ewe-niversity

Wool Bead Ornaments!

Inspired by stitch samplers that I encountered years ago, these wool beads are lovely little stitch samplers in the round. Nothing compares to the enduring beauty and versatility of wool. Combining wool and decorative stitching with beads, buttons and findings results in a unique expression of creativity transformed into heirlooms to cherish, pass down or give as gifts. Embellished with the threads of your choice, you can create a work of art that is truly and uniquely your own.

     
Over the years, I have designed, stitched and embellished hundreds of these wool beads. Choosing wool ball sizes, color placement and what stitches and combinations to use was both exciting and daunting. I learned early on that there is no single perfect design but rather an infinite variety of pleasing and beautiful possibilities.

You can purchase supplies and materials for these and other patterns at my Etsy shop.

Ewes-ful Things: Sew Smalls

I am happy to announce the arrival of my newest pattern Sew Smalls - which are appliqued and embroidered handy items and works of art. The Basic Components Kit has the most crucial pieces needed to complete this pattern.

Please enjoy and thank you so much for visiting!

Sue

Ewe-niversity Buttonhole Stitch

I have spent a great deal of time participating in workshops, clubs, guilds and collaborative artist retreats as a student, as well as a teacher. Group settings offer the highly personal creative experience I live for. Discussions take shape organically covering struggles, breakthroughs, tips and tricks. I seek to discover and share new ways of approaching even the most mundane challenges like threading needles, hiding the ends and marking fabric.

One particularly ewes-ful tidbit has revealed itself as a standout student favorite over the past few years - my twist on a fairly pedestrian stitch - the buttonhole. I call my version the Ewe-niversity Buttonhole Stitch. It's the perfect stitch to neatly finish the edges of wool applique pieces as demonstrated in pictures below. 

1) Bring your threaded needle up from the bottom of the fabric right next to the edge of the applique.

2) Take your needle back down next to the applique where your needle came out. Stitch in through the fabric (from underneath) and come out through the applique about ¼” from the edge.

3) Pull your thread through the applique. As you pull, a little loop is forming. Before it closes, catch your needle underneath the loop and pull closed to form one completed stitch.

4) Repeat this stitch roughly ¼” apart.

5) You can use your thumb for leverage and a gauge for distance between stitches.

6) This stitch forms a decorative finished edge, protecting the wool and holding the applique securely down.

7) To finish the stitch, put your needle down under the very first stitch and slip knot the back to give the appearance of an infinite stitch.  

As you can see, the Ewe-niversity Buttonhole Stitch offers a subtle, but impactful variation on an otherwise basic stitch. I hope you will use it. Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.

Enjoy and Happy Stitching!

Sue

Supplies are Stocked for the Woven Wheel Pincushions!

These pincushions are super fun and easy to make in one sitting. You can get the pattern, hand-dyed, felted wool balls, variegated thread, long darning needles and sheep threadwaxer here. Ribbons and other embellishments will be available soon.

I have ten vibrant colors for sale in the hand-dyed felted wool balls. These are 2.5" each. Click on the photo below to order.

The variegated thread produces a fabulous effect with the whipped woven wheel stitch. You generally want to choose a felted wool ball to match your thread color family, because the ball can show through your stitches. Since these threads vary in color, they can be used with a few different colored wool balls. I have marked the corresponding colors on my Etsy shop site.

You will need a long sturdy needle that can get through the width of the 2.5" felted wool ball. These Sue Spargo long darners are excellent. Click on the picture to order.

Keep your thread workable and tidy with beeswax. I found the cutest little sheep threadwaxers and am excited to share them with you.

Here are some examples of the Woven Wheel Pincushions. The purple-ish one in front was made on a smaller felted wool ball using the variegated thread. The possibilities are endless.

Happy shopping, stitching and creating!

-Sue

Coming Soon: Appliqued, Embroidered and Embellished Wool Beads!

Here is a sneak peek of "loose" beads as well as a sampling strung together using a wire wrapping technique.

These vibrant wool balls are a product of innovative fewesion - sublime embroidery and clever embellishment applied to wool applique. These wool beads capture a multidisciplinary approach to beading and fiber arts, and demonstrate how the components of this single piece can be endlessly rearranged and incorporated into other pieces.

Keep checking back as the Appliqued, Embroidered and Embellished Wool Beads Idea Guide will be out soon!