The Sweeter Sweater Company

Sweet Heart Sale!

2010-02-10T11:58:00.003-07:00

In celebration of Valentine's Day we are offering 15% off the marked price of every item in our shop now through Monday, Feb. 15th!

Green Fairy Quilts Giveaway

2010-01-20T10:26:00.003-07:00

Two of my talented cousins have joined forces to offer a fun giveaway this week; check it out at Green Fairy Quilt's blog.
Judi (Green Fairy Quilts) has a business making beautiful quilts and patterns and her sister Jen (All Things Ribbon) makes absolutely darling hair bows. You're sure to find something you love!

Check These Out...

2010-01-12T14:00:00.002-07:00

Remember when we made felted balls? I happened upon Stemellina Supplies Etsy shop and thought these felted beads were so cute I had to share. These would be made using the same technique we used to make the felted balls with the designs needle felted on the finished bead.

We'll do some needle felting projects in the future to show how fun it is to embellish your felted projects.

"No Sweater for You!"

2010-01-05T09:51:00.006-07:00

One of the Christmas gifts I received from my mom this year was a book on learning to knit, three skeins of yarn and several sets of knitting needles in various sizes.

Filled with the anticipation of learning a new skill, I asked my husband if I knit him a sweater if he'd wear it; he immediately said "no". I said "even if I spend hours and hours slaving away to make you a handmade sweater?" He said "that's why I'm telling you before you spend hours and hours on it." Kill joy.

Maybe I'll make him a hat...

How To: Christmas Wreath Ornament

2009-12-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

You will need:

Scrap pieces of wool in two shades of green
Three medium sized red beads
Length of ribbon for hanging
Poly-Fill or other batting
Thread

Using a glass or jar cut out two circles of green wool approximately 3 1/2" in diameter. Next, using a smaller circle (I used a film canister) trace and cut a circle out of the center approximately 1 1/2" in diameter.

Machine or hand stitch the two circle together along the smaller circle in the center. Using a small amount of batting, stuff the wreath while pinning along the outside edge. Insert the ends of your ribbon forming a loop for hanging. Stitch around the outside edge as close the the edge as possible.

Using the other shade of green wool, cut out a three leafed holly leaf cluster. clip little pieces away along the edges to form the jagged holly leaf look. Tack or hot glue the holly leaf into place on your wreath. Stitch or glue the beads into a cluster on the center of the holly leaf. Try using tiny craft pom-poms or buttons here too; whatever you have on hand!

There you go! Easy, cute, and non-breakable; what could be sweeter?

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Sweeter Sweater Company would like to wish you a Merry Christmas! May the season be filled with laughter, love, family, friends, joy and gratitude!

How To: Christmas Cookie Tree Ornament

2009-12-15T14:00:00.004-07:00

You will need:

Scrap pieces of felted wool in brown and ivory
Length of ribbon for hanging
Length of ribbon for a bow
Beads for cookie sprinkles (optional)

Using a glass or jar trace and cut out a circle onto the brown wool approximately 3" or 4" in diameter.

Do the same with the ivory wool. Next cut half of the circle away in a wavy pattern to make the dripping frosting edge.

Next sew the beads on the ivory in a random pattern to form the sprinkles on the frosting.

Once the beads are in place, pin the ivory wool to the brown wool carefully matching the edges. Insert the ends of the ribbon forming a loop for hanging. Machine or hand stitch as close to the top edge as possible; there is no need to stitch along the wavy edge.

Sew or glue a bow in the top center at the base of the loop hanger.

What a fun way to make a personalized gift out of items you have on hand. This would be really cute as a decoration on a plate of Christmas cookies for your neighbors.

Attention Quilters!

2009-12-13T09:12:00.002-07:00

My cousin makes gorgeous quilts and patterns. She is doing a giveaway on her blog between now and Tuesday. Check out the Green Fairy Quilts blog for a great giveaway just in time for Christmas!

Gift Ideas...sort of...

2009-12-11T10:00:00.001-07:00

Do you have a toddler on your gift giving list? If you are having a hard time finding the perfect gift check out my friend Visual Anarchy's suggestion for what not to do.

While you're at it, check out her Etsy Shop; she makes really beautiful glass Christmas ornaments!

How To: Sweater Ball Tree Ornament

2009-12-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

You will need:

Felted wool scraps in two different colors
Length of ribbon for hanging
Poly-Fill or other batting
Small glass beads in colors to match or contrast your fabric (your choice)
Thread

This fun Christmas tree ornament is based on our Sweater Ball project; see instructions for assembly here.

