Working with Wool

Sometimes we need to reach out of our comfort zone!

When Better Homes and Gardens American Patchwork and Quilting brought together 25 designers for 3 days of fun in Iowa, we played games, bonded as friends, and challenged ourselves to work with new materials that we had never used before. Though applique is my passion, I had never thought to work with wool!!?!??! What fun! New Accucut stencil machines cut the wool templates fast. I just needed to display them in a pleasing manner. Using 3 strands of a 6 strand embroidery floss in complementary colors, I sewed them in position. Little star buttons add to my composition called "Sweet Dreams", a delightful table runner for a childs room.

Now "wool" calls to me (especially the yummy hand-dyed stuff) and who should I be lucky to meet when I was at International Quilt Market but the lovely ladies Gail and Lisa of the WoolyLady. They share my love of applique and have done some fantastic, show stopping designs in wool. They shared some of their patterns with me and their penny rug pattern "Brown Eyed Susans" I thought would look delightful as chair pads for a Mother's Day gift for my Mom (in her colors of course!). She loved them!

Rather than using freezer paper to cut out the templates, as suggested in the pattern, I used a very light weight fusible which made it easy to cut out the designs and hold them in position while I did my decorative stitches. I find it less messy than using an adhesive spray or glue stick and if you use a very light weight fusible it will not make your project stiff. Which ever method you choose to use, you will love working with wool. It has such a lovely feel. I can see now that I need a stash of wool for my wooly dreams and creations!

Be sure to stop by and visit the Woolylady's at www.woolylady.com and see their delightful designs. Be sure to tell them I said "Hi".