Fine Craft Guild .com » Felting

Felt Ruffle Rosette Pillow Pattern

Fine Craft Guild — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Tired of snow, rain or otherwise gloomy winter weather? Cheer up. This happy orange pillow tutorial will bring you into a good mood again. Dazzling ruffles are fast to produce on this easy-as-pie pillow.

The tutorial ::

Felt Rosette Pillow

Step-by-step Instructions

1. cut circles

2. fold them twice and secure each rosette with two stitches near the center circle

3.Attach each rosette with a few stitches onto the pillow top. Line the ruffled flowers up, not too close, not too dense. You’re done when you’ve covered the entire front of your felt pillow.

4. Attach the pillow back to the front, leaving an opening for filling. Consider kapok for the reasons spelled out here. Hand sew the closure with a few push pins, or if you are making this in white and want to wash it frequently, add a zipper at the pillow back.

Felt Furnishings

This happy ruffles pillow is one of many projects in this wonderfully creative book: Felt Furnishings: 25 Accessories for Contemporary Homes . Get your own book for only $5 and cents!

via: Etsy

More Pillow Patterns & Ideas

Kapok as ideal Pillow Filling – learn more about this filling

Sew a Wild Scrappy Pillow – art quilting at its most fun (see right)

Pillow Patterns – crochet, knitting, quilting, felt and other

Felt Christmas Decorations

Fine Craft Guild — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:26:00 +0000

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Lovely things from fabric are to be made by hand for the Christmas trees. In Pasadena, CA, I came across darling felted trees, birds made from fabric scraps, woolen balls adorned with hand-embroidered icicles, wreaths made out of scrap fabric balls, and other such unique treasures. Be inspired by my collection….

This is my felt Christmas tree ornaments collection.While these are store-bought examples, my mind is seeking the hand-cut variety with all the lovely irregularity that that entails. And the lovely Saturday afternoon cutting and crafting (with kids).

Let your mind wander beyond ‘Christmas Trees’. These ornaments can be used to cheer up just about anything. Use your hot glue gun and attach a flat felt tree or a sweet 2-layered icicle onto your coffee cup cozy. Or the 3D mini Christmas trees made out of felt rings and shiny beads are perfect as a key fob or door ornament.

Christmas Decoration Ideas ~ Made From Felt

Red on red – classic with a twist. Whether you prefer Scandinavian red and white or burgundy red, you will get it your way, either way. This wreath is made of felted tubes. Stunning, yes?! Anthropologie of course. Spotted in Sta Monica, California.

Traditional Christmas Colors

Lovely felt tree to hang as fob on the doors, on your keys or in a white tree.

This double layered felt snowflake ornament felt like the Scandinavian north had come down to the Californian south. Love the look and feel of this. Again, would prefer your hand cutting it rather than a machine dye n cut scenario… Maybe you will try…

Contemporary Color for Christmas

Classic colors are good, but if you want something else for a chance, how about …. purple and lime green? It will be an unique Christmas decor, particularly when paired with pale blue/silver…

Fun lightweight Christmas tree decoration. While these are hanging in a shop for sale (yes, good old Target in Pasedena, CA), the truth is that I quite dig them as is, but would prefer them if they were hand cut and a bit more irregular. Can you see the lovely variations you would cut?!!

That lovely felt tree ornament in silver grey…

Felt Snow Flakes are just like Paper Snow Flakes …

You might remember that I have quite a fondness of handmade paper doilies, so to hand cut felt snowflakes & Christmas tree ornaments is just a step away from this. ( In fact, last year, I made a whole slew of paper cut doilies for our Christmas tree, but I never blogged about it… Maybe later this month, I will…)

Meanwhile, I have more beautiful and contemporary felt Christmas ornaments to show you, but I just want to start publishing ideas, so here is what I have for you now….

Also see:
Felt Christmas Ornaments

craftblogs.org

Felted Ring

Fine Craft Guild — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:47:00 +0000

I did discovered something new, that’s just so cool that I wanted to share it with you: Did you know that if you take a bit of (your favorite) mohair wool yarn and you wrap it loosely around your finger 2-3 times, and you go about your business of cooking and cleaning, along with usual hand washings in between, your felted bitty bit will become a groovy felted ring?

Look! The felt ring is just a perfect ‘spacer’ between two precious metal rings you don’t want to rub against each other, like your wedding and engagement ring.

Ring Sizing & Felting

The ring you see in the picture is yarn about 6 or 7 times wrapped around the finger, and after about 2 days worth of felting. I recommend to make it a bit thinner if you want to wear other rings with it. However, I’d do about 11 rounds of yarn for a stand-alone felted ring.

