Gorgeous Wool Appliqué

October 1, 2015

Stitching with felted wool is most commonly associated with penny rugs, an American folk craft used to make use of worn-out clothing and military uniforms. But there's more to felted wool applique than folk art, as needle artist Tirico demonstrates in this collection of colorful projects. The introduction provides a concise overview of the basics, along with a brief exploration of the difference between applique with felted wool and applique with quilting cotton. The nature of felted wool makes it ideal for dimensional work--as the wool is layered, stitched, and embellished, its thickness gives it depth. Felted wool is also a forgiving fabric for applique, and beginners may find it slightly less fussy than working with quilting cotton. Standout projects include a Jacobean-style pillow cover featuring traditional motifs of the era, a nutcracker penny rug ideal for the Christmas table, and a small set of sewing accessories featuring a pincushion, metal box (cleverly constructed from a mint tin), and a scissor sheath and fob. VERDICT Tirico's colorful projects will appeal to stitchers with an interest in exploring traditional applique motifs and techniques in felted wool.

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