Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Winter Break - Great Classes #1 -- Felted Hearts

Nothing like packing all your fun stuff into one weekend. But after the Deep Freeze (aka The Polar Vortex) and a fast and extreme warm-up, I was ready to get out of the house! So, I enjoyed two very different kinds of classes -- one in fiber, the other, cooking. Fiber first.


This was a felted hearts class with one of my favorite instructors, Barb Hranilovich, who makes classes such fun I'd take something I'd hate just to spend time in her class. In this case, no problem, because we were making lovely, large hearts using needle felting.


I'd done a teeny bit of this in another class by Barb that also included wet felting. This time it was all dry, all needles. We started out with a piece of fiber fill to make a heart shape, which we wrapped in wool yarn.


We used fiberfill because to use the wool roving would be expensive. And we used the wool yarn and wrapped it well because you must use wool or when you begin to felt, the barbs on the (very) sharp needles won't grab the material and bind it together. They wouldn't be able to "grab" anything if we only used the fiberfill.


When the heart was wrapped we put our roving over it in a thin layer.


And you poke the poop out of it with these little needles that when they go into your finger because you weren't smart enough to keep it out of the way, makes you wince!


We kept building layers, poking, poking, poking, until it was smooth.


It slowly comes along. Millions of pokes!

And when you are done, you end up with something that looks like this on the front side...


...and this on the back.


I loved doing it so much that I went home and immediately started a little sheep from a kit I received for Christmas.


It's supposed to be a pin but it was too big so now it's a pincushion for my new hobby!


Just what I need. A new hobby!

Sharing with:    Let's Add Sprinkles     /     Best of the Weekend    /     Pink Saturday    

42 comments:

Joanne Huffman said...

I love needle felting and haven't done it for years, Both of these are adorable.

William Kendall said...

Creative and colourful. The sheep is neat! 🐑

Nancy's Notes said...

How interesting and pretty! I've not seen that done before, really awesome!

Misadventures of Widowhood said...

What a cutie pie sheep! I've never heard of dry felting and it looks like great fun and good therapy.

Marilyn Miller said...

I took a needle felting class several years ago. It is so fun! Now where are my supplies. I love the heart and the sheep. What fun!

Lynne said...

You find the best classes.
Sure looks and sounds fun!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I took a felted wool class a few years ago at the ETSY Lab in Brooklyn, and really enjoyed it. We made a flat Christmas tree felt shape on which we felted on ornaments. I used that on card stock as a special Christmas card. It is a fun and relaxing activity to do with a group

Iris Flavia said...

Love especially the sheep! It must be great to have such a teacher you'd even take "crap" just to be in the class! I had that twice myself, it was such fun.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Jeanie, your needle felted heart is very nice. I taught myself to needle felt a couple years ago and enjoyed making a few little lambs. It's fun and there are tons of videos online if you need further instruction. ♥

coffeeontheporchwithme said...

I've wondered what is involved in needle felting. There is a woman whose blog I read and she makes the most incredible needle felted creatures complete with gorgeous hand made clothes and accessories. Thanks for showing us, Jeanie! -Jenn

Katie Mansfield said...

Your heart is darling. I've done a little needle felting. It's so weird but the most wonderful creatures can be created with felted wool. What a fun class.

Jennifer Richardson said...

SO cute! I would love - have never played with with these materials.
Wool makes me itch and hive a bit so maybe it's best to admire your work:) But i love the sweet lamb and your heart!
Thanks for inspiring the maker in me,
Jennifer

krishna said...

Aww!! they are cute!

Linda said...

Now that looks like FUN. And pretty adorable too. Can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Yael said...

Wow, that is lovely!
Thanks for showing us the way to the heart! :-)

Valerie-Jael said...

Now this looks like BIG fun - love your heart and the little sheep is so cuddly. Have a great day, hugs, Valerie

Thelma said...

What a nice craft. I've never done felting. They are so cute. Thanks for sharing.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Yes, as if you aren't busy enough! I reckon that felt craft would be pretty addictive, your lamb is adorable!
Wren x

Christine @ Rustic-Refined said...

That looks so cute! I am in such a bubble, I have never seen that before. Love it!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Wow that is really interesting! I’ve seen things like this but had no idea how it was accomplished. Your heart is really colorful and artistic looking! Love the lamb too- it’s going to show up in various places I’m imagining!

