Wednesday 21 January 2015

Breaking needles

I have done a little needle felting in my time, never anything 3d (must give that a go) and not much.  Back in November I had an urge to needle felt, so got out my supplies of wool roving, my needle tool and my foam pad.  The needle tool holds 3 felting needles which differ to sewing needles in that you can't thread them and they have little barbs on them which grab hold of the wool and make it felt (magically, I don't understand the science behind it).  Those needles are sharp.


Abd fragile.  


Unfortunately they were the only needles I had and I'd managed to break all three in one foul swoop.  (Is that the right expression?  Is it foul swoop or fell swoop or something else entirely?)  I had to put the needle felting to one side whilst I waited for some more to come in the post.


When they did, I felted this vase of flowers and made it into a card for my mum's birthday.  The flower centres are little jewels that I glued on afterwards.

I didn't design this card, I took it from Beginner's Guide to Needle Felting by Susanna Wallis, and I really enjoyed it.  I'm not quite sure why the roving and needles got put away after that as I had planned on making more.

The reason I'm showing you this now, rather than the beginning of November when I made it, is that I forgot to take a photo and only just got one from my mum.

12 comments:

Una said...

I think it is "fell swoop", but I like your version better!

Joy McD said...

Very pretty... I've never done any myself, but DD has made some little animals... xxx

Christine said...

One fell swoop, I think it's Shakespeare. Those needles are vicious little devils aren't they? The card is really pretty

Gilly Tee said...

If you do try something 3D then wear a something to protect your fingers because those needles hurt like mad if you stab yourself with them, which you will believe me.
Gillx

Ellie Foster said...

Dear Wendy
I have only tried needle felting once and made an owl and a long eared rabbit (although its face looked a bit like a donkey - maybe it was the size of the ears...). I managed to stab myself lots of times with the needles and they really hurt! The tutor said that you needed to make sure you put the needle in straight/vertically, not at an angle, as that's when the needles would break. However, I am going to have to get to grips with it because I want to make some felted flowers and all the details are needle felted on. I look forward to seeing what you make next.
Best wishes
Ellie

gilly said...

Oh so annoying when one breaks a needle (of any sort!), and those felting needles are so barbed that I've also pricked my fingers so many times. Your card is lovely, well done. Hope you get to make lots more, and you should try the "3D" stuff too - it's fun!
xx

Rachel said...

It's a "fell swoop", which I think means "dreadful" as in the Fell Beasts that the Ringwraiths ride), but given the ill-luck of breaking three needles at once, "foul swoop" works just as well!

Sandra :) said...

I'm sure the vase and flowers made a pretty card :) I broke a needle today too, but it was a regular old sewing machine needle so it was replaced in about 6 seconds, and sewing continued :D

Heather said...

thanks for sharing this. Needle felting is something I have been wanting to try.

Jane said...

I've never managed to break a needle, I usually stab myself though, lol. It's made a pretty card, never thought of using it that way before

EHP said...

'Foul swoop' seems to work better for your situation, though reading the comments it is 'fell' ...

Sarah in Stitches said...

Needle felting! You brave lady. I've broken so many needles, and I still don't know how. The flower vase looks lovely! :D