I'll give you the knitty gritty on getting a 
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So, I think I mentioned that I am making all of my gifts this year. I am taking liberty to do everything from "recycled" things. I found this awesome sweater at the Goodwill in Lansing. It called to me. It was worth the $3.60---because it was 100% wool! Yippee!
In order for something to "felt" well, it has to be wool. If you are new to felting, get out to the Goodwill and look for some wool. Except if you live in Rockford, then I will have bought up all the good stuff! (Tomorrow is $1.00 day, and I'm all over it). Felting is the process of those little fibers meshing together during the agitation process (usually in the washing machine). The next time you "ruin" a sweater by washing it in the machine, think about making something with it!
When I saw this sweater, it just said, "slippers". Does clothing talk to you also? Sometimes it says "hat" or "mittens", but this time it just quietly said... slippers for you and Emily.. matching Mom and daughter slippers! The pattern is from Betz White's Sewing Green. This is mine. I lined them in pink fleece--soft and cozy.
Because I was short on fabric, I chose some leather scraps for the bottom. What? You don't have leather scraps just lying around?
Dig those leggings. I lifted up my skirt and revealed my black leggings..
So, how did Emily's turn out? Just fine.
So, when I got the rough techniques down, I made another pair for a gift for someone. This time, I left the sides open. It makes for ease in putting on.. 
The dear daughter was sent to the fabric store with a scrap of fabric to buy fleece for the lining. I think she did a pretty good job matching!
Of course I had to make a little hat with the leftovers...
For more tackles, visit: 5 minutes for Mom
13 comments:
These look very professional!
Oh I LOVE IT!!! We cloth diaper so I love wool and I have been really wanting to try to make some recycled longies and I think you just motivated me to try it :)
I have no idea what is wrong with my comment section I had someone else say the same thing to me the other day. I am going to have to check my settings.
I know people come from all over for the Air Force Academy I just get excited when I think there is people from Colorado LOL If you don't mind me asking how did you go about doing ROTC with homeschooling? I would love to get our oldest DS into it when he gets a little older :)
these are fantastic!!! I love them all! you have such a talent!
Love Collette xxx
You did a beautiful job on your felting projects! I have not tried felting yet, but it definitely intrigues me. I'm looking forward to seeing your other projects.
I enjoyed your post about quiet time too. It is a special and important way to begin each day, isn't it?
Blessings!
Deborah
I love these! I've never had much luck finding 100% wool sweaters at Goodwill here. Do you think it's maybe because we don't really have winter here in Georgia? ;) I wish our Goodwill had $1 days!
I LOVE those striped ones. You even made the stripes line up -- something I am too detail-challenged to make happen. Did you use a pattern or did you trace a foot and make it happen?
I have a favorite wool sweater that accidentally got shrunk last winter that I may have to experiment with!
I love the slippers! I have never tried felting but it seems very much worth the effort of looking for at thrift stores. You have done a great job on these projects.
You are so talented! I have sent my mother to your site...she spends so much money on materials and I wanted her to see what she could do with all the stuff she already has. Thanks for the inspiration.
These are really cute! You did such a good job. This is something i won't be doing, however, as i'm very allergic to wool, & have problems with cashmere & other yarns like them. I have to stick to cotton or soy or bamboo or synthetic. But i love reading about your projects.
Love love love those slippers!
So do tell... what is the purpose of the round "dots" of felt on the soles? So you can run and slide on the floors?!
Fun fun fun!
Julie
Roxanna, If Jamie gets in, I'll write a whole post on it. He has not done ROTC during high school. He would like to do ROTC during college if he does not go to the academy. We're just happy he's made it thus far.
As far as homeschooling goes, they rely heavily on the SAT scores, since they don't trust the "transcript" LOL. Whatever.
Colette and Deborah: Thanks so much. If you knew how easy these were! I like projects with great "wow" appeal that are actually easy.
Heather: no wool in the south,eh? That makes sense.
Jenny: the pattern is in the book Sewing Green. There is a LINK in the post. As far as getting the stripes to match, you actually have to plan for it. If you lay the pattern on a striped section and cut it out. Then, the reverse of the pattern can be traced by flipping the piece around and lined up. (That was probably poor instruction) Maybe I should post a tutorial?
Mrs. Santos: It has just occurred to me in the past year that I could do this. Betz White has opened a whole new "fabric world" to me. It's very cost effective to sew when you recycle things! I think reading Betz book, it has taken away the "ick factor" of using recycled things.
Kathryn, I have had some success with recycling cotton sweaters, but the fibers do not "felt" so you have to act quickly to serge the ends, so things don't ravel. Do you own a serger?
Oh Julie--the best for last--now the entire computer was shaking--I was laughing so hard. Yes, part of the pattern has those cute little round thingys on them. But my FIRST thought was: so I can slide around the kitchen in them! In real life, the leather or suede should be on the dots. Oh well!
You are totally amazing. Those slippers are going on my list of things to learn on my fantasy "visit O.M. and hope some of her coolness rubs off" trip.
Mrs. Parunak: That's right! THE ONLY WAY to achieve this level of "coolness" is to totally come here. It's just not available any other way! LOL
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