Bucket Hat and Felted Jersey for Toddler

Have felt like sewing lately and discovered this fantastic free hat pattern:
Oliver + S Reversible Bucket Hat pattern
It was really clear and easy to follow. I didn't have interfacing so I lined the brim with 2 pieces of calico. I used some orange cotton fabric from my stash for the inside and cute farm fabric from A Bolt of Cloth I had bought as an off-cut in Christchurch last Christmas. Decided it wouldn't be reversible so added a strap from an old singlet top to stop it from blowing away.
Then I got really keen and felted an old Esprit jersey. It was only 80% wool, 20% acrylic so it didn't felt all that much but I used the wrong side as the outside to make a little jersey. That pattern was one I made myself from a large long sleeved tee-shirt. Had never drafted a pattern before, or made a hat, so surprised how easy, quick and fun these projects were. Also made a pair of fingerless gloves using the bottom of the sleeves from the jersey.
Keen to make more bits and pieces, especially using old clothes. It's fun felting the old jerseys. Wool felt is one of my favourite fabrics. Thinking of making a little jacket/coat next. Not so confident drafting some of those details, will see how it goes...

BTW - felting is so much fun! It's amazing how much you really have to abuse the wool to get it to start to shrink and 'full'. I tried lots of things including boiling the jersey in an old pot, but in the end I discovered that alternating between really hot water and really cold water plunge baths, a whole heap of dishwash detergent, and a lot of scrubbing with a dish brush worked the best.

Joan of Arc - portrait

A few weeks back I attended a workshop at the DPAG with the wonderful Katya Gunn. She was generous in sharing her experience, ideas and even her tools and materials. Katya gave us a quick tour of the portraits in the gallery for some inspiration and then we had a couple of hours to experiment and play with different fabrics, stitches and beading techniques.
I started this portrait having no idea where it would end up, cutting the fabric freehand to get shapes for a mystery clothed figure. This week, stitching away, I was wondering why she looked so sad and then it struck me who she was. I had read Mark Twain's story of Joan of Arc last year and find her story fascinating. Although there are no doubt all kinds of historical inaccuracies in my portrait, I decided that's who this young lady must be. She certainly looks like she has all the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Brian the Baby Elephant

From a pattern in a Japanese craft book. I felt like he needed something else, so added the hair and needle felted and appliqued a little heart to his chest with blanket stitch. Happy with the fabric choice (very fine corduroy) and the stitching. There's something very satisfying about blanket stitch. Would like to do more needle-felting again too. That might help bust the wool stash in the spare room, so we can finally transform it into baby Thomas' room. Would be good to have him in his own room before he goes to school :o) Especially before high school... Better get busy with those needles.