My love affair with wool ...

 

Most people who know me know that I love working with wool! This isn't a new thing in my life ... as a teenager I competed in the Make It Yourself With Wool contest regularly ... and I even raised sheep for 4-H ... even though we had no other animals at our home. My store is known as a source for hand dyed wool and unique kits. For five years, we had a club called the Muddy Sheep Wool Club! It was packed with quilters who loved wool, too. For my part in the Minnesota Quilt Designers blog hop, I thought I'd show you how easy ... and fun ... it is to work with wool.

 

Many people associate wool applique with traditional penny rugs. Circles ... often the size of coins ... are stacked and stitched and then sewn to a background or along an edge of a mat. Initially made to keep the floor warm in colonial homes, as Americans became more successful, they began to take on a more decorative look as they were embellished with flowers, leaves, and animals.

 

The supplies needed to begin wool applique are things that most quilters already have in their sewing kit ... a pair of small, sharp scissors, applique and fork pins, water based glue, needles ... especially #9 embroidery, #22 tapestry and straw (for stringing beads) ... and floss. Some people like to use perle cotton but I like floss because of the huge range of colors available and the texture of the thread. Freezer paper is needed too ... does anyone really use it to wrap food  anymore?

 

I like the feeling of hand dyed wool for my projects. I'm really lucky to have a great group of dyers in my area ... all of the wool I use is from women owned businesses in the Midwest.

Our wool is felted in the dying process but if you come across a beautiful piece  and want to use it in a project, it's really easy to felt on your own. Toss it in the washer with the hottest water you have ... add a tablespoon of detergent and a little softener if you wish ... let it agitate and spin out ... then throw it in a hot dryer. It's that simple! I stand by the dryer for a little bit and check the lint trap. Safety precaution.

 

Make freezer paper templates to cut your shapes. Trace the design on to the paper side of freezer paper then press the waxy side to the wool. Cut out the shape on the line and remove the paper. The templates can be reused several times.

 

  

Applique pins and fork pins (Clover) are great ways to hold the shapes in place because they don't catch on your threads as you stitch. A stapler will hold larger pieces together, too. But my all time favorite is Roxanne's Glue Baste ... I have it stashed in all my cubbies!

 

I prefer one strand of floss and a whip stitch to hold down most of my pieces.

 

A blanket or buttonhole stitch gives a more decorative edge ... this is a loop stitch and the one thing you need to remember is that the needle needs to cross the thread to complete the stitch.

I  use the backstitch and running stitch, too. If I run them down the center of a leaf I'll tug the threads a bit to make the shape gather up a little ... gives it a 3D look. There are no rules to what kind of stitch to use ... play around and have fun!

 

 

French knots are perfect for holding berries in place ... cross stitches add texture. Because the pieces I design are mostly decorative, I leave a lot of loose edges for dimension. (This basket is the November page in the 2010 American Patchwork and Quilting calendar!)

 

There's no rule that says wool must only be used with wool. Piece a background and embellish it with wool shapes. It's washable by hand ... great for table coverings and purses and even full sized quilts. Did you know you can piece with it too? For our wool club one year we made a pieced and appliqued quilt ... its amazing what traditional blocks look like when they're pieced with wool instead of cottons!

Any applique pattern can be adapted ... you probably have some in your pattern stash that would be perfect.  Put them to a new use! If you want to try your hand at wool applique, check out some of my designs on the American Patchwork and Quilting web site. We also have precut kits you can order on our Rosebud's Cottage  site.

Ok ... so you know the rules ... there are prizes during the blog hop! Today, I'll pick two winners from those who comment on my blog. It's strawberry season in Minnesota ... the prize is our very popular strawberry needle keeper! We've been keeping busy making more kits so if you aren't lucky enough to win one, we'll have some for you to order.

Thanks for taking part in the blog hop ... we're so lucky in Minnesota to have over 30 of the best designers in the industry living practically in our backyards! I hope you get the opportunity to experience all they have to offer.

Roseann

 

  

Comments

[Lisa Franklin]

Wonderful wool tuturial.

I've been very shying away from working with wool, but after seeing your info, I just might take the leap!

Thanks!

Lisa in Louisiana

[YTS Mom]

Thanks for all the tips. I have been wanting to work with wool. I should buy a kit, and get started.

[Crystal Day]

Thanks for the tutorial on wool.

[Barbara York]

I have never worked with wool but really like how it looks. I am hoping I win but not so sure with all the comments. Thanks for your tutorial.

Barbara

[Donna Gober]

I recently began picking up wool garments at thrift/yard sales and this Blog Hop entry will help me generate ideas. Thank you.

[Edna]

This is something I have the desire to try my hand at as well.. although, heaven knows I really don't need more projects! ;) Thanks for all your work!

