Tuesday 24 September 2013

What can you make with wool?


Today I am taking part in the 'Crazy about wool' blog hop organised by Denise from Pieced Brain I love wool  and so I thought it would be fun to take part. I asked Moses if he wished to appear and before I could say baaaa he was posing for his photo.



Moses is a cute soft cuddly sheep made from fleece fabric and sheep's wool. As you can tell he has been very well loved. His fleece is meant to look like the corkscrew fleece of the Wensleydale sheep.


The fleece of most modern sheep is white which makes it easier to dye it any colour that is wanted either for knitting yarn or to be woven into fabric.


Who can resist the adorable wooly lambs in spring. Of course wool doesn't just come from sheep. The definition of wool is; 

'the fine, soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep, goat, or similar animal, especially when shorn and prepared for use in making cloth or yarn'

So we get mohair from the hair of the Angora goat and also use the hair from Llamas. Llama fibre is usually mixed with sheep wool to make it easier to handle.

So what have I been making with wool for this hop. Although I love quilting , I also enjoy knitting and dressmaking. I decided I wanted to make a skirt for this hop. In my stash of fabric I have quite a few pieces of wool fabric. I choose a soft fine wool fabric with a check on it for my skirt. When planning the cutting I had to ensure that the checks matched up. Here is a view of the front seam. I am very pleased with how well I matched this seam.


I love the blue, gold and red of the check. I usually hate having my photo taken but I can't make a skirt and not show you what it looks like on. 



The skirt is extremely comfortable sitting just below the waist. I have plans to make a jacket out of this pinky red fabric, again another light weight wool. The colour perfectly matches the red in the check of the skirt (even though it doesn't look like it in the photo.)



This is my goal for next weekend.

As well as sewing I also knit. Not all yarns for knitting are made of wool but I prefer to knit with 100% wool or a blend of wool and other fibres. Recent knitting projects have included  several baby blankets for Project Linus


Although I use different patterns for these blankets I like the basket weave pattern as it is easy to knit and so leaves me free to talk to family and friends or to watch television.


A little cuddle toy for a baby,


A special baby blanket for a friend's baby and Lucy my daughter knitted her boy friend a cuddly elephant.


One of my favourite wooly knitting projects and one I still use is my Christmas cardigan. I knitted this years ago when my children were young and my youngest daughter is now 22. Scamp insisted on trying to get into the corner of the photo. If I've been sewing he always seems to have bits of thread on his paws.


Last week on the Pin it blog hop I made a felt pin cushion mouse. Felt is a great wool fabric to use in projects as it doesn't fray.



I hope you have enjoyed seeing my various wool projects. Now you need to go and visit the rest of today's participants.

Tuesday, September 24


I hope you'll come back and visit soon. I'm going to get my machine out and finish my latest quilt top once I've taken Picasso to the vet for his yearly check up and immunisation. 


I have a give away of charm squares I cut from the left over wool fabric I used to make my skirt. It is open until 27th October 2013. If you would like a chance to win click here

Lyndsey

38 comments:

  1. You have been busy. I have lately picked up the needles again and am also enjoying knitting. I am afraid my quilting is languishing.

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  2. Lots of lovely things,the skirt looks great and I love that pink for your jacket.
    I started an Arran cardie for hubby last year,sadly only got half way up the back,if
    I took it out now I could have it made my Christmas ,mmmm it's a thought.lol xx

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  3. Lyndsey , your skirt looks wonderful , well matched and a perfect fit . You are obviously a talented knitter as well , thanks for sharing all of your great projects with us today :-)

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  4. You and your skirt look wonderful! Thanks for sharing such a wide array of wool projects with us.

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  5. Wow Lyndesy...some great work there. Love your skirt!!! The sheep and lambs are so adorable.

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  6. Very nice pictures Lyndsey. You could almost start knitting right off those sheep. Very nice projects.

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  7. Nice projects! And the picture of you just reminded me of my time spent in London :-) I used to live close to Colliers Wood.

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  8. Your work is beautiful. I love the baby blanket for your friend. Thanks also for sharing all of your other wool projects.

