More Nuno :)

I purchased a heap of white cotton yarn that was on sale recently to stash away for dye experimenting but ...
After seeing a pattern for a cute little girls dress in a vintage magazine I couldn't resist adapting the pattern to a ladies top.
I crocheted the front and then nuno felted the bodice. This was then eco-printed with eucalypt leaves. I will make the back from previously printed hemp/silk fabric and sew back and front together.
Here's a taste of how it's going...

The Possumbilities of Nuno Felting

Some mates of mine gave me a marvellous book about nuno felting as gift the other day. I was so excited we all went straight to the studio for a wee bit of a play.... :)
I quickly showed them how to make a simple piece of felt and while they were busy I gave the nuno felting a whirl.
Nuno felting is a form of felting that uses a thin porous fabric as a support. This enables the felt to be thin and have a lovely drape without compromising on strength of the garment. I used a scrap of silk georgette I had previously shibori dyed with puffball mushrooms and some fine merino roving.

Seapot Tea Cosy

To continue the theme of 'Finishing off the Year' I have FINALLY completed the Seapot! It has been lingering unloved on the dresser for months and months just waiting for me to sew in the tail ends and stitch a few buttons on to finish it off. Well.... Ta da.... :)

A Few Minor Repairs

Still plowing my way through the unfinished projects and minor repairs on my sewing chair.
I don't like tshirts with tight necklines so I usually cut then off and either stitch or crochet around the raw edges. This time I tried a different method. I dry felted or needle felted some merino roving around the raw edges with what I think is a very nice result :)

Mumma's Gift cont...

Way back at the end of October I started to make a journal cover for a talented poet. At last I've finished it.

Finishing off the Year

Having a bit of a quiet Christmas this year as most of the family are away working. I'm using the time to complete projects I've started throughout the year and put down to start something more exciting. I can have a propensity to get bored quickly and move on which makes my sewing chair drown in unfinished projects. Anyway I'm plodding on through the archeological dig to clear the chair. Few pics of finished items below.
Rag rug from old sheets.
Embroidery on top dyed with avocado pits.
Cot quilt for baby grandson made from dye experiment scraps.
Will post more as I finish them :)

The Sloppy Possum

When I was in Tasmania this year I did lots of dye experiments using local plants and whatever I had laying about in the pantry on skeins of merino wool.
Well I've finally done something with them.
I really needed a sweater that was loose and comfy but with 3/4 length sleeves so they don't get in the way when I'm working. After hunting through my knitting and crochet patterns I just couldn't find what I needed. Sooooo the 'Sloppy Possum was created. No rhyme or reason to the colour scheme just using up sample scraps. List of dyes below.
Soursob (with and without iron nail mordant)
Kangaroo paw rhizome
Driftwood log pulp
Cocoa
Coffee (instant and used grounds)
Raspberry cordial
Blackberry cordial
Natural wool