[Stacey]

very cute!!

[Lydia]

Thanks for all the info about wool. I'm working really hard to resist getting into it, since I really don't need one more thing to stash! I already have quilting fabric, a bit of garment fabric, yarn, thread for embroidery and quilting. I don't need to start collecting wool as well!

[carol]

still yearning , ok (drooling) after your luchious stash..and so beautifully photographed also; thanks again for being in the Blod hop!

[Liz B]

Thanks for the great info about working with wool. I recently inherited a small pile of wool fabrics from my great aunt, and now I have an idea of what I can do with it!

[Glenda]

Love, love, love this!
glenda

[Ann Schucker]

I love wool applique - it's the one thing I can still do WITHOUT my magnifier!

[Mary Anne]

I love your handwork!

[Cheryl]

Thank you for the great tutorial!

[Lynda L]

What a fun blog hop!!

[rustybird]

Such pretty flowers in your applique. I'm adding wool to my shopping list!

[Carol Kietzman]

This was a great lesson in wool. Thank you! I think I saw varigated thread in one picture. I loved the effect!!

[Arlene]

Such creative ideas for using wool - especially like the idea of embleshing a pieced project.

[Ann Barlament]

I will have to try this again. I used wool when making a Moose Wall hanging & another for falling leaves.

Thanks for your wonderful examples! Can't wait to stretch my brain & try something new!!

~Ann B

[Jean Kehler]

I have never worked with wool except to sew a garment, but after reading your ideas I will definitely try it. Thanks for the great blog hop and please enter me in your draw.

[Yvonne]

Thanks for the wool project lesson. I haven't tried using wool yet but love what I have seen so may have to try it soon.

[Rebecca]

You make it look so easy!!

[Vivian Hultgren]

You have some beautiful ideas for wool, I am now making my list for your website. Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks, Vivian

[Mary Short]

Fun with wool. I like to make little things with all the wonderful wool fabrics.

[Beth Macdonald]

I just started hoping today but I'm loving the whole thing .
Thanks:O)

[Lynda]

Thank you for sharing!

[Betsy Clark]

How fun! You must enjoy every day at the shop!

[Dawn DeMulling]

I just found out about this today. Boy, have I been missing out. I LOVE working with wool. Thanks so much!

[Narelle]

Thankyou for sharing, I'm a bit late on the hop but enjoying the catch-up.

[Ankie Karlsson]

I like your tutorial and try to find some wool fabric here in Sweden and try some application.

[Darly Dulion]

Hi Roseann ... Thank you for the tutorial on working with wool. Enjoyed reading what you like and how your techniques. The wool projects on your website are very cute.

[Sherri Osborn]

Wonderful post! Thanks so much.

[Pat F.]

Thanks for the great wool tips. I'm anxious to try a project using wool.

[Pam Peterson]

You make it sound so easy! Guess I just have to do more than one project to get it to be 'easy'! Thanks for your helpful information.

[Cindi D]

Thank you for the update on wool I have just started to play with some of it and look forward to adding more and more to my stash.

[Abby]

I've never made a project with wool but I love the way it looks. Thanks for the great tutorial.

[lorene holbrook]

I do so love wool and the strawberry is sooooo cute! thanks for the great tut on wool. very informative! thanks for putting my name in the hat!

Lorene

[Tara]

Thanks so much! I'm going thrifting for some wool today!

[Judy Running]

I love the feel of wool and how it works up. Thanks for the great ideas and sharing the great fun colors and patterns.
Jusy

[Robin]

OOOhhh! I must make some of those lovely wool flowers! Great tutorial! Thanks so much!!

[Mona Ragnhildrød]

Looks fun.

[Judy Heinen]

Thanks for the tutorial! I love working with wool!

[Penny]

I have never tried working with wool mainly because I haven't had much luck doing applique. Maybe one of these days. I love your work though. thanks for inviting me into your world.

[Liz Tarr]

so beautiful...but I doubt I'll be taking up a technique that requires hand work. I love my machine

[Carolyn Howland]

The wool project ideas are great, thank you. I love your strawberry.
Carolyn

[erika]

I haven't try to much wool work but I love how it looks. your blog is very cute and informative. thanks for sharing

[Kristina]

It started whith my love for sheeps, so for mee it is simple to use woll and its fun ;o))
I live a comment in my blog about your givaway.
Kristina in Arjeplog, Sweden

[Sølvi in Norway]

Love your wool appliques!. Great idea this blog hop. I will be back

[Bev Dixon]

I love this blog hop - what a great idea. I often see the hand dyed wool in quilt shops and wonder what to do with it ~ now I know!! I love your designs. I will definitely try this!!!
Thank you,
Bev D.

[leona]

Love your blog! Thanks for your great info.