Note that each time the wool felts, it shrinks. Therefore, you should begin with a very, very loose ring wrapped around your thickest finger. Consider that thicker rings will have less stretch and for a thick ring I’d wrap it around a candle stick that’s slightly larger than my thickest finger for the first felting. Experiment and consider that your felted ring could shrink up to 40%, dependent on actual yarn and thickness of the ring. I recommend to take your ring off when you take a shower, do the dishes etc. Several times a day hand washing is already lots and lots of felting! Eventually you want to take your ring off during all wet activities.

This ring-making technique so easy, I am not naming this article a tutorial. How about calling it my ‘whimsical craft tip of the week’ ?!

How-to: Handmade Fashion Jewelry

Fine Craft Guild — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 10:15:00 +0000

Now with your kids at home who want something fun to do, I thought to show our series of handmade jewelry tutorials and ideas.

HANDMADE FASHION JEWELRY: BRACELETS & NECKLACES

Fine Craft Guild’s Jewelry Directory

Ideas & Tutorials for Unique Handmade Jewelry

Beaded jewelry

Barbie Doll Jewelry

Crochet jeweler

Cheap but fun upcycled jewelry

Custom ECO jewelry

Fashion fabric jewelry

Fashion jewelry ideas

How to sell your (fine) jewelry in art galleries

Friendship bracelets (paper)

Friendship bracelets (yarn)

Turquoise Native American Jewelry

Tennis ball (Eco) bracelet

Unique lampwork jewelry

Wired jewelry

Wooden | decoupage jewelry

Zipper (vintage) jewelry

Italian Bag Fashion in Rome

Fine Craft Guild — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 10:46:00 +0000

Walking begin December in the late afternoon through the always romantic streets of Rome, as everything is so ancient and so laden with the energy of things that have endured the passage of time. You know how handmade things have that feel about them, of extensive handling and care in the making… How it has irregular quirks and that is exactly why it is turning out so lovely, and special. Well, the streets of Rome are like that. They do not line up. The street numbers do not line up either, btw, which is not so practical, but yes, in deed that too adds to its charm.

And so in this place, I went window shopping for Christmas. Here is an overview of some of the lovely bags I found. Of course, I’m omitting some of the not-so-crafty classics, and including those who use recycled materials.

Italian Handbag for Christmas

1. In the Prada shop, this chic black hand-knit bag with same-colored flowers and gold metal elements for contrast to the soft flow of the bag. I don’t think this is a Prada bag, however given its price tag (1295 euro, or 1.3x that for dollars), it sure it in its league.

2. In the ‘Recycled Art’ shop (forgot its name), spotted these gorgeous quilted tote bags. They are large. And no doubt, they are a lot of work to quilt together. Actually, these quilted bags remind me of origami… so let me dub them ‘origami bags’. Love these!

3. In a trendy fashion shop, I spotted this recycled aluminum crochet messenger bag made from the pull tags of soda pop cans. This bag was made in several sizes, and I saw someone walk around with an over-sized messenger bag. Very cool. Looked light weight even though made with metal. And looked strong. I have no idea about pricing, so I scoured around on the web, and actually found a ‘similar’ soda pop-top messenger bag for sale for US$240…. Oh, and later I looked a bit further online and found a handmade clutchwhich crocheted the pop tops and which offers a similar look to the picture here, for only US$27! Wowl

4. On the Christmas craft market, I shopped and shopped and spotted loads of felt bag designs for you, all equally lovely. Italy loves felts and is very creative with it. These kinds of bags are inexpensive. Say, 18 euro.

Click on the images to see larger versions.

OK.

If you’re inspired to now go make your own, see our Overview of Bag Designs and Patterns.

I want to see your bags now… So, DO send in comments and pictures of yours, please.

DIY Tutorials Party 17

Fine Craft Guild — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:06:00 +0000

Hai, my dear readers!

Here’s a new opportunity to link up.

17th DIY Craft Tutorial Linky Party

In this post:

1. HOW to submit

2. WHERE you can add your project.

My contribution to this Craft DIY Party

Very Cool

Felt Christmas Ornaments

Unique &

Interesting

Christmas Ornaments

Made from Felt

Please show me your projects that you’ll make based on this post, okay?!

I’d love to feature those as well.

Featured Entries

As well as inviting you to send in new entries, here are some top entries that I totally love and want to feature today:

1	2
3	4
5	6
7	8

Featured Craft Blogs

If you are featured in my 8 Best DIY & Craft Tutorials line up, go ahead and show it off… Here is a Badge, just for you, to post on your website. It will link back to this post here.

DIY Tutorial Party Policies

1. Beautiful ‘Do It Yourself’ or craft tutorials welcome! Lovely & unique furniture, your latest creations in jewelry, fabulous home decor projects you’ve undertaken, DIY clothing, etc. No items for sale. Submit 1+ new tutorials.

2. Link to your tutorial (not main page) + add a short description of your DIY tutorial.

3. Link back with button or normal link; Blogroll or equivalent, or within each tutorial that you are linking to each party.

