Our first project for Autumn Jubilee begins today with a stitch along using wool felt. I thought you’d like to see how to use found wool fabrics, like in garments from the thrift store or yardage from a shop. Some time ago I got these lovely wool fabrics at a local shop with the intention of using them in applique. They have finished the aging process (you know, where things sit on a shelf for at least a year before being used!) and I was finally ready to prep them for a wool project for Autumn Jubilee. If you want to skip this step, scroll down for the pattern for the stitch along and the entry for the giveaway for today.
I cannot use them as they are because the fibers aren’t tightly woven and ravel like crazy. Just handling them for a photo resulted in this!
I did some research and settled on this method of felting the wool so it would no longer ravel, and be suitable for applique. I got out my big red pot that I designate for boiling things that aren’t food. It holds about 2 gallons of water, and to that I added 1/4-cup of vinegar to help set the colors.
Boiling the water, the fabrics were put in one at a time starting with the lightest one in case the colors ran. I used tongs to handle them, pushing the fabric into the boiling water.
Getting the fabric wet all over, the water settled for a moment.
It quickly came back to a full boil. I left each fabric in the boiling water for 5 minutes.
Using the tongs, each one was lifted from the water, and the excess allowed to drain back into the pot. I used a second set of tongs to wring out what I could, placing the fabric in a bowl to cool off while the next one was boiled.
Each one was boiled five minutes, ending with the darkest color. There was really very little color in the water which was a good thing. I’m not sure if the vinegar was responsible for keeping the colors stable, or if it is just the quality of the wool I purchased. Either way, they were all done in a half hour. I spread them out in the sink to cool off enough so I could handle them, and wring out most of the water.
Then they were thrown into the dryer with a towel. The dryer was set to the hottest temperature it has, and they were tumbled until thoroughly dry.
These strings were left on the edge, but pulling on them didn’t do anything. The wool was drawn up and fluffed to the point that no further raveling could occur.
Now look, the wool is more fluffy and thicker, perfect for applique. The colors are still good, and it seems that they will work nicely for the project I planned for Autumn Jubilee. I would use this same procedure to felt wool clothing items from the thrift store too. I would cut the garments apart first to discard the unusable parts, and only treat the pieces large enough for use.
Getting out my other wool colors, I decided on the oranges for the large pumpkin I’ve designed to be stitched onto a 9-inch square. We’ll embellish it and add some words in two weeks. Then we’ll mount it on a 12-inch wool base, and do the final finishing.
The second page of the pattern has the pieces individually, with some dotted lines indicating the overlap area, which goes behind the next piece. Work the pumpkin in order starting with the stem, adding piece A then B1, then B2, and so on. Pieces marked B1 and B2 are the same wool color, as are the two C pieces. This means you need five colors for your pumpkin to do it like mine. But feel free to duplicate colors however you like. You could use browns or whites if you like.
I cut out all the pattern pieces and arranged them on wools, going from lighter to darker A to E for the most part. Cut one stem and three leaves.
Then digging out the DMC floss, the colors were chosen for whip stitching. You can use a whip stitch with two strands of DMC as I do, or a blanket stitch if you like. It’s your pumpkin!
We will work the pumpkin on a 9-inch square of background wool. Arrange the pieces to be sure you are starting in a good place for the final placement near the bottom right corner. I cut my background just a bit big and will cut it to the final size after the stitching is done.
Begin with the stem, stitch it in place. Then place piece A overlapping the bottom of the stem, and stitch.
Add B1 and B2, and stitch those. Be sure to overlap the pieces.
Add C1 and C2, stitch down.
Continue with D and E.
You have two weeks to get to this point. When we come back to the Stitch Along, we will embellish and finish. Here’s the pattern – Wool Stitch Along Pattern
Just so you know, if you have a blog, you can earn extra entries in the drawings once a week by blogging about Autumn Jubilee. This week, blog about the kickoff or any post this week for additional chances in one of this week’s drawings. Blog about your progress in upcoming weeks for extra entries in future drawings.
Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop!! The lucky winner will receive a $50 Gift Certificate, and it is open to anyone anywhere in the world! Click on the Giveaway button to enter via Rafflecopter. Check out FQS’s Woolies line of fabrics. What would you wish for from Fat Quarter Shop? Entries close Oct 9th at 11:59 pm.
If you are new to Rafflecopter, just click on the picture above, click on “use your email” to enter your name and email to open the entries. I need your name and email to contact you if you win, but your email will not be shared or used for any other purpose. After that each entry will have its own instructions, like leave a comment or click to visit a page. For example, you might visit the sponsor’s website or a facebook page (which will open in a new tab), then come back and click “I visited” to register your entry for that option.
Good luck!! Be sure to share your progress on our sharing groups!
What would you wish for from Fat Quarter Shop? Are you stitching along?
PS!! Wanna win more cool stuff? Jolly Jabber, the FQS blog, is sponsoring a Mega Quilt Market Sweepstakes! See the Jolly Jabber blog to enter, deadline is October 26th!!
AND, I just found out about a month of free wool pattern giveaways on the Wooly Block Adventure sponsored by the Row By Row Experience. Every other day, two shops will be features with a free pattern download. Get it while it is up, because it is only available for two days, then it is gone and the next two are posted. Click on Wooly Block Adventure! And keep going back every other day, the event runs through the months of October and November.
Sharing – Slow Sunday Stitching
…your fabrics have “finished the aging process”🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Thanks for teaching us how to felt wool! Love the pumpkin!
I have a small wool stash and will someday use them! I have a good size wish list at FQS and when there is a good flash sale, buy it and something from my wishlist. Mostly fabrics on my wishlist.
I have never appliqued – maybe one day if I ever find time to start a new hobby 🙂
Fun project! Thanks for sharing
That is one cute pumpkin! I wouldn’t have thought of reboiling wool fabric made for applique. I’ll have to try that.
I also buy wool clothing from thrift shops but I wash mine on the hottest setting with detergent before drying, also on the hottest setting.
The color was Woolies fat quarter bundle is beautiful!
I have never tried quilting with woolen fabrics but i am a beginner and would love to try. i would love to try a jelly roll race quilt.
I like your pumpkin! Need to finish up the one I started last year before I can start another, though. Because I need another project – the WIP pile isn’t quite tall enough yet. 😉
This is going to be beautiful, I can tell already! If I were to choose something from the FQS, I think it would be a selection of blenders, like tone-on-tones, because, while I am attracted to figured prints, when you go to put a block together, sometimes they don’t play so nicely with each other! Can’t wait to see the finishing details on this block.
I love most of the offerings from FQS, and I guess I’ll be needing some woolies since we’re going to learn some basic stitching with wool from the expert quilter in our ministry group next month! So this project fits right in!
Who knew that those old pieces of fabric could become a pumpkin! Very neat!
Carole, you make it look so easy. I would love to win the gift certificate as I need thread and a wool batt.
Thank you for the info on wool fabric – wonderful! FQS has beautiful fabric choices, of which I would be more than happy to have any of them!
That is so cute. I have “accidentally” made wool in the past, but not intentionally. lol This looks like it will be a fun project. I’m sure if I won, I would buy fabrics – maybe some of the Macaw batiks.
Never felted wool, so learning something new. Thank you!!
I would love just about about anything from FQS but especially some buttery soft fabric.
I have my eye on some new rulers.
I have done one felted wool project and ready to try another. The pumpkin is extra cute so will be following this for sure. Thank you
Good morning Carole….I thoroughly enjoyed your felted wool instructions, even though it is not something I would do. You are very helpful, giving precise direction, along with pictures, and reasons why, when called for. You must have been a teacher in another life! Enjoy your day.