For the Christmas ornament the pattern piece should be a football shape approximately 3 1/2" at the longest point by 1 3/4" at the widest point.

Cut out four pieces in colors of your choice. Before assembling the ornament sew the beads on each piece of wool in random placement. I used two strands of embroidery floss but thread would work well too.

Once the beads are in place assemble the ornament following the directions for the Sweater Ball project. Remember to insert your ribbon loop with the length of the ribbon on the inside of the ball.

These would be fun to give as gifts or as an embellishment on a wrapped gift. I love these on my own tree because the aren't breakable- a big plus with little boys!

Try using different colors. Instead of beads try french knots or leave the wool unadorned. Use your imagination and have fun with it!

The Cut-Throat World of Sweater Hunting

2009-12-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Recently a local thrift store had a one-day 50% off sale. I thought it might be a nice opportunity to swing by and pick up some sweaters for felting (yeah, I know, "fulling"). I was very laid back and casual about the idea; in hindsight, I should have had my game face on...

Upon arriving at the store I started looking at the Women's sweaters. I happened to glance up and see a man coming from the Men's sweaters; he was looking at me in a very pointed way. I noticed him speaking to a woman next to him and glancing over toward me. Then he walked over to me, stood about a foot and a half away and started going through the sweaters on the rack in front of me. After a moment or two I realized he was taking all of the wool sweaters off the rack before I could get to any of them.

I walked around him to the middle of the rack, several feet away, thinking we would each have room to peruse the sweaters this way. Then the woman he was with came and got in front of me a few feet away. She started going through the rack coming toward me. At this rate I was not going to make it out of there with any sweaters!

I started thumbing through the sweaters faster; and so did she. I went even faster, relying on touch alone to tell me if the the sweaters were what I needed. Faster and faster we moved down the rack toward each other. Then I saw it; a beautiful eggplant colored sweater! The wool soft and inviting in the flickering florescent lighting. I had to have it! I glanced furtively up at my opponent and saw her glance fall on the same sweater. Some where in the back of my mind I could hear "Gonna Fly Now" ("Theme from Rocky") playing, softly at first, then louder. We both reached for the sweater at once; completely focused on the prize.

"Ah-Ha!" I shouted. I hadn't meant to gloat; it just came out! As I held the beautiful eggplant sweater in my hands I glanced at the tag to be sure it was wool. It was 100% Merino! After glancing one last time at my, now defeated and bitter, opponent, I decided further gloating was in order, "And it's wool!" I taunted and gleefully danced away with my prize.

Who knew the hunt for the perfect wool sweater could be so hard-core?

New Arrival: Red, White and Blue Dahlia Bloom Headband

2009-11-28T17:42:00.003-07:00

Navy blue wool makes a patriotic Dahlia bloom when paired with a red, white and blue button stacked center. The bloom measures approximately 4” in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in white grosgrain attached to the back. The headband is soft and stretchy; perfect for infants or big girls alike. This bloom will be darling clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

New Arrival: Red Dahlia Bloom Headband

2009-11-28T17:37:00.003-07:00

Red wool makes a charming Dahlia bloom when paired with an olive wool leaf and an auburn colored button center. The bloom measures approximately 4” in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in tan grosgrain attached to the back. The headband is soft and stretchy; perfect for infants or big girls alike. This bloom will be darling clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

New Arrival: Butter Cream Yellow Sunflower Headband

2009-11-28T17:34:00.004-07:00

Made of buttery yellow lambs wool and accented with a large button center; the bloom measures approximately 4” in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in tan grosgrain attached to the back. Perfect clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip, this cheerful yellow Sunflower will instantly brighten your day.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

New Arrival: Crimson Cashmere Rose Headband

2009-11-28T17:30:00.002-07:00

Soft crimson cashmere petals form a beautiful Rose bloom. Accented with hunter green wool leaves; this bloom measures approximately 4” in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in black grosgrain attached to the back. The headband is soft and stretchy; perfect for infants or big girls alike. This bloom will be lovely clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

New Arrival: Blossom Pink Cashmere Water Lily Headband

2009-11-28T17:26:00.002-07:00

This delicate blossom pink Water Lily is made of the softest cashmere. The leaves are made of hunter green lambs wool. The button center has a soft iridescent sheen. The bloom measures approximately 4” in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in white grosgrain attached to the back. The headband is soft and stretchy; perfect for infants or big girls alike. This bloom could not be sweeter clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

New Arrival: Amber Dahlia Headband

2009-11-28T17:23:00.002-07:00

This beautiful Dahlia measures approximately 4” in diameter and is made of amber cashmere. It has an olive wool leaf and a pearl button center. Attached to the back of the bloom is an alligator clip lined with ivory grosgrain ribbon. The bloom can be used as a hair clip or clipped on the headband. The headband is soft and stretchy; perfect for babies and big girls alike.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

Lowest prices of the season!

