Are you new to needle felting? Would you like to see how a critter is made, start to finish? Are you wondering why your critters are turning out kind of flat and one-dimensional?

This tutorial will take you through the steps with lots of photos.

To make this project you will need the following:

• felting needle
• wool roving (you can use less expensive roving for the core and cover with the more expensive dyed roving)
• foam work surface

Do you hate doing binding? I do. I'd much rather create the quilt than worry about mitered corners and perfectly even binding.

This method is a great way to display a small quilt that you want to hang on the wall. Not only do you not need binding, but you don't need any backing either.

With this method, it's easiest if you use a heavy interfacing rather than quilt batting. You can use batting if you want to, but it makes it a little bit more difficult to wrap around the frame.

For this project you'll need your quilt, stretcher bars or a canvas, staple gun and staples, and hanging wire or some other method of hanging.

These instructions are for making a small pouch style bag. It is a very simple design that lends itself to a variety of interesting fabrics. Quilted fabrics, tapestry fabrics, and other fabric remnants may be used. They are quick and easy to sew and they make great gifts.

Years ago I used to make vests to sell at crafts shows. Hmmm, so what do vests have to do with angels, you might ask. Well, when I would cut away the seam allowances of the vests, I would be left with lots of long narrow strips of fabric. I didn't want to throw it away so I started saving all of it.

Eventually, I developed this design. The narrow strips of fabric became the skirt of the angel. Another scrap became the arms. The heads are stuffed with tiny scraps of batting trimmed off of quilts that I make. The wings are from larger scraps of batting. I was so happy to be able to recycle stuff that I normally would have thrown away.

Soon, these angels became so popular that I ran out of vest trimmings and had to start using other scrap fabric. However, in keeping with the recycling theme of the original angels, I still use as much scrap as I can in each of these angels.

Now, a few weeks ago, someone saw the finished angels that I have for sale on etsy. She asked if I had a pattern available. At the time, I did not. But, she gave me the kick in the pants that I needed to finally create this pattern and instructions.

The finished angel uses doll hair, small silk flowers, a fat quarter of fabric or fabric scraps, batting scraps, eyelets, muslin, and cord. They are about 11" long from the top of the wings to the bottom of the skirt.

The pattern includes:
• A detailed tutorial with step by step instructions and color photographs
• Full size pattern pieces printable on 8 1/2 by 11" paper
• A list of materials required

Binding is one of those things that many quilters hate to do. But, the quilt isn't finished until the binding is put on. This method of bringing the backing fabric to the front of the quilt is a simple way to solve the binding problem.

You can also view this tutorial at my website:

www.LorettaAlvarado.com