Iwas hoping for repo fabric,like always.
Hi Carole! Well, who knew that would stop wool from raveling. That is just the coolest thing I’ve read today. And it looks so beautiful as your pumpkin! I want those exact same fabrics . . . ~smile~ Roseanne
Love your pumpkin. I’m wishing for some lovely wintery fabric from the Fat Quarter shop
A Wool pressing mat. Love your pumpkin and thanks for the wool tutorial.
I love their fabric selection and I watch when the notions go on sale.
I love it so cute! Thank you for all the info on using reclaimed wool. I have yet to try my hand at will applique. Maybe in the near future.
Carole, I enjoy reading your blog. Thank you for sharing! I also admire your generosity of time and talent and resources to help out others.
Lovely! I have some “aged” wools too. Thank you for detailing your felting process. That is quite helpful. I love pumpkins and this is a wonderful pattern for one. How can I not want to join in 🙂
Working on pumpkin Thanks a lot.
I’ve got my eye on too many l things to list from FQS, like kitchen window wovens, and urban cottage and the new blue primo plaids.
Have never worked with wool, but I will try your pumpkin. Thanks for the tips on felting !
That pumpkin is adorable, Carole! Looks like fun to stitch. We’re out of town right now, but I hope to join in when we get home.
Great project. I would like some of the cute containers to hold my sewing supplies. Carla from Utah
Great wool felt tutioral! I’d wish for fabric from the Fat Quarter Shop!
I love Zen Chic modern background. Have been oogling for a long time and have many ideas to use.
Thanks for the felted wool tutorial.
The blue “Feedsack ” design storage canisters caught my eye–also the actual fabric is so pretty!
You are one busy person with so many great great events that you are administering. Love the unique pumpkin design and the tute on boiling wool. Just wondering if you or anyone else has ideas for making a wool pad for ironing quilt blocks etc? Off to collect some wool for this wonderful
project.
I have been wondering how to start with woolies. This is a great post, thank you so much. It is easier to start out with thrift store wool and go from there. I am excited now 🙂
Ohhhhh the colors — pumpkin, and sunflower and the herringbone!
I would love to try wool sometime. Maybe that should be on my FQS wishlist. I love their grab bags, it is a weakness!
I would wish for Woolies Flannel Light Brown Herringbone from FQS.
Thanks for the felting lesson. I would love to get fabric for a quilt from the FQS.
I love pumpkins! I’ve not done any wool felting. Thank you for the instructions to felt the wool, seems simple enough even I could do it. LOL!!
This is like a crazy quilt pumpkin. Super tutorial.
One thing I’m wishing for from FQS is Modern Background Paper Silver on White XOXO Yardage. This tutorial on felting wool was very interesting, thanks for sharing. That is something I might like to try. Your pumpkin is so lovely!
I love the pumpkin and the tutorial for felting the wool!! thank you!
Great tutorial. Thank you for offering the giveaway.
I guess I was supposed to tell you what I am wishing for from the Fat Quarter Shop. More fabric!
Love the aging process. Must remember that in the future.
A fat quarter bundle would be on my shopping list! Thanks, Carole, for your intro into the Autumn Jubilee pumpkin project. I’m in!
That’s a great pumpkin! I may borrow it for a project I’m planning, if that’s okay with you? LMK Credit given, of course, and no problem if it isn’t okay. I like the crazy shapes it has. Thanks for this information about how you felted the wool. I always just throw it in the washer on hot water, without soap and run it through one wash cycle, then dry it on hot. I never thought about the vinegar! What fun this fall jubilee always is. I almost missed this because I’m so behind! Thank you for your great ideas.
Oops, and I forgot about FQS! I like their Sew Samplers, but I can’t do them right now. Not that I need more fabric, of course, but they do have nifty notions.
Certainly you can use it! Thank you for asking!
This pattern is pretty cool. Thanks for the tutorials and the giveaway. My wish list includes pre cuts and woolens.