2009-11-25T22:10:00.001-07:00

The Sweeter Sweater Company is having a Thanksgiving Sale! Friday, Nov. 27th through Monday, Nov. 30th every item in our shop will be 25% off! If you've had your eye on a Sweeter Sweater now is the time to buy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T14:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving from The Sweeter Sweater Company; we hope you have a safe and happy holiday!

How To: Felted Bead Bracelet

2009-11-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

Are you ready to make a simple and fun project using your felted balls? Here is what you will need:

Felted Balls
Needle nose pliers
Wire cutters
Fashion Cord (Wire cord coated in plastic -available in the beading section of your craft store.)
Crimp Beads (Small metal beads designed to be flattened to hold a place on the cord -available in the beading section of your craft store.)
Clasp
Needle

Cut a section of Fashion Cord to length and slide a crimp bead followed by the clasp style of your choice onto one end. Slide the Fashion Cord back through the crimp bead and flatten the bead using the needle nose pliers. Trim the short end as close to the crimp bead as possible with the wire cutters.

Feed the long end of Fashion Cord through the needle and begin stringing the felted balls onto the Fashion Cord.

Keep stringing the felted balls until you reach the desired length. Now finish the same way you started with a crimp bead and the other piece of the clasp. You now have a felted bead bracelet!

This would be a fun project to try with your kids. Obviously, there are many variations on this idea. Try using glass beads with the felted beads, different colors of felted beads, or experiment with different lengths to make a choker or necklace. Have fun with it!

New Arrival: "The Snowman" Sweeter Sweater

2009-11-24T13:34:00.004-07:00

This Sweeter Sweater is made of winter blue wool and adorned with a sweet little snowman.
Your little guy will be darling in this sweater for any of your holiday celebrations. Snowmen don't last forever though; be sure to get this while it lasts!
Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company!

And The Winner Is...

2009-11-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the Sweater Ball Giveaway. I enjoyed reading your comments! I have some fun projects planned; I hope you will check back each week.

The winner is... Grace! Grace's entry was chosen at random using Random.org. I hope you enjoy your Sweater Balls!

Giveaway: Set of Four Sweater Balls!

2009-11-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

We received such a positive response to our Sweater Ball project last week that we would like to say "thank you" with a Sweater Ball giveaway!

We are giving away a set of four colorful Sweater Balls! These balls are made from reclaimed wool and stuffed with soft Poly-Fill batting. They are super soft and tons of fun!

You have the opportunity to enter up to four times:

First, visit our store at www.SweeterSweater.com and post a comment on this blog telling me the name of your favorite item.

Second, if you post a comment telling me you have become a Fan of The Sweeter Sweater Company's Facebook page you will be entered in the drawing a second time.

Third, if you link to my giveaway in your blog and leave me another comment with the link you will be entered again.

And fourth, if you leave me a comment telling me you are now a Follower of my blog you will be entered again.

If you are entering more than once using the above options please be sure to do so in separate comments to insure you are placed in the drawing each time.

Please enter by Monday, November 16th and check back on Tuesday, November 17th to see who won!

Veteran's Day Sale!

2009-11-10T10:11:00.003-07:00

In honor of Veteran's Day, The Sweeter Sweater Company is having a sale! Now through Saturday, November 14th receive 10% off the marked price of every item in our shop. Stop by and take care of some of your holiday shopping today!

New Arrival: "Autumn Splendor" Sweeter Sweater

2009-11-07T10:59:00.006-07:00

Five beautiful vibrant leaves flutter softly down the front of this Sweeter Sweater; the warm leaves and cozy brown wool are the embodiment of autumn. This handsome sweater would be fantastic for your family portrait and would be a lovely holiday heirloom to pass down through the years.

Now available at The Sweeter Sweater Company.

