Square 45 – Wagon Wheel

• pink, turquoise & white
• hook G
• measures 5 1/4″
• puff stitch

I really love this square. The design. And the colors I used.  I made the puff stitches fatter than the pattern called for. I YO’d twice more.

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Square 79 – Wild Thang!!

• teal, burnt orange & gold
• hook G
• measures 6″
• popcorn stitch

Wild colors!! I wanted to mix things up after making so many in pink and brown. I think these go well together.  I am going to make a 2nd square to see if I can improve upon it. I am not all that pleased on how the sides slightly pull in. I am thinking instead of doing single crochets here, to do half double crochets, for a smoother side view.

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Square 87

• light blue, navy & white
• hook G
• measures 4 1/2″
• popcorn stitch

I like this square and will make more. I have an idea for it to make into a hat.  Don’t laugh. 😀

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Patterns can be found in the book, 101 Crochet Squares, by Jean Leinhauser.

New Squares, the Beginning of An Afghan

Pink and brown… Are these colors still popular together? I know a couple years ago they were HOT!! Baby wear, fashions, home decor. Everywhere.

I like them, especially with cream. So.. I decided to make a bunch for my Project 101 squares. One problem I didn’t foresee is brown is a bugger to photograph. Either I get the true brown shade and fade out the surroundings. Or get the other colors focused and the brown crashes and burns. I hope you can make out the details.

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OK, ready? Here they are…. The Latests…

Square 34

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 9 1/4″
• popcorn stitches in the center 2 rows

I am liking the popcorn stitch much better. I don’t even mind making them anymore. Easy, piece of cake.

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Square 51 – Dartboard

• cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 5″
• long double crochet stitch

Reminds me of a dart board. Or some sort of game board.

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Square 57

• pink & brown
• hook G
• measures 5″

A lot of smaller squares were left to do. Not sure why I passed them up. Guess I didn’t like them as much. 😀

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Square 64 – Picture Frame

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 6 1/4″
• back post double crochet stitch (BPdc)

This reminds me of a cute little picture frame. It’s different. Center is shaped like a bowl, recessed.

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Square 65

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 7 1/2″

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Square 81 – Loop-D-Loop

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 6 1/2″

Kind of unusual. Another 1st. Can’t remember making anything like this before. Wasn’t confident was doing it right so went very slowly.

The design finally came together at the step to connect the corner loops.

Then I had a time getting this square to lie flat. It cupped BIG TIME.

So.. I did minor surgery on Round 6.  You can’t tell the difference from the picture though, which is good.

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Square 94 – LOVE the flower part!!

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 6 1/4″
• popcorn and back post slip stitch

I have plans for this design. The flower part. So cute!!  I added 2 additional rounds of double crochet to make square larger.

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Square 95 – 😦

• pink, cream & brown
• hook G
• measures 4 1/2″
• popcorn stitch

Did NOT like this square at all!! There are popcorn stitches all around the last row which made the square wider at the bottom. Was too rounded to me so I added an additional row trying to fix the corners. Still don’t like it. Won’t make this one again.

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Patterns can be found in the book, 101 Crochet Squares, by Jean Leinhauser.

More Squares… Scallops, Flag and FP/BP

Why did I wait until now to do these!! I love each one!!

Square 20 – Scallops

• dusty purple, dusty green & cream
• hook G
• measures 8″

I was smiling the whole time making this square. Every round produced something incredible. I wanted to immediately stop and make a necklace or broach or flower.

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Square 48 – Flag

• lime (pea green)
• hook G
• measures 6″

Could also be used as a corner square for an afghan. I like it. I see potential for it.

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Square 12 – Petite

• lime (pea green), purple & cream
• hook G
• measures 3 1/2″
• puff stitch

Cute, petite. I can see this making something pretty. Though for an afghan, you would need hundreds!!

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Square 13 – FP/BP

• navy, rouge & white
• hook G
• measures 6 3/4″
• Front post/Back post double crochet

I LOVE THIS SQUARE!!!  I LOVE THIS SQUARE!!! I LOVE THIS SQUARE!!!

Here’s the Back Post Double Crochet stitches being made. (BPdc)

Front Post stitches are in the center. (FPdc)

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Patterns can be found in the book, 101 Crochet Squares by Jean Leinhauser.

72 squares completed. 😀