It's Craft Time! Upcycled Felted Wool Flower Pin

As I mentioned in my previous post about my wool obsession, I HAD to make something after playing with my pretty felted wool. I sat on the floor of my poorly lit bedroom and whipped up a flower pin. Ahhh... that felt (ha) good. Sorry, but I had to use a flash so you could see.  I've seen these all over blog land in different versions ... made from fabric, denim, craft felt,  tissue paper, into pins, kissing balls, hair accessories, etc.  My first exposure to this type of project was a tissue paper pin for a Mother's Day craft for my son's Cub Scouts about a dozen years ago.

I started with my upcycled felted wool and cut 3 circles 2.75" across and 4 circles 4.5" across. The exact size isn't really important, just 4 large and 3 small. I used these measurements because I have 2 cardboard templates that size. I laid them on the fabric and cut around with my pinking sheers (I wanted a more ruffled appearance) not even marking the fabric. Perfection is not needed.

Starting with the smaller circles fold them in half and then in half again. With a needle and long, doubled piece of thread, sew through the tip of the petal several times catching all the layers (don't forget to knot the end of the thread). On the same thread, fold and sew the next two small petal, pulling tight against the last one. 

Continuing on the same thread, fold and sew the four large circles, pulling tight against the last one. You will have to arrange the petals a little so the smaller ones are in front. On the back take a few stitches sewing the large petal to its neighbor to make them more stable. Sew on a pin back.  

I sewed one of my Mother's vintage earring in the center for a little bling, a button would look lovely also. From being compelled to make something to finishing the pin took less than 30 minutes. Isn't it pretty?

 

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Upcycled Felted Wool Obsession

OK, obsession is a pretty strong word. But I'm definitely enamored with upcycled felted wool. It's not my fault, it's my friend Alison's. She's a very talented quilter and wool rug hooker (you'll get to see some of her projects later). When we get together (she lives 200 miles away) we go thrift store hunting. Alison is always on the lookout for wool skirts so she can use the wool strips in her rugs. I've drooled over some of the beautiful wool we've been able to find. 

I wanted to play too! I've started to build my own little wool stash. For what purposes, you might ask, since I don't rug hook? Why for ... well darn, something will come to me. How about applique or felting with that little springy felting tool? Projects yet to be done. But the little wool stash grows. 

As I was doing laundry today, I washed two teeny tiny (size 4) gorgeous wool skirts (thrift store score)  in hot water and dried them to felt the wool. The tiny skirts would never work for rug hooking, there isn't enough fabric. However they were perfect for my crafty ways.

After the wool was felted I took apart the skirts. Cutting off the waist band and up the side seams gave me nice pieces of wool to work with. I had so much fun playing with the pretty wool that I had to make something immediately! Stay tuned for a cute felted wool flower pin project (say that fast 3 times).