How To: Sweater Balls

2009-11-03T14:00:00.009-07:00

These fun Sweater Balls are made from felted wool and stuffed with batting. The result is a super soft ball that is loads of fun! My kids love playing with these balls and no one gets hurt when a Sweater Ball is thrown to (at) them! This project comes together quickly and is a great way to use scrap pieces of felted wool left over from other projects.

1. Make a pattern piece that is 5 1/4" long and 3 1/4" wide and shaped like a football. Don't stress over this step ; it doesn't have to be exact

2. Using the pattern piece, cut out four pieces of felted wool; use two or more colors for a fun look.

3. Pin two pieces, right sides together, along one side. Using the edge of your sewing machine foot as a guide sew from one end to the other.

4. Repeat with the second and third pieces, making sure to alternate colors if you are using two colors.

5. On the fourth piece sew the entire length along one side but leave a 2"opening on the last side.

6. Trim the bulky seam allowance off along all the seams.

7. Turn the ball right side out.

8. Using a batting of your choice, stuff the ball to the desired firmness. You could also fill with Poly-Pellets, rice or millet to make a bean bag.

9. Once the ball is stuffed whip stitch the 2" open closed.

10. Voila! Soft, sturdy and oh, so fun: Sweater Balls!

Halloween Sale

2009-10-27T14:00:00.001-06:00

The Sweeter Sweater Company is having a Halloween Sale! Now through October 31st receive 20% off any one item in our store! Facebook Fans will also receive FREE SHIPPING! Become a Facebook Fan here to take advantage of the additional savings! This sale is so good it's SPOOKY!

The Best Intentions...

2009-10-20T14:00:00.002-06:00

I have two sons, a one year old and a two year old. I am very conscientious about what they eat. I always made my own baby food, I can fruits and applesauce for them, I buy organic whenever possible, I even make my own graham crackers in an effort to avoid processed foods and preservatives.

A few nights ago I made a yummy chicken and veggie stir fry that both of my boys promptly refused to eat. It was getting close to bedtime and I wanted to make sure they ate something before they got too tired and cranky. I ran down stairs and grabbed a bottle of homemade spiced applesauce from the storage room. When I got back upstairs I noticed it wasn't one of my jars but one my husband's step mom had given us. I opened the jar and mixed it with a little rice cereal in bowls for my boys.

I licked the spoon when I was done and thought "wow, this applesauce is delicious!" I poured a little bowl for myself too. I sat down at the table with my boys and we proceeded to eat our applesauce. I was thinking "I have to ask for this recipe, this is the most scrumptious applesauce ever!"

My husband walked into the room at that point and I said "come try this delicious applesauce". He asked if it was the batch I had made and I told him it wasn't and explained where it came from, he said "that's not applesauce, it's pie filling".

Oh. No wonder it was so decadent and yummy. I must say, it is a somewhat lowering thought that I fed my boys pie filling for dinner. Oh well, you can't win them all, right?

Come On, Be a Follower!

2009-10-19T15:29:00.002-06:00

I just added a Followers box to the sidebar. It looks pretty lonely over there though, so let me know you are out there by becoming a Follower!

And The Winner Is...

2009-10-13T11:40:00.006-06:00

I would like to thank everyone who entered the giveaway for The Sweeter Sweater Company Gift Certificate! The winner was randomly chosen using Random.org.

And the winner is...

Beth

Congratulations! I hope you will find something you love in our Etsy Store.

Giveaway: $20.00 Gift Certificate to The Sweeter Sweater Company!

2009-10-06T11:42:00.003-06:00

We are giving away a $20.00 Gift Certificate to be used at The Sweeter Sweater Company's Etsy Shop.

To enter the giveaway simply visit our store at www.SweeterSweater.com and post a comment on this blog telling me the name of your favorite item.

If you post a comment telling me you have become a Fan of The Sweeter Sweater Company's Facebook page you will be entered in the drawing a second time.

Also, if you link to my giveaway in your blog and leave me another comment with the link you will be entered again.

If you are entering more than once using the above options please be sure to do so in separate comments to insure you are placed in the drawing each time.

Check back next week to see who won!

Maybe I Should Keep My Day Job...

2009-09-29T14:00:00.004-06:00

Last Thursday The Sweeter Sweater Company was featured on Studio 5 (watch it here). It was my first time on television and it was an interesting experience to say the least.