<a href="http://www.finecraftguild.com/" target="_blank"></a>

4. Visit others + Comment here. Tell me which you visited in your comment below. Share your favorites. I showcase contributors as well as projects with cute pix.

5. Return Next Wednesday, to learn & to contribute. Let’s share.

YOUR contribution to DIY Craft Linky Party #17

Felt Christmas Ornaments

Fine Craft Guild — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 13:55:00 +0000

Want to make Felt Christmas ornaments this year? I’ve collected five tutorials / design themes that I like. Take your pick of any of them. Happy Ornament-making or buying!

Let’s kick-off with inspiration from the Design Pro’s at Land of Nod:

0. Embroidered Felt Christmas Ornaments: Peace Dove, Gingerbread House and Christmas Tree

Kids’ Holiday Decor: Holiday Theme Felt Ornaments – White Peace Dove Ornament

. I know, only $5.95 … well, we better enjoy making them and adding all that lovely details, because these decorations are VERY inexpensive, and they even would make good gifts..

1. Peaceful Felt Christmas Heart Ornaments

Let’s start with some ornaments that I whole-heartedly support. Here are some really cool Heart Ornaments with Peace Symbols, Made Eco & Human Friendly supporting Nepalese artisans.
They say: “Hand embroidered details are added to this handmade felt heart by skilled artisans working in a fair trade production center in Kathmandu, Nepal. Artisans use 100% natural wool and non-toxic, azo-free dyes. Waste dye water is drained into a neighboring garden for growing food. Wool scraps are recycled into new products.” I know you came here to find a tutorial to make your own, but buying these sure will feel great.

Source: Scandinavian Stitches

Or, more traditional embroidered felt heart ornaments

The colors of this heart for sure Christmas-y, but not as poppy as the dinosaurs. We like the overall design of these love hearts, but would add more white to make then stand out in the XMAS tree more. Unless you have a white tree, that

Source: Felt Sew Good

2. Felt Birdhouse Christmas Ornaments

A felted bird house… Oh my gosh… Very Unique, and a bit more involved to make, but definitely worth it!

Look at them. … inspiration …..

Source: Betz White

3. Felt Bird Ornaments

These White doves
w. lovely embroidery are for sale. Just cost a song… ha ha …
Really inexpensive. Check them out

Definitely a lot easier to put together are flat bird ornaments like these colorful ones.

Birds are however not as original as bird houses. It seemed like last year everyone online had the same idea: let’s felt some birds. Well, Some cooler than others. It’s a simple design you can easily make your own. Here are my favorite birds: these red & pink birds are particularly successful, don’t you think?

They were originally designed for an advent calendar, but I think they are fit for a tree.

Source: Skip to my Lou

The single blue bird below, with embroidery, is in fact a lavender sachet, to calm the senses not only at Christmas, but year round. I kind of like that idea as I have been growing my own lavender this year.

4. ‘Classic’ Felt Christmas Ornament

Aren’t these simply gorgeous?! ‘My Fantastic Toys’ made them, and they are very easy to make, just like the flat birds above.

So, I’m not sure if you need a ‘tutorial’ to make these (felt is so forgiving and easy to work with), but if you need one, here is the tutorial.

5. Dinosaur Christmas Ornaments

I like the whimsy of these. Not sure if they were meant to hang in a Christmas tree or just in a kids room, but to me they are the ultimate-fun Christmas decorations for families with young boys.

Source: brainchild of CarrotFever at Etsy (nfs)

More Christmas Ornaments

Knitted Christmas Tree Ornament Balls ~ Free Pattern
How to Knit Christmas Ornaments
How to make Pinecone Ornaments (video)
More than Classic Holiday Colors
Technique to make Paper Snowflakes

Also see: More Felt Christmas Ornaments & Decorations

How to Make an Embellished Recycled Sweater Blanket

Fine Craft Guild — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:17:00 +0000

Wow. That’s all that I could say. Now I’m excited about going to visit the recycled, vintage & samples clothing shop at the market.

For many of you, with partners who have way to many sweaters in that closet, many with worn elbows, here is your challenge!

If you can create a more funky and interesting design using your materials, send in your photos. The best four will be featured here!

Here is your inspiration, free pattern & outlandishly detailed tutorial on how to make your own blanket out of recycled sweaters.

I guess this project could be filed under: sewing, quilting, embroidery or knitting….

Design by Lee Meredith

http://leethal.etsy.com

Over to YOU / Craft Parties

That’s probably enough ideas to get your creative juices going. Show me what you have made, and link it up here: Your DIY Tutorial (linky party). I’d love to feature your work!!!

I’ve entered this craft tutorial into a number of craft parties. Check them out by clicking the link.
Copyright , Fine Craft Guild .com. All Rights Reserved. Amazing/Eco Home Decorating & Craft ideas and tutorials, for you.

