I'm digging into the archives a bit by sharing this project that I did exactly 2 years ago as a gift for my niece. I fulled a really lovely green sweater that I thrifted (it was already fulled a bit from the previous owner;). I added a thrifted belt for the handles and created a lining from an upholstery sample and some other fun prints in my stash. Yeah...there is a lot going on inside this purse, but I really love mixing up linings and I thought this purse could use a bit of that because I wanted to keep the outside simple.
Then I took a design from one of my favorite prints and traced it onto paper and transfered the shape onto the outside of the bag with a washable marker. I used yarn (some that I dyed with coffee) to needle felt the design onto the outside of the purse.
This year, using felt from the same sweater, I made what might seem like a pretty silly gift for John...
it's a toothbrush travel case. I know not the most romantic of gifts, but I am always trying to replace the plastic in our lives, and when we were travelling in december, I got it in my head that he needed this. I was going to needle felt some elaborate design, but that is so unlike me and so unlike John...so I simply did his monogram by needle felting some of that coffee dyed yarn that I used in the purse project above. Who doesn't need a monogrammed toothbrush travel case? Well, silly or not, wool is the perfect material for this...it absorbs liquid and has natural antimicrobial abilities.
And that sweater for the black apple doll I showed you last week came from the same sweater. That's what I love about repurposing...there is no end really. I always save little bits of repurposed wool because there is always something else you can make with them.
Here are some other needle felted yarn projects I dug up to inspire you....
Do you have a favorite repurposing or needle felting project in your archives that you'd like to share....put a link in the comments. I'd love to take a peek;)
Have a blessed weekend!
It's not so much re-purposing, as it is digging around in the scraps left over from previous projects to make this bedside organizer.
ReplyDeleteI like the result:
http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2010/01/successful-families-require-faith.html
And I LOVE this bag that you made...very cool!
That toothbrush holder is such a great idea! It's simple but I've never thought about it!
ReplyDeleteThis is such fine work. I love all of the details and the lining is beautiful. The toothbrush holder is a winner in my book. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteLove the bag--the belt strap is so clever & cool. The needle felted flower really pulls it together.
ReplyDeleteI spend a lot of time pondering how to replace plastic...without as much luck!
This is a new one of my favs too. And everytime I look for sweaters at the thrift for felting, most are already felted a bit, which is probablly why they landed there in the first place. I love your toothbrush holder and it's water absorbing capabilities.
ReplyDelete:)Lisa
I am a new fan of wabi sabi "moments"
ReplyDeleteI love how your design on that purse came out. Needle felting is something I would so much like to try, but I haven't been able to find the tool anywhere here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good idea to needlefelt wool yarn - had never thought of this. The purse is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAlso, like the toothbrush holder.
I have been needlefelting hearts onto my knit gnomes.
Warm wishes. Tonya
That's very cool. I've never thought to needlefelt yarn either! The bag is VERY cute! :)
ReplyDeleteI would never think to make a felted toothbrush holder. So neat.
ReplyDeleteThat bag is beautiful.
I live the felted toothbrush holder! My husband is on the road most weeks, and this would be so cute. The bag is gorgeous Elizabeth, thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful weekend
ReplyDeleteI dug way back (almost two years too) to find a project where I used a fulled sweater to make some heart add on's to Valentines for a swap. It's here: http://www.whatididatschooltoday.com/?p=164
ReplyDeleteThe felt toothbrush holder is a great idea, and I don't think it is silly at all. I could use one myself; we are traveling back to Texas for a bit at the end of this upcoming week. I normally just throw my toothbrush in, uncovered, with all my other toiletries! Yuck, huh?
i think the felted wool toothbrush holder is brilliant! we don't travel much but the last time we used plastic and i couldn't help but think our brushes were growing mold. I've sewn with felted sweaters before but i have yet to try needle felting. Your bag is just beautiful - and love how you used a belt for the handle.
ReplyDeleteOkay that toothbrush holder is cool! I love needle felting with my wool yarn too. The bag is great!
ReplyDeleteyou are clever. and cute to make that. i bet he feels a little bit more at home, whenever he is away, when he sees his toothbrush holder.
ReplyDeleteYou are really exciting me to try needle felting!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun and useful projects. I have a stack of old wool sweaters ready to we repurposed and a little needle felting project in mind for this week. I am excited to try but a bit nervous too. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great bag! I have a few sweaters waiting in the wings for the right project/inspiration. I love the idea of ornamenting the finished project with needle felting (I've only made little birdies and animals...so that looks fun to try!)
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness! i love this. i love the colors, the ideas, thank you!
ReplyDeletenicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
Ah just what I needed today. I plan to felt my bag of salvaged sweaters this very week(end) without much of a plan for what to do with them. Now I have more than a few good ideas. One question: What does "fulled" mean?
ReplyDeleteKyce