We arrived, as requested, thirty minutes before the show aired. We were one of the last segments so we waited for an hour and 15 minutes before going on; plenty of time for me to focus on my nerves and for my hair to go rogue.

All at once we were ushered in to the studio during a commercial break. My older son and two cute little girls were acting as live models on one side of the studio and I was to stand with two of my sweaters on forms on the other side of the studio. Four local businesses were being featured, I was the third in line.

While waiting my turn I listened to Brooke, the host, interview the first, then second, guests. I had spent the two hour drive to the studio running over various scenarios and possible questions in my mind hoping it would help me answer quickly and professionally; I continued in the same vein during the short wait.

And then Brooke was standing next to me and introducing me and my business. "Here we go, don't screw up" I told myself. Then I heard my name, only it wasn't my name. She had mispronounced my name. "What should I do, should I correct her or just let it go? Will I look catty if I correct her?" Then the voice of reason broke though these frantic thoughts with "shut up and listen to her!", I realized in another couple of seconds I was going to be staring blankly at her on live television and saying "what?" if I didn't start listening to what she was saying.

For some reason after all the the questions and answers I had reviewed in my mind ahead of time nothing prepared me for her first question "Tell me about your sweaters". Did she mean these specific sweaters or Sweeter Sweaters in general? I decided on the two sweaters in front of me and went for it. My first though was "this sweater is peach" and quickly banished that by nature of it being obvious and lame. I went with something along the lines of "my sweaters are made of reclaimed wool, so they are eco-friendly". My next immediate thought was "did I just say they are "like" eco-friendly?" I mentioned the name of the sweater was "Spring has Sprung" and muttered something about "putting the flowers on front".

I looked next at "All Aboard!" and said something about the "train being cute and going all the way around". Brooke then asked me where I get my inspiration. I said something ridiculous like "you know, from stuff".

Next Brooke asked me to say something about the sweaters the models were wearing. I looked past the cameras to the other side of the studio where my son and the two girls were standing and said "Laird is wearing "All Aboard!" my brain said "oh, crap! That's not right!" I corrected myself and said something about "Up, Up, and Away!" and something lame like "an airplane on it".

Somewhere in the middle of this it occurred to me that although I was looking at the models, to the viewing audience it would appear that I was staring at the wall or something. I was looking off to the distance past the cameras and muttering incohesive remarks about sweaters. I must look like a total moron!

Luckily Brooke prompted me with "and the teddy bear sweater?" I answered with "yeah, it's really soft" or some such nonsense. We finished up with the "Sun-sational Sunflower" sweater and that was that, it was over.

I felt sick; I knew I had really blown it! I was so happy it was over and yet so disappointed that I had emailed all of my friends and family telling them I would be on the show; everyone I knew had just seen this. My husband kept telling me it had gone well, but what else could he say?

I am happy to say that when I watched my segment later at home it was not nearly as bad as I had pictured it in my mind. It turns out that while I was mired in self conscious confusion part of my brain took over and , if not triumphed, at least pulled through. Let's just say I may not be the next famous television personality.

Watch us on Studio 5!

2009-09-22T14:00:00.002-06:00

The Sweeter Sweater Company will be appearing on Studio 5 Thursday, September 24th! If you live in the Utah viewing area I hope you will watch us on channel 5 at 11:00am.

New Arrival: Amber Dahlia Headband

2009-09-16T10:16:00.002-06:00

Now available at www.SweeterSweater.com.

Now Offering Gift Certificates!

2009-09-13T15:27:00.001-06:00

We are now offering Gift Certificates on our website!

Coming Soon: Gift Certificates!

2009-09-08T14:00:00.002-06:00

A handmade gift from The Sweeter Sweater Company is a special and thoughtful way to show someone you care. Buy a Sweeter Sweater Company Gift Certificate and take the guess work out of choosing the perfect gift. A Gift Certificate allows your special someone to choose which one-of-a-kind creation is their favorite. What could be sweeter?

We will be offering Gift Certificates on our website soon! I will let you know when they are available.

Yeah, They're Cute, But What Do They Do?

2009-09-01T14:00:00.000-06:00

Now that you have six hundred and eighty two felted balls what do you do with them? Here are a few suggestions...

Check out the jewelry supply aisle at your local craft store. You could string felted balls for a necklace, put them on wires to make earrings, cluster them into a cute brooch, or maybe make a fun ring.

Felted balls would make great pom poms on the top of a hat or on a scarf.

