When it comes to wool appliqué, the McCall's Quilting and Quiltmaker teams are experts, and they're here to share their words of wisdom!
Life can take you in so many crazy directions. I never in a million years thought I would be a wool appliqué designer let alone an author. This journey started over 2 years ago when I had designed enough projects to submit to C & T. Working at home since selling my reproduction cotton and wool shop,The Woolen Needle, was one thing but writing was another. Just because you love the design process, color planning and wool doesnʼt mean you love the daunting task of pattern writing. Although not my favorite, I have learned a lot about pattern writing and what is helpful to the reader.I never know what will inspire me or when it will happen. Counting the Days Advent Calendar, which I had been stumped on how to put together, came about one day while I was recovering from the flu. I love everything old and worn, some of my inspiration has come from those beloved pieces. While not copying them exactly, I often times use them as a jumping off point. It can sometimes take me in really fun directions.I have been designing, decorating and crafting since I was a child. My Barbie house and bedroom were constantly being redecorated and rearranged. Luckily, there was a Ben Franklin dime store within blocks of my home, needless to say I was there often perusing the craft isle. Once we began having children, I was blessed with the ability to stay home and raise our four sons. Busy with school, church and sports activities, I was lucky to carve out time here and there to work on reproduction samplers, rug hooking and decorating our home for the holidays.Once the boys got older and needed me less I got the creative itch and opened The Woolen Needle in 2006 with a group of girlfriends. While there, I designed over 30 patterns and dyed the wool and yarn for the shop. The boys once again needed me more and their activities required more travel so I sold the shop to my co-workers in 2011. Since selling the shop, I have missed the sense of community you get with teaching and working with others.Writing Wool Appliqué Heirlooms was important because I want to not only pass down my pieces but I wanted to inspire others to make their own. We spend so much time on the projects we make with the hope that someone will appreciate them. The projects within the book revolve around times spent together and those that make them special. My hope is that you enjoy every project or at least let them inspire you to treasure your own. Order Wool Appliqué Heirlooms here! Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Well…some think the end to summer is Labor Day weekend…I disagree…there still are plenty of nice/warm days left…I know some of you are in a much warmer climate…but you…
I have been delaying this post because we have new website…and we are working through some issues and we appreciate all of you who are encountering them and working with us through them……
The wool trend just won't quit, and no one knows her wool quite like Rebekah L. Smith, author of Wool Appliqué Folk Art. Today we're sharing her expert tips on how to find and process repurposed wool to use for appliqué and other wool projects. Plus, we're offering a giveaway of Wool Appliqué Folk Art! Scroll to the bottom to enter. Finding Wool In my wool work I use mostly repurposed wool. I obtain it by going to flea markets, thrift stores, auctions, and yard sales and searching for wool that is really no longer wanted in its current condition but can be processed into something useful. I look for wools that are medium weight, which can be dyed or felted to use in appliqué. These are usually in the form of blankets, skirts, jackets, or even old yardage. Keep an eye out for wools that are plain or only slightly patterned. They are the best to use in appliqué. The other thing to watch for is the color. The lighter the color, the better it is for dyeing or overdyeing. When buying wool, avoid wool that is too heavy or too light in weight and wool that is loosely woven, because it will fray. The other option is to buy wool that is already processed from a wool shop or an individual who sells hand-dyed wools. A growing number of sources are available for those of you who would like to start with wool that is ready to go. I recommend Crows on the Ledge and Heavens to Betsy Wool. Processing Wool When I use the term processing, I am referring to the necessary steps to go from woven wool to felted wool that is ready to use. This usually includes felting and dyeing. I would like to say that I start with a sheep and finish with beautiful woven wool, but that is not the case. Felting Felting is the process of getting the wool to be the right texture for an appliqué project. Some wools felt better than others. The wool fibers must bind together. This keeps the edges from fraying and makes the wool very soft and strong. To felt your wool, follow these three simple steps. 1. You need a large cooking pot that you will not use for cooking ever again. I recommend this because the commercial dyes are often acid-based. Put in the wool you want to felt and add water to the pot, covering the wool with at least an inch of water. 2. Bring the water to a boil and let the wool simmer for about 20 minutes. All wool is different, and you will have to see how the differing weaves react when boiled. Let the water cool before removing the wool. 3. Let the wool drip dry. I drape the wool over a clothesline outside in good weather or hang it over my large wash sink in the winter. This is how I do it, but there are no hard-and-fast rules about felting. You can also throw the wool in the washer and dryer. Both the agitation and heat will felt the woven wool. Dyeing I am not a dyeing expert, but I enjoy the process. When I dye wool, I often use natural dyes. If you want to try your hand using commercial dyes, please read and carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. I recommend Primary Fusion Spots with Wool Samples: A Guide to Dyeing Spots & Backgrounds Using Only Three Primaries & Black Pro Chemical Dyes by Ingrid Hieronimus and Antique Colors for Primitive Rugs by Emma Lou Lais and Barbara Carroll (2001, W. Cushing and Company). Natural dyeing techniques can be a lot of fun as well. My family appreciates that I do this type of dyeing outdoors because of the smell. I have a three-gallon brass kettle that I use for natural dyes as well as felting, and it works wonderfully. I just play around with whatever I can find in my yard or my friends’ yards and see what I come up with. I’ve used black walnuts, goldenrod, and onionskins. It can be very satisfying to know that you have had more of a hand in your project. Dyeing is certainly not for everyone. I never dreamed that I would take it up, but, well, here we are.Oh, and you can enter the giveaway we mentioned HERE. Happy wool working!Follow my blog with Bloglovin
This is the third and final post about the Iranian illustration for my new children’s book. To see the previous posts in the series, click the links for Part 1 and Part 2. The scene will…