Since winter has come to New Zealand I have been inspired to start crocheting again. So what better way to start then to have a look around the net and see what great patterns have come out for some inspiration. Here are some links I wanted to share with you:

• First of all you have to go and have a look at PlanetJune’s blog here she has been crocheting up a storm over the last couple of weeks. And you can not really resist these adorable amigurumi.. Have a look around at all the other patterns June writes (some are freebies!) when you are here.

• Another awesome free project can be found here on Little Projects blog. It is a purse organiser so you can stop rummaging for your lip balm, cellphone, keys, change for parking, cards etc and get organised. Its a quick crochet pattern after that just pop it in the washer a couple of times ans taaddaaaa!! Have a look around this blog while you are here there, Jo sells some awesome crochet patterns for bags. The one below is my favourite. 
• Some of you might have already seen this one featured on other blogs but I am so in love with Brie’s work, her blog is called Roman Sock and you can find it here. She has promised to write us a pattern/tutorial about this amazing Acorn so better go and leave a comment.

I hope this got you really inspired to do some crocheting this week. Don’t forget to post a picture in our Flickr Group or for some more inspiration go and join the the Crochet Along they have a new theme every 2 months starting and you are welcome to join anytime.

Eve

While browsing through the “returned-today” area of our local library I found this book. It’s called “complete feltmaking - easy techniques and 25 great great projects” by Gillian Harris, ISBN 1-84340-369-2.

The inside flap reads; “Complete feltmaking covers all aspects of feltmaking, including making flat felt, creating 3-D shapes, felting klitted work, needle felting and slightly more advanced techniques such as cobweb felting. From a cheerful polka-dot bag and plush slippers to a whimsical mobile and heart-warming tea cosy, this spirited primer offers a vibrant range of projects for beginner and advanced felters. Once the crafter has become comfortable with basic techniques, she/he can graduate to more complex felting projects in the advanced chapter. Each technique is crafeully explained in detail with step-by-step instructions and accompanied by several innovative projects to keep you constantly inspired. This book includes everything you need to bring felt to your wardrobe and home.”

If you are interested you might also want to check out her website here .

And I don’t have anything to add to that, enjoy the pictures.

I was very excited about my first tutorial try out this was definately one on the top of my list. So last Sunday I took of to my favourite wool shop and bought 40 grams of red soon to be felted wool at the amazing price of NZ$1.80 which probably works out to around US$1 and some detergent without any added scents or dyes. All the other bits and pieces needed for this project were in my cupboard.

According to the tutorial written by Marta Stewart I needed the following materials;

• felting wool
• pitcher of hot soapy water (4tblspoons of detergent to 6 cups of hot water)
• baking tray
• sponge
• bamboo skewers
• kitchen scale (I did not have those so just hoped for the best size wise)

So look here it all is ready to have some fun;

After geting the hot soapy water ready I was on my way to make 11 balls. I wanted 11 for a necklace that I want to make after the balls/beads have dried. I have seen this somewhere on another website but unfortunately have been unable to find it back, if anyone has seen it please let me know.

Ok back to making beads; I started out with a small wad of wool and then adding smaller lengths of wool around and around very tightly. When I thought the ball was big enough I dunked the ball in the hot soapy water let the bubbles come out and then started rolling between my hands without squeezing. The wool feels a litle mushy in the beginning but after 15-30 seconds of rolling you feel the ball begins to harden. Martha Stewart says you need to keep rolling for another 10 mins. but mine were done after 2-3 minutes. Remember to keep dunking the ball in the water the hot water causes the fibres to stick together and become felt. I then rinsed it out under cold running water (still rolling) and put it away to dry.

It took me about 1 and a half hours to do all 11 balls. After that I left to dry overnight in my studio. They already looked so good here:

On Monday morning I checked on their progress again and they were already dry and soft and lovely! Unfortunately I did not have time on Monday, tried to think of a nice way to connect them all up on Tuesday. And finally on Wednesday thought I could make it more elegant by using a lighter wire and bought some plastic coated fishing line and put the necklace together.

As you can see in this photo below I also used a loss less of the felt beads cause the 11 beads worked out to be too bulky. Anyway here is the result, I am pretty happy with it. I loved the tutorial sooo simple to do, have a go and please let me know what your experiences are!