How to Make Things From Felted Wool

Making things from felted wool is a great way to recycle old wool sweaters and other wool clothing that has been outgrown or damaged beyond repair. Visit local yard sales and second-hand stores for a wide variety of colorful wool items. By simply washing wool fabric in hot water and drying in a hot dryer, the wool is felted and becomes a sturdy fabric that does not unravel or fray, allowing for simple construction and easy applique. Large or small projects can be crafted into beautiful holiday decorations, home decor and personal accessories.

Things You'll Need

• Wool felted clothing
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• Sewing machine
• Jumbo rick rack, 2 yards
• Cookie cutter shape
• Butcher paper, small amount
• Marking pen
• Iron
• Stuffing
• Cording, 7 inches
• Tailor's chalk

Instructions

Wool Felt Winter Scarf

1. Cut the seams from the felted clothing and lay flat. Measure and cut 14 pieces of coordinating felt 6 1/2 inches square.

2. Place two felted squares together and pin one edge. Sew the edge together using a 1/4-inch seam allowance. Open the sewn squares. Match another square on one end and pin the edge. Sew the square as before and repeat with each additional square. This creates the length of your winter wool scarf.

3. Cut two lengths of jumbo rick rack 6 1/2 inches long. Lay the scarf on your work surface with the raw seams face down. Measure in from one short end 3 inches. Lay a rick rack piece across the width and pin. Topstitch down the center of the rick rack to attach. Repeat for the other end.

4. Cut 1/4-inch-wide fringe on the short ends, from the ends to the rick rack.

Felt Cookie Cutter Ornaments

1. Choose a cookie cutter in the desired shape for a wool felt ornament. Lay butcher paper on your work table with the paper side up. Place the cookie cutter on the paper and trace around it with a marking pen. Do not cut out the shape.

2. Position the traced butcher paper, wax side down, on a piece of wool felt. Leave a 1/2 inch of space from the edge of the felt. Iron the butcher paper to the felt. Place the ironed fabric on another piece of felt with the butcher paper on top. Pin the layers together.

3. Sew around the traced shape, through the paper, leaving an inch opening at the top of the shape. Cut the shape out and peel away the paper. Stuff the ornament through the opening.

4. Cut a 7-inch length of cording for the ornament hanger. Fold the cording in half and insert the ends a 1/2 inch into the opening. Finish sewing around the shape, closing the opening and attaching the hanger.

Crafter's Felt Apron

1. Cut a 9-by-15-inch felt rectangle for the apron skirt and a 6-by-15-inch rectangle for the apron pocket.

2. Lay the apron skirt on your work table. Place the apron pocket on top of the skirt, matching one long side and the two short ends. Pin the pieces together. Topstitch the pocket to the skirt 1/4 inch from the edge.

3. Measure in from each short edge 5 inches and mark a line from the top of the pocket to the bottom of the pocket using tailor's chalk. You will have two lines. Topstitch on the two chalked lines creating three pockets.

4. Cut a 58-inch length of jumbo rick rack. Center the middle of the rick rack length on the front top edge of the apron. Pin the rick rack to the apron. Topstitch the rick rack waistband onto the apron. The extended ends of the rick rack are the ties of the apron.