La Table De Nana said...

Bravo! I made a bird once ..gave the tools back to my daughter who had given me the tools..You either feelt it or not:)
The heart is gorgeus w/ those colors and the lamb will be so sweet w/ your collections.I love elted things.

Pam said...

Well how neat. Out of all the crafting I have done I have never done that. AND NO...I am not trying it cause I am trying to do away with some of the stuff I used for crafting as it is. HAHA. Thanks for the concern over the arm. Bruising is clearing up, where the blood was pooled is clear now but I still have this knot there that don't seem to want to go away. I go back on the 18th so maybe it will be gone by then. Leave it to me to do something stupid like that!!! Its been 13 days now and most bruising would all be gone so that tells you I really twisted that arm around. Head, with the changing weather is still a tad of an issue but I just "SHOOT UP".....NOSE SPRAY! That seems to be the best thing I have found so far. Would have been able to knot it out sooner if I took steroids but the only way I can do that is from nose spray. I had issues with the pills messing with my stomach really bad years ago and since my gastric bypass that is a drug I can't take.

Sandra Cox said...

What fun!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

Fun!! The yarn shop where I learned to knit had felting classes but I never got around to taking them. And then the shop closed. :( The heart is cute and the sheep is EXTRA cute!!!

Sandra at Maison De Jardin said...

Looks like lots of fun. Love your heart and the sweet lamb.

Hope you are seeing nicer weather - we have snow on the way for the weekend.

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Jeanie, those are so lovely and cute. I have admired felted pieces and would like to learn. Our local craft store is Ben Franklins. I will have to check into classes there..Happy Wednesday..xxoJudy

Zaa said...

OH What fun " felting"... and you made such pretty hearts... It's always super to try something new..plus you get to chat with like minded people during the class...Good for you ...Happy Valentine's Day ...Hugs

Sketchbook Wandering said...

I love your heart and how you love what you're doing!! Isn't it wonderful have teachers we love too!

Pamela said...

The felting class looks so fun. I love that you went home and continued with a new project.

My name is Erika. said...

That looks like fun. And perfect for Valentine's Day. And a good way to spend some weekend time also for sure. Hugs-Erika

The French Hutch said...

I am happy to hear you have been out and not shut in from the weather! This looks like fun. I have to say I love little felt animals. I have a collection going now that I collect just to put on top of my clock for Christmas. Love your colors.
Happy Valentine's Day Jeanie.......

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

These are so cute! I've always wondered how needle-felting was done - it looks fun. Getting stuck with that needle doesn't sound fun, though..... :( The little face on the sheep is so sweet! Happy Valentine's Day! A hug xo Karen

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

I really like the heart but the cutie lamb stole my heart.

Mary K. said...

Jeanie I've never seen this type of craft before. I think I am smitten! So many crafts so little time!! Thanks for sharing this with us!

Sandra Cox said...

Happy Valentine's Day:)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jeanie, this is a craft I've never heard of! Yours turned out beautifully. I'm not sure I could do it. I'm not very good crafts or hand sewing.

Pam Richardson said...

Jeanie, I have never done felting, but it certainly looks like fun! Your heart turned out beautiful, but the sweet lamb is adorable!

Olka said...

God! I really need to learn felting! I've recently bought some starting set, but I've never used it. It's waiting for its turn, haha!

Rita C at Panoply said...

I loved felted items, they're just so full of heart (no pun intended, but I love your ♥). The sheep is absolutely adorable!

Red Rose Alley said...

These felted hearts are very creative, Jeanie. I like all the bright colors you chose. What a fun class!

Have a wonderful week ahead.

~Sheri

Tracy said...

Soooo much FUN! This was inspiring to see. I've not done felting in a looong time. I don't think I have have a needle for felting anymore... LOVELY to see the process here. Your felt heart is beautiful, Jeanie!! How CUTE is that little felty sheep. I have small felted apple that I use for a pincushion. I didn't make it, bought it at a craft fair years ago, but just love it. Felting is an amazing craft! :) ((HUGS))

Victoria Zigler said...

Oooh! Now you've made me even more excited about doing the Robin needle felt kit I got in one of my Makerly boxes!

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