Thursday, May 10, 2007

Needle Felting LadyLinoleum Style

You may not be aware of this, but I'm a sucker for process. I *love* learning. Once more, I *love* learning even more when it involves digging my hands into some new-to-me art or craft endeavor. Difficulty levels mean little when pioneering into unknown creative territory. Beginning, intermediate, advanced...what's that??? I like to just jump in feet first and deal with the challenges along the way. It's true, this method of exploration is not for the faint of heart, but it works for me. That said, I'm definitely not opposed to easy processes either. Easy processes are fun and have proven to be just as rewarding as the not-so-easy fair.

Enter my foray into needle felting!

Not only is needle felting unbelievably simple, but it's inexpensive too! Oh, and I get to work through my issues by repeatedly stabbing extremely sharp implements into stuff. Vewry, vewry therapeutic.

Other than working through my apparent homicidal feelings toward wool, why needle felting you ask?

Well, I desire to create embellishments for my knitting and crocheted pieces that utilize the same material (generally wool) without using the same process(es) to create said accoutrements. I also endeavor to give my hands a break from needling and hooking due to the associated soreness I tend to experience at overwork of the wrists and digits. In addition, I purchased the tools and materials last summer for my progeny, so no further expenditure needed. So, why not create felt with needles?

Ahem, let's get down to the 411 of felting with needles shall we?

Okay, let's talk materials!

First you need roving. Wool roving seems to be the material of choice for needlus feltus. I purchase mine from here.

Second, you need needles. Not just any needles, but needle felting needles. These type of needles tend to be sharper, longer and have a little "handle" at one end so the felter can get a grip, so to speak. Also, needles can be grouped into larger settings called punches. Punches are good for felting large areas.

Lastly, you'll need a high density foam pad which can be obtained at many of the same resources that sell needles.

Got yer stuff? Okay, let's start stabbing! Um, I mean felting...

Boys and girls gather your materials for we will be making flat, felted eyeballs today.



Oh come on! When embarking upon new crafty journeys one ensures a measure of success when sticking to imagery one feels comfortable with...Sheesh.

Step One:

Place a few layers of roving atop foam pad in the shape of a circle thusly...



Step Two:

Stab the hell outta of roving circle with punch, turning piece over ever so often to prevent circle from felting to pad.



Stab until circle looks something like this...



Step Three:

Add a circular layer of iris color roving to felted white of the eye.



Step Four:

Stab away with single needle!



Is this not fun???

Step Five:

Repeat steps three and four to affix pupil to newly fashioned flat ball.



Step Six:

Take small amounts of vein colored roving and twist into an elongated strip. Place onto white of eyeball in a vein-y sort of shape.



Step Seven:

Stab vein with single needle, working it into the white portion of eyeball.



Repeat steps six and seven until desired amount of veins are worked into surface of ball.

Ta Da!



Stabbing, um I mean needle felting, is fun!

Copyright 2007 Regina Rioux Gonzalez. All rights reserved.

37 comments:

Bunny said...

I too like to jump in feet first and ignore dificulty rating. If I really want to make an item I will.

And if you had not made felted eyeballs I would have guessed you to make a steak.

MonkeyGurrrrrl said...

EGGGGGGGG-SALENT!!! I purchased (no doubt for far too much $$) a needle felting kit a few months ago. I've been wanting to try it ever since seeing the amazing dragon on (craftster?), but haven't had a chance since the move. I'm gonna have to dig through the boxes, although it probably would make more sense to get fully unpacked first...

NAH!!!!

Marietta said...

see this goes to watching way too much DIY - have been watching UNCOMMON THREADS (you did do an episode, right? -haven't seen it yet) and there was needle felting - was very tempting to buy a kit at sheep and wool...the eyeballs just might be my ticket to hell...i mean a new craft :)

Abbey said...

Oh my dog, this looks like fun. Though the injury potential for a klutz like myself seems high. I'm bookmarking this for later use though.

DixieRedHead said...

I wouldnt expect anything less from you regina. Great eye-appealing job!

JessZ said...

What perfect timing! I just came home from MDSW with needle felting tools.

Are these eyeballs part of a bigger project? I can't wait to see.

Laurie Ann said...

I must do this immediately. You make it look so simple.

sgeddes said...

I want to felt. your instructions make it look easy.

I can't wait to see what the eyeballs get used for. Hat or bag decorations? Stange poker chips? Coasters? Just can never tell!

Anonymous said...

having never considered even for an instant before this day the possibility of ever ever ever embarking on anything related to needle-felting, i am astonished by the almost gravitational pull i'm feeling to head for the craft store to buy supplies. but i'm at work, and faaaar from any such place. and -- where the heck does one find *roving*?! i'm not yet a spinner; roving therefore not on radar. and -- do you mind terribly if i make an eyeball or two to appliqué to a cardigan which does not yet exist?

