wool

Have you crafted for your Wellbeing?

Wobbly Pins Crafts, Indian Block Printing, Needle Felting , , , , 0 Comment

Crafting can be an incredibly rewarding and therapeutic activity. It’s no wonder that many people are turning to crafts as a way to relax and de-stress. From needle felting to Indian block printing, there are so many different crafts you can try for your wellbeing. Whether it’s creating something beautiful or simply getting lost in the creative process, crafting has been proven to have positive effects on mental health.

Needle felting and Indian block printing are two popular crafts that you can try for your wellbeing.

Needle felt some low calorie cake!

Needle felting is a fun craft that involves using sharp needles to shape wool into 3D objects or sculptures, while Indian block printing is an ancient art form that involves creating intricate patterns using wooden blocks dipped in dye. Both of these crafts require patience and concentration, allowing you to get lost in the creative process and forget about all of your worries!

If you would like to try either of these crafts we have some beginners workshops in February & March that you may like to book onto….pop over to our workshop page to check the next date.

Felting in the washing machine

Wobbly Pins Needle Felting , , , 0 Comment

Did you know you can felt in the washing machine?. You may have accidently done this with your favourite knitted jumper that you put on a hot wash by mistake. So why would you want to purposely put the wool in the washing machine?. Well it can save you a lot of time if you have a project that you need to complete in a hurry.

Soap & Agitation

Felt is made by adding water, soap and lots of agitation will make wool fibres attach together and most f the time I do this by hand, I have been making some bird pods lately and these take around 2 hours to lay out and felt but half way through I can add to the washing machine and save about 40 minutes and my arm muscles.

Not all wool will however felt and each time you undertake a project the results may differ due to the type of wool and water temperature. The bird pods are ideal for the washing machine method as they are all unique in colour size and texture.

So the next time you accidently shrink a garment…tell them it was meant to be.

Endangered Crafts

Wobbly Pins Needle Felting, Sewing , , , , , , , , 0 Comment

Should we try something new?

The endangered crafts list has just been published for the 3rd year and there are new entries for 2019 of crafts that are in decline or very few people practising as a full time job. I would grab a coffee and find 10 minutes to read through the list of crafts that you never knew existed and dismay at the variety of skills and cultures are soon to lost if people do not take up the challenge to make something new .

There are a few on the list that caught my eye, Lacrosse Stick Making – I played this at school a long time ago and I am sure I still have some of the bruises.

A ‘Devon Maud’ not a lady from Devon but a basket, I had to look this on up on the interweb thing. This is a basket dating back to c1500 used in in markets for carrying produce.

Spinning Wheels

The top 2 crafts remain knitting and crocheting ( I cannot do either justice) and yet there is a decline of skilled craftspeople who can make a spinning wheel.

Spinning wheels first appeared in India as early as 500 AD but now it is down to a handful of people keeping the skill alive, I still have a vision of Rumpelstiltskin and the spinning wheel…

A New Skill

So if I was going to pick something from the list – not that I have any spare time to do so, then it would have to be……….Smocking!. The time consuming but relaxing embroidery that for those old enough to remember had on their best dress or top. This craft is no longer taught at the Royal School of Needlework and yet has a place in history and could be so versatile when incorporated with other crafts. What would you choose?