My Felted Wool Past… and Other Projects

I was looking through some old photos on my computer last night and came across some of my old felted wool projects. I think I started making these about the time I moved to Portland ten years ago.

Here’s one of my favorites.

This was made from scrap wool that had been used on other felted projects. It was made on my own pattern that I wrote up and have sent to many knitters who have seen this bag online. I never really liked using wool that would felt for a garment. It just made it too hard to take care of. But it’s wonderful when it’s felted!

I made several bag bodies on this pattern, but finished them differently. Here’s a blue striped one that I gave to a friend.

To make these bags I would hand knit a really big bag and then felt it in my washing machine. It would shrink significantly once it was felted. Here are some pictures of the bag before and after felting. My little Jack Russell Skeeter is there for scale. She’s a little 12 lb dog. (Skeeter now lives with a friend of mine in Seattle.)

This next bag was knit on the same pattern and then I needle felted the sunflower design onto the front. I was pretty happy with how this turned out. It was given to a good friend of mine.

Here’s another bag that was made on the same pattern and was also needle felted with a floral design.

Here’s one that’s a little bit of a modern take on the same bag pattern. All of these bags were finished with a batik lining, complete with a zipper pocket and a slip pocket and a snap closure.

I also made a bunch of little round coin purses that were always some of my favorites. These were hand crocheted on my own pattern, felted in the washing machine and finished with embroidery. I think these are just the sweetest little things.

I also made a bunch of these little shoulder bags with sheep needle felted on them. I think I could have sold as many of these as I could make. But I got really tired of making the same thing over and over. But they were pretty cute.

I also made a couple on this pattern, which is also one I designed, and added embroidery.

I also made a whole bunch of these little wallets in different shapes. These were all hand knit on patterns that I made up, felted in the washing machine and then needle felted with floral designs…. and more sheep!

Then I made a bunch of these little round shoulder bags with needle felted designs. These were crocheted on my own pattern and felted in the washer.

I really loved making these bags, but I lost interest in needle felting pretty quickly. Drawing doesn’t come natural to me and needle felting is basically drawing with wool. I was really happy with how these pieces turned out, but I wasn’t very driven to make more. Another reason I stopped making these is that the knitting and crocheting is just so darned hard on my hands. I love knitting but don’t do much of it these days. I only make an occasional hat or other small project. I wish I cold do more because I really love it.

Now for my other projects. I’m about 3/4 done with the batik jewel box quilt I’m working on. Only the top row in this photo needs to be assembled, then a couple horizontal seams and I’ll be done. I’m forcing myself to get that done and off the design wall before I move onto my next quilting project… and I’m itching to get onto the next one!

As a quick afternoon project today I decided to make myself a couple microwave bowl holders. I have one that I made a few years ago and I use it all the time. I really needed more.

Here’s the pattern I used for these, in case you’re interested. There are a good number of free patterns and tutorials available for these on the internet.

It was really rainy today so we didn’t get a walk at all. the dogs are not happy about that. I have another sheep herding lesson tomorrow afternoon, so I’m hoping we can get a good walk in tomorrow morning. The weather looks like it will be a little better… still raining, but not a downpour like it was today.