Megan said...

Ooh, I think I'm gonna have to buy some new crafty supplies! You enabler, you! :)

Melissa Perreault said...

Again, you totally rock!! Awesome tutorial, made it look so fun and easy that now I too want to go stabbing some wool. What could be better then creating while taking out aggrssion?!!?

Ansley Bleu said...

Love it! It is all about the learning for me too.

Anonymous said...

Love them!! I want some!

dizzy von damn! said...

god i love stabbing.

LadyLinoleum said...

Bunny - Felted T-Bones definitely crossed my mind. That would have definitely assured me more hate mail...LOL

Denise - The dragon is definitely more effort than eyeballs. Dude you should definitely try this though.

Marietta - I did do Uncommon Threads. One of my epi's played already. It'll probably rerun. They play that stuff over and over again.

Abbey - Definitely have to watch fingers around needles. Serious stab potential.

Dixie - Thanks girlie

Jessz - Definitely part of a bigger project. Just you wait and see!

Laurieann & sgeddes - Totally simple girls. Try it!

Thorn - Make as many eyeballs as you see fit!

Megan - Moi? Enabler? Nahhhhh....

Stickchick - Thanks girlie! Yes, this is an aggression quell-er.

Ansley & Sue - Thanks girlies!

Anonymous said...

I would *so* poke myself. Badly. I can just tell.

Susan Schwake said...

hey, this is so great that i posted it at whipup... you just ROCK!

Sonya said...

You know once the needle felting bug hits, you are done for. Love these eyeballs!

Nano said...

What an eye opener! Heh.. Do you think, made large enough, these could be used as coasters? Great tutorial.

Anonymous said...

haha...love them! I have all the supplies for needle felting, but haven't had that *jump* to go do it yet. hmm.. love the eyeball idea, though! definitely a monster creation! :)

.♥.

Anonymous said...

I love needle felting! so easy and so many possibilities. The eyeballs are great, as always Ms L. Can hardly wait to see what you'll felt next!

Nancy said...

That looks like fun. Talk about a way to channel agression, I bet it even beats weeding. And I likes me some weeding...

Yasmin said...

Wow ! You make it look so easy. Now ...to find out which place is going to ship out a needle felting kit all the way here ????

Crafty Andy said...

As always you get yourself into a crafty madness, welcome to the dark side. YOur felting looks wonderful. Congratulation!

Anonymous said...

*applause*

knitphomaniac said...

I adore the felted eyeballs :) I've got a collection of halloween knits, I'll be sure to add a few of those on them! Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

After showing this post to.. um.. four, five people (I lost count) and then showing them all the amazing things you do, (Bacon, Draft Vader, the gollem hat, the one eyed Christmas scorpion, do I need to go on?) (Even my husband thinks your cool.. bacon?! hello?!) I have become overwhelmed with guilt.. I come.. I look.. I enjoy, and even chuckle. And I haven't been giving back! The guilt! (Yes this is how lame I am!) I am finally coming out of the lurking closet to comment!

The EYEBALLS! The felting! The infectious bug of a new project... I have actually started calling around to find felting needles! The wool (obtained for a wet-felting project) has been pulled back out... I hope you bought stock in felting supplies before you let us all loose on the felting community!

Thank you for sharing your fun!

h.

Batty said...

Funny, that's how I always thought of needle felting! Pick up a tool and stab the hell out of some fiber. Looks like fun, must try!

Uccellina said...

I like the stabbing so much, I don't even mind the band-aids I need afterwards.

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the very fun world of needle felting! I have been a needle felter for about 5 years now (and have the scars to prove it). The possibilities are endless, I can hardly wait to see your next creation!

Anonymous said...

Well, that looks really interesting - I think I'll have to have a go at that!

Thanks for the great blog!

Anonymous said...

Ah, how I miss crafting. I want to stab too!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

These are super cute! I'll be linking!

Lauren said...

omg, this is so funny and clever!

gramma goddess said...

Ah, yes, stabbing does eliminate the overwhelming urge to stab the irritating co-worker...
they eyes are great and an inspiration...my imagination is stretching as we speak (type?) some even may be x-rated but hey, i'm an adult.

gramma goddess said...

ah, yes, what a way to irritate an irritating co-worker. i love needle felting. it is so rewarding (not to mention calming the wild streak the above mentioned irritant seems to bring out in me.)
i never thought of eyes....my imagination is going in a lot of new directions now! (ok, so some of them are x-rated, i'm adult!)

STRJKTKNITTING said...

Thank you for such a fun tutorial. Hugs, Gail