50+ Cool Recycled Craft Ideas – part 4 & 5

Fine Craft Guild — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Hope you enjoyed the other recycled crafts in this series:

1. Recycled Craft Ideas for Desk Accessories

2. Unique Furniture and Home Decorations Made from Recycled Materials.

3. Recycled Crafts for Kids

Here are lot #4 of the 50+ Cool Recycled Craft Ideas for Earth Day and Other Days: Personal Accessories with Recycled Materials and Beautify Your Garden or Patio Using Recycled Materials.

Lot #4 of Recycled Craft Ideas

Personal Accessories with Recycled Materials

How to Recycle Magazines into Jewelry
Recycled Sweater Laptop Bag ~ Diaper Bag

Recycled Magazine Mash Basket
Recycled Silk Cell phone Holder

I am keeping this lot of recycled craft ideas for personal accessories fairly small, as we’re literally adding new tutorials on this specific topic each week. Visit our home page, Fine Craft Guild to find many excellent ideas of personal accessories made with recycled / reused materials.

Lot #5 of Recycled Craft Ideas

Beautify Your Garden or Patio Using Recycled Materials

Toilet Roll Seed Starters

Recycled Alu Can Flowers, Butterflies & Dragonflies to create into Mobiles and to Cheer up Evergreens

Punched Tin Butterfly Great Tutorial

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

Greenhouse for Seedlings

Another kind of Greenhouse for Seedlings

Colored Votive Lantern

Orange Peel Flowers

Wind Chime

Stay tuned for the last lot in this series: Tutorials to create Sophisticated Craft Materials from Recycled Resources.

This article is featured in 2-3 linking parties. See here for details.

Copyright , Fine Craft Guild .com. All Rights Reserved. Amazing/Eco Home Decorating & Craft ideas and tutorials, for you.

How to Make Fancy Felted Soaps

Fine Craft Guild — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:56:00 +0000

If you want to make some soap gifts without actually having to do any of the soap pouring, how about making a felted soap bar? It’s a good way to use up bits of wool, and the result is a soap bar which looks pretty, is exfoliating and is likely to be used up all-the-way to the end.

Want to try? Here we go.

Start with a single soap bar, and just two colors of wool, one main and one to whirl around the bar towards the end of the felting process for a fun decorative effect. Or, .. use the second color to add little balls to make a polka dot soap.

(Found here.)

Once you have made a few bars, you’ll probably want to make some wilder experiments and try out something like this absolutely darling felted heart soap with rose which was once for sales at Etsy by SandieK, but which is no longer available. That’s is just as well, as with the below detailed step-by-step tutorial plus video demo and a couple of practice runs, you’ll soon make your own.

Let’s examine the detail: note how this is basically hot pink. Then a swash of white wool on one side was added, together with some strands of glitter wool. Then four specks of green wool were layered on. Finally an already semi-felted ball of light pink was attached. It looks like the rose actually has some stitches in it to give it that defined rose shape.

Tips & Hints

1. Overall, merino wool works best, so stick with that for fabulous results. Only real wool and protein fibers felt. So don’t waste time with acrylics.

2. Getting the right amount of wool is the trick. If you use too much you’ll have strands hanging from your soap later on. If you use too little, you’ll see patches of the soap shining through.
My tip is to err on the ‘less than’ side, and to use a simple design with just polka dots for your first soap. That way the holes in the soap will reinforce your spotted design. It will look artsy and be fully functional. And… you’ll learn how much more you’ll need for a fully covered soap, for next time.

How to Felt a Soap Bar

Everyone on the web seems to agree that this is the best tutorial, so why re-invent the wheel? Just click that link.

Video Demo on How to Create a Felted Soap Bar

This video demo, which reduces the process to just 2 minutes gives you a ‘life’ feel of how this is done. As well, it also shows how dazzling your soaps will become if you’d try using very bright wool strands and just blend them together.

Perfect little project for Easter Spring break.

A craft that kids can do and that adults enjoy.

p.s. that heart soap makes a great Mother’s Day gift…. So, why not practice (a lot) this week, then look for that heart shaped soap and then, … just in time, make Mom this lovely felted heart soap. Scrapbook a lovely tag for, and attach it to the bar with a strand of the same wool as the soap bar. She’ll love it.

p.s. they are currently quite the rage.. You can find them in dazzling colors on many artisan craft markets. As well, Anthropologie carries felted soap balls that are fun gifts to give or get.

This article is featured in a few wonderful craft parties. See here for details.

Copyright , Fine Craft Guild .com. All Rights Reserved. Amazing/Eco Home Decorating & Craft ideas and tutorials, for you.

How to Recycle Magazines into Jewelry	Recycled Sweater Laptop Bag ~ Diaper Bag
Recycled Magazine Mash Basket	Recycled Silk Cell phone Holder