Friday, January 22, 2010

handmade...needle felting with yarn



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!

20 comments:

  1. 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.

    I like the result:
    http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2010/01/successful-families-require-faith.html

    And I LOVE this bag that you made...very cool!

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  2. That toothbrush holder is such a great idea! It's simple but I've never thought about it!

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  3. This 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.

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  4. Love the bag--the belt strap is so clever & cool. The needle felted flower really pulls it together.

    I spend a lot of time pondering how to replace plastic...without as much luck!

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  5. 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.

    :)Lisa

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  6. I am a new fan of wabi sabi "moments"

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  7. I 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.

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  8. What a good idea to needlefelt wool yarn - had never thought of this. The purse is beautiful.
    Also, like the toothbrush holder.
    I have been needlefelting hearts onto my knit gnomes.
    Warm wishes. Tonya

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  9. That's very cool. I've never thought to needlefelt yarn either! The bag is VERY cute! :)

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  10. I would never think to make a felted toothbrush holder. So neat.

    That bag is beautiful.

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  11. 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

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  12. I 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

    The 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?

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  13. 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.

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  14. Okay that toothbrush holder is cool! I love needle felting with my wool yarn too. The bag is great!

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  15. you 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.

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  16. You are really exciting me to try needle felting!

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  17. What 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!

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  18. What 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!)

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  19. oh my goodness! i love this. i love the colors, the ideas, thank you!
    nicola
    http://whichname.blogspot.com

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  20. 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?
    Kyce

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