A Collection of Needle Felted Characters

For your viewing pleasure…

A cute collection of Needle Felted Characters I found on YouTube.

These are from “feltalive” and her comments are…

“I can’t seem to part with any of my needle felted characters! They seem happy in their home on my shelves alongside my books and knicky knacks. They make me smile so I decided to share them. The music is Since I Met You Baby by Ivory Joe Hunter http://www.feltalive.com
I am teaching online! For more info: http://www.feltalive.com/online_class…
Etsy shop www.feltalive.etsy.com”

I’ve not looked at their sites yet, but will do a review soon. I just liked the music and the characters.

Hope you enjoy.

BTW… If you are looking for a good selection of wool roving for felting, take a look at what is available on etsy.

Easy To Make Felted Cat Toy

Felted Cat Toys

You can make a cute felted cat toy with this easy method of felting. The felted toy is tough and chewy like pretend prey. It also has the “hairyness” to give a sense of realism for your kitty… Without the charming hairball after.

These are lighter than the full felt construction, easier and faster to make, and have a bell inside for added pleasure. It’s a simple and practical way to recycle small amounts of wool fleece and yarn that will felt.

Materials:

Plastic ‘wiffle’ balls, any size, but the 1″ to 3″ sizes work best.
Wool fleece: ¼ oz for small toy, ½ oz for large toy
Small bells – 1 per ball
Plastic twist ties
White glue
Nylon stocking (legs only) or knee-hi’s
Wire cutters or similar cutting device
Washing Machine

 

Directions

1. Make 2 cuts to the plastic on either side of one hole with the wire cutters so that it creates an opening to push the bell through. Gently push the bell in through these cuts in the plastic so that it is now inside the ball.

2. Apply a thin layer of white glue to all outside surfaces of the ball. You might want to set this on a piece of plastic or wax paper. Work fast enough so that the glue does not dry before you apply the wool.

3. Add the wool to the outside of the ball in a random pattern making sure to cover it completely and uniformly. (Set some of the wool aside to add later if you have thin or bald spots after the first felting.) Wrap pieces of yarn around the wool if you choose.

4. Clasp the covered ball in your hand and slide it into your nylon stocking leg or knee-hi. If you don’t protect it from the friction inside the stocking, the wool and everything else will be pulled off of the ball and you will have to start over.  Plus now it’s a sticky, gloppy mess – no fun!

5. Twist the stocking and add the plastic twist tie to close the opening (just like a bread bag Using a plastic twist tie is critical because a paper based tie will disintegrate in the washing machine! Put the ‘stocking ball’ into your laundry and wash with a load of clothes on warm or hot water with a cold rinse.

6. When the laundry is done, carefully take your ball out of the stocking (the stocking can be re-used many, many times before it will fall apart). Some parts of the wool may slightly felt to a new stocking but this lessens the more you make.

7. Check the ball for thin or bald spots. If you find that you have any, let the ball dry thoroughly and repeat adding more glue and wool to the affected area. Then put it back into the stocking and launder again with your next load of laundry.  You may want to felt it a second time anyway to give the felt more durability.  When your kitty has sufficiently loosened the felt construction, you can just repeat the process and it’s good as new

 

If you would like to try these fun cat toys and need the supplies, kits are available at www.sevenyaks.etsy.com

Felted Cat Toy Kits Coming Soon

Hi,

I’m just starting this blog and it is very much a beginning work in progress. My web guru said I had to put something here to get started and to check out my new header.

I thought I would start out by writting a blog about the various projects I’m getting ready for a fiber show in May.

Hopefully, readers will get some good tips on doing their own projects.

My first blog project is going to be showing an easy way to make some felted cat toys.

I’m also adding products to my site on Etsy.

You are welcome to visit my store by clicking the Etsy link to the right. Or Here.

I’m going to be taking the pictures for the cat toys in the next couple days, so check back!