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Fun Felt Crafts by Tina Skinner Book Review and Giveaway

August 11, 2009 by Linda Lanese

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Fun Felt Crafts by Tina Skinner is a fabulous book for those of us that love felting.  This book is published by Schiffer Books and they were kind enough to send me a copy to giveaway to one of you.  The pages are filled with clever ideas on how to recycle old or used woolens, as Tina points out in the history of wool crafts (Below).  Homemakers have been using left over or outdated wool clothing and recreating these into fashionable wearables for their families. I recall my mother telling the story about a coat and showing me pictures of this adorable coat that was made for her out of the wool lining of a worn out man’s overcoat.  The lining was a brown and cream plaid and the matching bonnet that matched the new coat.  There was a fur band around the bonnet and a fur muff was also created.  This book will show you just how to recycle wools and turn them into amazing and useful home décor items and wearables. Tina shows us the proper way to take apart an old wool blazer and skirt for use in fun new projects.  Felting and cutting up used wool sweaters will leave you with enough wool for many smaller projects. She shows you the basic stitches to use when hand sewing felted wool. There are patterns for making adorable pouches, bags and fabulous flowers she calls “flower Power” to decorate your hats, sweaters, jackets or stand alone brooches.  She has the cutest hats and sweater bags that will be one-of-a-kind by you the designer.  Tina has many templates in this book for patterns for your use.  The illustrations in this book are wonderful and clear and you will enjoy looking through the projects and creating your own from Tina’s basic ideas. This is a book that all felters will want to own.  

A History of Wool Craft by Tina Skinner:

Felt is one of the most popular craft mediums right now, but it’s hardly a flash-in-the-pan trend. Sheep are one of mankind’s oldest commodities, and their wonderful wool has been clothing and sheltering us throughout recorded history. Saving scraps of wool from sewing projects and salvaging what’s usable from used-up clothes is an age-old tradition. Women have been recycling wool into clever crafts since time immemorial, and the styles pioneered by America’s early homemakers are still much admired and imitated in Grafting circles today. Besides forming the basis for hooked and braided rugs, wool scraps are also the stars of the lesser-known penny rug. Penny rugs were probably never destined for work on the floor. Rather, they were used to protect the tops of precious cabinetry or furnishings while showing off the mistress’s skill with a needle.

To learn more about the designers and projects get this fun filled book.

Enter today or purchase it from Amazon or Schiffer Books. To enter (type enter me in the comment area)

 

 

 

 

 

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Have you read?

The Pancake Market Bag – Free Crochet Pattern

Looking for a lightweight, stylish, and oh-so-practical tote to take with you everywhere this season? The Pancake Crochet Market Bag might just become your go-to favorite. Whether you’re heading to the farmers market to grab some fresh produce, packing snacks and sunscreen for a relaxed summer stroll, or dashing out the door for a quick last-minute errand, this bag is ready to tag along.

It’s surprisingly roomy—big enough to carry all your essentials (and then some!)—yet it folds up small enough to tuck into your car or coat closet without fuss. The openwork stitch gives it a breathable, airy texture that’s super satisfying to crochet and even more delightful to carry. Plus, it’s endlessly reusable and eco-friendly, so you can ditch the plastic and feel great about your handiwork.

I stitched mine up using a warm mustard cotton I had on hand (a little stash buster win!), but honestly, this pattern would look beautiful in just about any color. Try a bold berry for a pop of personality, a classic cream for a minimalist vibe, or even stripes if you’re feeling playful. Once you’ve made one… fair warning: you’ll probably want to make more!

Let’s dive into the pattern!

 What You’ll Need:

  • Worsted weight cotton yarn, about 250 yards 
  • Hook: 5.0 mm (or whatever suits your tension) 
  • Yarn needle 
  • Scissors 
  • Stitch markers (optional but helpful!) 

 Finished Measurements:

  • Approximately 15” wide x 13” tall (not including handles) 

 Stitch Abbreviations (US terms):

  • ch – chain 
  • sc – single crochet 
  • dc – double crochet 
  • sl st – slip stitch 
  • st(s) – stitch(es) 
  • sk – skip 
  • rep – repeat 

 Special Notes:

  • The base is worked in joined rounds. 
  • The body of the bag is stitched in the round, but you won’t be joining after each round—just keep going in a spiral and use a stitch marker to track the first stitch. 
  • The handles are created by chaining across stitches, then the final edge is reinforced. 

 Let’s Crochet the Base:

Round 1: Begin with a magic circle, ch 1. Work 8 sc into the ring. Pull it tight and join to the first sc with a sl st. (8 sts)
Round 2: Ch 1, make 2 sc in each st around. Join. (16 sts)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in first, 2 sc in next—repeat from * to * around. Join. (24 sts)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 2 sts, 2 sc in next—repeat around. Join. (32 sts)
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in next 3, 2 sc in next—repeat. Join. (40 sts)
Keep increasing in this manner, adding one more sc between increases each round until you reach 80 sts (about Round 9).

 Build the Bag Body:

Now switch to working in continuous rounds.

Rounds 10–13: sc in each st around. (80 sts)
Round 14: [dc in next, ch 1, sk 1]—repeat around. (approx. 80 sts depending on exact starting point)
Round 15: dc in ch-space, ch 1—repeat.
Rounds 16–25: Repeat Round 15.

Alternate a few more rounds of single crochet with rounds of [dc, ch 1] to build height and texture. Keep going until the bag measures about 12–13” tall from the center of the base.

 Add the Handles:

Next Round (handle setup):

  • sc in next 12 sts 
  • ch 30 (for handle), sk 15 sts 
  • sc in next 25 sts 
  • ch 30, sk 15 sts 
  • sc to end of round. 

Final Round: sc around, placing 1 sc in each sc and 1 sc in each ch across the handle chains. This gives the straps some strength and a nice finish.

Fasten off and weave in all ends. Give your bag a little stretch or light steam block if needed.

 Tips:

  • Cotton yarn gives the bag structure and durability. 
  • You can easily size up the bag by adding more rounds to the base before beginning the body. 
  • Try using multicolor yarn for a fun summer vibe.

 

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