A bowl full of felted balls will make an organic and earthy center piece! Make felted balls of different sizes and colors and display them in a cool bowl; think red and green during the holidays, pastels for Easter, earth tones for Fall. Change the shapes slightly to make Easter eggs or pumpkins.

Put a drop or two of aromatic essential oil on the felt ball and use it to keep your lingerie drawer smelling ultra sweet.

Chinese styled felted ball buttons using a button loop or frog.

Make Christmas tree ornaments; embellish your felt balls by gluing on beads and a ribbon for hanging.

Let your kids play with them (caution: chocking hazard!); I'm sure they will come up with many more ideas!

Be creative and have fun! Make sure you check back; I have a fun project planned using felted balls!

All Things Ribbon Giveaway

2009-08-25T14:33:00.003-06:00

My cousin makes absolutely darling hair bows for girls. This week she is doing a giveaway on her blog. If you have girls to shop for be sure to check it out!

How To: Felted Balls

2009-08-25T14:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wet-felted anything? If not, felted balls are an easy and fun place to start. You will need:

Roving
Bar Soap
Towel for your work surface. You will have hot soapy water dripping down your arms so it's nice to be able to dry your hands and arms often.
Two bowls of hot water; one for soapy water, one for clean water. The hotter the water the quicker the wool will felt. Use common sense here though, you are going to need your skin later.

Pull of a piece of roving and shape it into a loose ball in your hand. Dip it into the hot water and start rolling it between your palms. Rub your hand on the bar of soap and continue rolling the roving in your palms. Occasionally dip the roving back in the hot water and add more soap to the mix. Around now you should be reaching the "this chick's crazy, this is never going to work" phase; keep going.

After rolling, wetting, and soaping for a few minutes you will notice that the roving has formed a loose ball. It still feels squishy and hollow in the middle at this point. You are now in the "yeah, they're cute but not that cute" phase; keep going.

Now the ball is really firming up. You have reached the "wow, that chick was right after all!" phase. You can add more layers of roving over the ball to make it any size you want. Just keep wetting, soaping and rolling until you reach the desired size. You can try changing the shape into an oval or egg shape too. Make sure the ball is nice and tight with a good smooth shape. Dip the ball into the clean water, swish it around to rinse it off and set it aside to dry over night.

Way to go; you now have a felt ball! You can trim any loose fuzzies with scissors to smooth it up if you like; I like the fuzzy edges myself. Also, try trimming the edges to form a square instead of a ball.

How To: Fulling (Felting) a Wool Sweater

2009-08-18T14:00:00.001-06:00

You have braved the racks of your local thrift shop and returned victorious with your sweater of choice. What now?

It's time to full/felt your sweater! For the best results make sure you are starting with a minimum of 85% wool. In order to full woven wool you need to subject it to moisture, heat, agitation and preferably soap. You can do all of this by hand, but why bother? I suggest you use your washing machine; it's quicker and cleaner!

Depending on your ultimate goal for the fabric, you may want to cut the sweater apart before fulling it. The wool will felt differently around the ribbing at the neck, cuffs and waist as well as the front edges for cardigans. If you need very flat, smooth sections of fabric for your project you may cut the sweater apart at all of the seams and cut off the ribbing before continuing. If you want the ribbing for your project, just throw the whole sweater in. Either way works.

Set your washing machine to the lowest water setting with the longest agitation cycle on the Hot Wash/Cold Rinse setting. If you are fulling more than one sweater make sure they are close in color; darker colors will bleed out a bit and make light sweaters look dingy.

Add two tablespoons (eyeball it) of detergent and two tablespoons of vinegar to the water. The detergent helps the scales on the surface of each strand of wool raise, enabling them to become enter twined with each other, which is what causes the fulling or felting. The vinegar helps freshen the fabric and removes any chemical odor from previous dry cleaning. If your sweater looks a little dingy you may also add a tablespoon or two of baking soda at this point; it works wonders for brightening up dull looking wool.

If you are planning on running several sweaters through your washing machine it is a good idea to use a sweater bag (similar to a lingerie bag, but larger), a zippered pillow case, or even a pillow case with a knot tied in the end. The sweater will shed a nice pile of lint during this process and you will want to keep it out of your washing machine pump.

If you really want the sweater to take a beating, a tennis ball or an old pair of jeans will help the wool full nicely by increasing agitation to the fibers. I personally have never bothered with this and have not had to put very many sweaters through a second cycle.