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  9. Hello Lyndsey. Your creations you have made are all very pretty.. Love the sheep photos and the baby sheep always brings a smile. They are too cute. Hugs Judy

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  10. Lyndsey - Wow! What a terrific display of the ways you use your wool! Darling skirt - I'm so proud you matched your plaids - I'm a matchy kinda gal too - love that joyful feeling when everything lines up!
    Lovely baby throws, and so many! (a dozen or so?) But that special baby blanket is superb. I have an afghan from my mother that looks similar to that one, and is very special to me. She knitted each square with a different pattern, and considering that she was developing arthritis in her hands during the years she made it, makes it even more of a treasure to remember her by.
    Your daughter's little elephant is darling - she did well! Thank you for sharing these!

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  11. love the projects, especially the baby blankets, I just wish that I could see all of your projects, but for some reason not all the photos came up.

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  12. Wow - a great collection of wonderful wool projects! I especially love that special baby blanket :*) Your pin cushion looks like a fun project too!

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  13. That is a great skirt. Wish i could sew clothes. Very lovely and great fabric. Thanks for sharing all your creativeness, these are lovely goodies.

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  14. Great job....Never tried to sew clothes..yet!

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  15. Lyndsey the skirt is just perfect! Tell Moses thanks for joining us - he is sweet! Love all the other wooly projects too... Thanks for sharing!

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  16. SO many wonderful Wool projects, amazing, and the skirt, what seam? Are you sure you are showing us a seam?

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  17. Your Christmas sweater is just beautiful--the little mouse is cute too!

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  18. Lyndsey, the skirt is gorgeous! And you are a beautiful knitter! I have yet to knit a blanket... but now I am inspired!

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  19. Lyndsey your projects are wonderful!!! I think Moses is just darling! Wow those sheep with the long corkscrew wool looks like my hair when it's humid and rainy, ha, ha!!! Lovely knitting too.

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  20. I'm just exhausted looking at all your projects, thanks for sharing.

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  21. I'm just exhausted looking at all your projects, thanks for sharing.

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  22. Your knitting is so beautiful! I hope I can do as well someday...of course, I'll have to learn how to knit first!

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  23. Wow! Your projects made with wool are lovely. Your skirt is perfect. The Linus blankets are precious. As are the toys and of course the elephant is fabulous. Thank you for sharing in this wonderful hop. Creative Bliss...

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  24. so many great wooly projects. your knitted blankets are wonderful

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  25. Wow, you made so many beautiful things. I love that the skirt matched so well too.

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  26. Your baby blanket and the fun, cute toys are amazing. Karin E.

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  27. I'm amazed at all the creative projects you made with wool...love them!

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  28. I'm glad to see someone using as many versions of wool as I do, it is such a versatile fibre!

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  29. I really like the wool in your skirt and the seams are terific! Great job. Love the basketweave baby blankets. I really need to learn more knitting and crochet. Thank you for sharing.
    xo jan@sewandsowfarm

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  30. I love knitting with wool although I inevitably find myself knitting with synthetics (for charity) much of the time! I haven't sewn with wool since I made myself a blouse pre-1983! Love all your projects; the jacket will be a lovely match for your skirt.

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  31. Wow! You have an excellent range of talents! I wish I could knit like you! Your handmade items are beautiful! And I agree, photographing red is not easy, it always turns out hot pink! I had the same problem with a recent project I posted on Instagram! Your skirt looks great on you!

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  32. Wow. your skirt and knitting is sew lovely! The little mouse is very cute. Thanks for sharing so many wonderful projects.

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  33. Thank you not only for sharing your talent but your wealth of knowlege as to where wool comes from. I knew about the sheep and llama, but I didn't know about the blending of the two. Wool yarn is very expensive here in the U.S. All my experience with yarn has been with synthetics. Like you, I love sewing with wool and wool blends in sewing clothing.

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  34. Lots of wooly info. Very interesting. Your skirt looks fabulous and I just love your cardigan. I love to knit too but only small things. I have a habit of never quite finishing the big things. I loved looking at all your gorgeous blankets. Thanks for sharing.
    valspierssews@gmail.com

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  35. Oh wow! I loooooooooove all your designs and I really want to have some of those long haired fuzzy sheep as pets! hee,hee,hee. It's so great to meet you. Hugs! :)

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  36. WOW, I am totally in awe of your talent---

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  37. Loved seeing all your lovely projects!

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