Wooly Critters Explosion

I cannot believe that November is here!  Halloween has come and gone and now the stores are displaying Christmas items.  It is a reminder of how quickly time can get away from us.  It is a reminder that life is precious and fleeting and must be lived to the fullest.

Well, on that vein I have been madly crafting my Wooly Critters for the first artisan craft show that I will be in this season, "Gifts for Myself and Others":

This show is always lovely and features artisans from southern Vancouver Island.  I will be displaying some of my art dolls and I will be featuring my "Wooly Critters":

Meet the sweet black and white kitties.

Cat Buglars ready to steal your heart.

A Scottish Kat that is kooky and fun.

The ever lovable Bandits.

The bunnies begin to appear,

and they come in sunny yellow,

and they come in soft florals,

Are they not the cutest thing ever?

Finally one last set of cats to tempt you to visit the show.  I have many, many more including a pride of lions! (photos in my next post).

The wee blue cats hope you will come back soon, bye for now!

More Wooly Critters

As many of you know, I have been making what I call "Wooly Critters" from felted thrift store sweaters.  This November and December I will be in a couple of local craft shows so I have to get busy and make, make, make.  I do love creating!

I thought you might like to see my newest creations of critters:

This wee white kitten is made from a cashmere sweater and oh so soft!

Meet "Wild Thing" made from a "Spanner cotton, acrylic and fur sweater

Showing their cute back sides

Midnight is spoken for and going to a good home here in Victoria.

Midnight's brother "Spook" is made from the same chenille black and gold sweater as "Midnight"

Wee Spunky is made from a Merino navy blue sweater with added cashmere details

I just had to add a bunch of hearts down his backside

Love Monster

Daisy Mae

Meet Rosie, she is going to a fine home in Duncan

Rosie was made from a cotton sweater and has a cashmere face!

This is Susie's older sister, Candy.

Candy is a very special girl

This is Dapper Dan.  He loves bowties

This is Rascal bidding you farewell for now! He too has a good home.

Wooly Critters

I have fallen in love with "critters" made from repurposed wool and/or cotton sweaters.  I first saw these marvellous creations made by "Sweet Poppy Cat" on pinterest and I decided I would give it a try.

Turns out making "Wooly Critters" is addictive.  I visit a number of thrift stores in the area and pick up sweaters to use.  Next I bring them home and wash them in the washing machine (like colours together, of course) using hot water wash with added soap and a cold water rinse.  This shrinks the wool sweaters so that they will not unravel when sewn.  Finally I throw them in the dryer and dry with heat to further "felt" the sweaters.  Now the fun begins:  I decide on a critter, be it cat, dog, lamb, monster, reindeer, etc, etc and I make a sketch on freezer paper to fit one side of the sweater.  Iron the pattern to the front of the chosen sweater, then cut out the pattern and create a hole for the face piece.  I kept two light coloured sweaters specifically for use as faces.  I add the face details, the heart or front pocket, the ears etc. by hand using embroidery floss. Finally I use the sewing machine to sew the front to the back and voila, a "Wooly Critter" is formed.

Without further ado here is the collection:

The Happy Striped Cat Family

Made with one of my old wool sweaters.  This one is going to a friend.

This doggy was made from my dad's vest and is now living in Alberta!

A fat, happy cat made with another of my old sweaters.

This colourful feline was made from a child's cotton sweater.

Yes, a sock monkey got into the mix.  I knit him the sweater and cap.

But wait there are more:

Two doggies waiting for their bone.

A lambie and Blizten.

The sweater let me know that it wanted to become a reindeer!

I just love this lamb with his heart in his pocket!

"Twinkle Toes" doubles as a pyjama bag (zipper in the back)

I call this one the Giggle Monster.

MacGordon the goofy Scottish cat.

Two sweet bunnies.

Rudolf, of course

A bandit!

Buddy made with my left over wool sweater and a repurposed cotton sweater for his overalls.

The cat on the front of this sweater dictated that this critter would be a cat!

The Flower Monster made with a Liz Clairborne cotton repurposed sweater.

Flower Monster bids adieu for now!