You may let your sweater run through the entire cycle or, if you have a top load washing machine, you may decide to check the wool at some point during the wash cycle. You have more control over the outcome this way. For example, if the wool is felting tighter than you would like you could set the knob forward and skip some of the wash cycle. If, on the other hand, the weave still looks too loose for your needs, you could reset the wash cycle and allow more agitation.

Once you are satisfied with the wool you may choose to lay it flat to dry or tumble dry on low heat in your clothes dryer. Keep in mind that the heat from the dryer will continue to felt the wool slightly while drying.

I almost always use the entire wash cycle then dry the sweater in the clothes dryer; I like the fluffiness that the clothes dryer imparts.

Before and after

New Arrival: "Sweet Heart" Sweeter Sweater

2009-08-12T15:51:00.003-06:00

Nine pink hearts adorn the thick maroon wool of this Sweeter Sweater. I needle felted the hearts with yummy cotton candy pink roving and yarn; the neck is trimmed with matching roving. The pewter toned buttons boast a cute heart design. This would be a darling addition to your little Sweet Heart’s wardrobe!

Now available at www.SweeterSweater.com.

And The Winner Is...

2009-08-11T12:30:00.006-06:00

I would like to thank everyone who entered the drawing for the Apricot Rose Brooch. I enjoyed hearing from you; it was fun to hear all your different opinions on favorites! I have some fun things planned for future giveaways and projects; I hope you will check back often.

And the winner is.....Martha! Martha's entry was the eighth entry as selected by Random.org. I hope you enjoy the brooch!

Giveaway: Apricot Lambs Wool Rose Brooch

2009-08-04T11:30:00.002-06:00

This lovely Rose bloom is made of apricot Lambs Wool and is accented with an olive Lambs Wool leaf. Sewn on the back is a nickel plated brooch pin. It is handmade using reclaimed 100% Lambs Wool.

This would make a sweet closure for a shawl or scarf and would look cute on a blazer or jacket.

To enter the giveaway simply visit our store at www.SweeterSweater.com and post a comment on this blog telling me the name of your favorite item.

If you post a comment telling me you have become a Fan of The Sweeter Sweater Company's Facebook page you will be entered in the drawing a second time.

Also, if you link to my giveaway in your blog and leave me another comment with the link you will be entered again.

If you are entering more than once using the above options please be sure to do so in separate comments to insure you are placed in the drawing each time.

Check back next week to see who won!

New Arrival: "Bumblebees" Sweeter Sweater

2009-08-03T14:10:00.002-06:00

Eight cheerful bumblebees dance across the fluffy tan wool of this Sweeter Sweater. The medium weight wool is soft and fluffy; the neck is trimmed in brown roving that nicely accents the wool. This Sweeter Sweater will be a darling on your little “honey”.

Now available at www.SweeterSweater.com.

New Arrival: "Green Apple" Sweeter Sweater

2009-07-28T15:30:00.004-06:00

Crimson red wool is adorned by two juicy green apples on this Sweeter Sweater; one apple is sliced and ready to enjoy. This darling sweater is just as refreshing as a crisp apple on a brisk autumn day!

Now available at www.SweeterSweater.com.

Roving

2009-07-28T14:00:00.001-06:00

Roving is raw-wool or fleece before it is made into yarn. Roving is used for wet felting and needle felting. I mainly use two different brands of roving because of color availability and texture.

Kraemer Yarns (www.kraemeryarns.com) sells really lovely roving in 32 beautiful colors. The texture of the roving is soft yet has some body making it easy to work with. Also, their roving is the same roving they spin their yarn from so you can buy yarn to use in your projects with an exact color match. The roving comes in 4 oz. bags; wonderful if you use lots of roving, but it's probably too much if you don't.

The Felted Ewe (www.thefeltedewe.com) has commercial dyed roving in 44 colors, hand dyed roving in 17 colors and a variety of natural colors; so many choices! The roving is not quite as soft as the Kraemer Yarns roving, but the fibers are nice and crimpy making it ideal for detailed work in needle felting projects. The bags are available in 1/2 oz. and 1 oz. sizes, great for a budding hobby.

There are so many brands and types of roving available; experiment, see what type you like!

Watch Out; It Bites!

2009-07-21T14:00:00.001-06:00

The needle used for needle felting is very sharp with little barbs along the length of it. The method required is to repeatedly jab the needle into the fabric layers until they bond together.