Thank you for teaching me how to felt wool!! I haven’t worked with it because I’m allergic to it, but maybe after felting I will be able to. I love everything at FQS but since I’m a SABLE and I’m getting older, I would choose a new light so I can really see what I am doing!
How fun. This is exactly how my Grandmother did her wool some 50 years ago. I would buy Caroline Hulse Edition No. 1 Fat Quarter Bundle includes 10 fat quarters. I love the new Art Gallery bundles.
I’m going to get out my wool this weekend! I love the pumpkin! Thank you for sharing this, and thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for the generous giveaway. I’d love to order all the colors of mesh and fold-over elastic that FQS has for bag-making.
I plan to stitch along
So lovely! From FQ shop I would wish the Color Wash Woolies Flannel 10″ Squares or some fabric by Edita Sytar
I have a very long wishlist on the FQS! But at the top of the list would be any basic neutrals as well as the Mon Beau Jardin collection
I’m wishing big…. a FQ bundle would be wonderful!
Thanks for the tutorial on felting, not difficult, and makes things easy to appliqué. I love this pumpkin! I may have to see about over dying some wool scraps and giving it a go! FQS has so many lovely fabrics…I think I would get some fat quarters in colors I don’t usually have on hand.
I don’t shop the Fat Quarter Shop, so I don’t really have a wish list, but I might buy something from the Modern Backgrounds Colorbox collection. I also haven’t gotten into wool appliques. I need to use up the rest of the stash before starting to collect something new.
Thanks for the tutorial and give away.
I don’t have anything specific on the wish list at the moment, but probably something from Bonnie And Camille.
Wool is a nice fabric to sew with. These detailed felting instructions are helpful too. Thank you.
I would love some tools from FQS.
I have too many projects on the go to join in but thanks for the tutorial on felting wool fabric. I love the curated art gallery fabrics bundles at FQS.
Welcome Fall and looking forward to all the Jubilee posts. Great tutorial.
Thank you for the tutorial on felting! Very cute pattern, I do love this time of year
Wow, I’d wish for a bundle of wool fat quarters. I’ve never worked with wool applique.
Let us know where to purchase smaller wool pieces: I find yardage on line, and 5″ cuts, but nothing like fat quarters? I’ve looked at fat quarter shop as well. Nancy’s has a layer cake that I may go to just for a few projects?
My daughter and I will hit the thrift shops this weekend. Men’s suits? thanks! great project, I love pumpkins
Thank you, Carole, for the felting instructions!
Thank you for the tutorial. I love everything at the Fat Quarter Shop. More fabric is always wonderful.
There is lots of luscious fabric over at Fat Quarter Shop that be thrilled to sew with.
Love your pumpkin!
I have never done wool work before.
I’m hoping to get some Tula Pink fabrics from the FQS… I like the Pom Pom quilt kit and the All Stars bundle… YUM!
Fat Quarter Shop carries Kona Cotton, and I need yardage in Crimson.
Your little felted wool pumpkin is sweet. Thank you for the ‘how to’ of making felted wool fabric. Just visiting from Slow Sunday Stitching. Please don’t enter me in your giveaway……I just wanted to say how lovely your little pumpkin is. =)
Wow, that’s a lot of work! But so gorgeous!!
I love that pumpkin. Thanks for the felting tutorial. I have never done that. I would probably choose a fat quarter pack to use in the future….or maybe some fabric to use to make a quilt for my daughter and her fiance!
I am always looking at thread…can’t get enough!
I am wishing for some Tula Pink fabric from Fat Quarter Shop. Your pumpkin is great!
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com
Some shops sell wool that is already felted. (fat quarters, fat eighths, etc.) Generally if you buy wool off the bolt you need to felt it before using. Be sure and CLEAN the LINT TRAP on your dryer after drying the wool each time! There is a lot of lint!!
Working with wool is so much fun and easy to do.