I had been feeling pretty pleased (and in hindsight, overly self-satisfied) with my skill with the needle. I felt I could successfully multi-task while needle felting; I could visit with my husband, laugh with my sons, watch a movie, talk on the phone, what have you. That is until I stabbed the needle clean through the end of my thumb and into my middle finger.

The moral of the story: keep your eyes on your work and pay attention. Those things are sharp!

New Arrival: Blossom Pink Cashmere Water Lily Headband

2009-07-20T16:23:00.004-06:00

New Arrival: Butter Cream Yellow Sunflower Headband

2009-07-16T17:22:00.005-06:00

Made of buttery yellow lambswool and accented with a large button center; the bloom measures approximately 4" in diameter and has an alligator clip lined in tan grosgrain attached to the back. The headband is soft and stretchy making it ideal for babies and big girls alike. Perfect clipped on the headband or used as a hair clip; this cheerful yellow Sunflower will instantly brighten your day! Available now at www.SweeterSweater.com.

Creative Juices are Flowing...

2009-07-15T22:28:00.003-06:00

After a brief hiatus to get my technical ducks in a row, so to speak, I am back to the business of creating. I have been working on darling little headbands for the Bonny Bloom collection. I also have several Sweeter Sweaters at various stages of completion. So, be sure to check back often to see what's new!

So Many Sweaters, So Little Time...

2009-07-14T14:00:00.000-06:00

When you first start hunting for the perfect sweater for your felting (or fulling) project you may be overwhelmed by the options. This feeling will quickly subside when you see that ninety percent of the sweaters are cotton and thus totally worthless and another eight percent are either hideous, smelly, stained, or worse, all three. Wow! Now you only need to pick between the remaining three sweaters! So, what to look for?

Essentially any animal fiber will felt but with different results. Merino works beautifully, it ends up soft yet sturdy. Mohair ends up with a soft "halo" of fuzziness. Lambswool and New Wool are both great for felting. Cashmere felts into the most deliciously soft fabric ever! The drawback being you will need to be sure to schedule additional time for your project to accommodate the time spent napping with your new felted cashmere"lovey". Wool blends work nicely too with the best results being with blends of 85% wool or greater.

Once you find a wool suitable for your needs you should look over the sweater very closely. Will you need the ribbing for your project; if so is is in good shape? Are there any holes in the sweater? Generally larger sizes are better so you will be sure to have enough fabric to work with once you felt the sweater. If there is a pattern on the sweater keep in mind that it will look different once it felts; which can be a great thing, or not.

The bottom line is have fun, don't be afraid to experiment, and there is no shame in using Germ-Ex!

Varieties of Wool

2009-07-07T14:00:00.000-06:00

While madly searching for old sweaters to supply your new felting obsession, did I say obsession? I meant habit, you will come across several types of wool; here are the basics:

Merino, from the Merino sheep, is noted for its weight and fineness. It is used for fine garments and sports wear alike (think layered climbing gear).

Alpaca is the wool from Alpacas and Llamas. It is similar to sheep's wool , but generally soother and warmer. It also lacks lanolin, making it hypoallergenic.

Mohair comes from the Angora goat; the wool on an Angora goat is long and silky.

Cashmere, the most costly wool in the world, comes from the Cashmere goat in the Himalayas. It is very soft and downy.

You will also see labels marked Lambswool and New Wool. Lambswool can come from any breed of wool bearing sheep; it simply means the sheep was young, thus the wool is generally softer, while New Wool is simply wool that has not been used before.

Piece of cake, right?

Felting or Fulling?

2009-06-30T14:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between felting and fulling? No? Well, too bad, you are about to find out anyway!

Wet felting is the process of taking raw fiber or fleece and subjecting it to heat, moisture, and agitation until the fibers interlock and form a fabric. The result is the non-woven fabric known as felt.

Fulling is the process of taking a woven fabric, such as a commercial sweater or an item you knit yourself, subjecting it to heat, moisture, and agitation until the individual strands interlock to form a thicker, fluffier fabric. The result is a fabric that is much warmer for the same weight.

Most people, I have found, use the term “felting” in place of “fulling”. In fact, if you were to use the term “fulling” you may well be treated like you don’t know what you are talking about or like you are one of those people who like to make up words in a vain attempt to appear smarter. So, in the name of "jumping off a bridge because that’s what everyone else is doing", I also use the word “felting” in place of “fulling”. Yeah, I know, peer-pressure in its most base and evil form!