Cute Lil' Critters: Sheep to Shawl

Sarah B's needle felted critters

 A couple of weeks ago, two high school students came by to ask for a plastic bag.  As a librarian, I naturally followed up with a "reference interview," in order to determine what kind of plastic bag would best meet their needs.  Turns out, they had absolutely adorable needle-felted animals made in Magnus Edlund's "Sheep to Shawl" short term class, and were taking them home on a rainy day.  I had to take pictures!

Julia K.'s creations (with special friend)

We don't yet have any books specific to needle felting (Wool Buddies is on the way), but Magnus has a couple I'm sure he'd let you borrow, even if you didn't win the "All About Yarn" experience he and wife Anna offered in the silent auction.  The "Sheep to Shawl" display in the high school commons illustrates the many steps in getting wool from the back of a four-footed animal onto two-footed people -- shearing, carding, spinning, dyeing, weaving or knitting.

Sheep-To-Shawl class exhibit in the High School commons.

We do have several other resources on wool and woolcraft (included felted knits).  Come have a look and get your wool on!

Fournier, Nola.  In Sheep's Clothing: A Handspinners's Guide to Wool.
Galeskas, Beverly.  Felted Knits.
Muir, Sally.  Knit Your Own Dog: Easy to Follow Patterns for 25 Pedigreed Pooches.
Righetti, Maggie.  Knitting in Plain English.
Taylor, Kathleen.  Knit One Felt Too: Discover the Magic of Knitted Felt.
Burgess, Rebecca.  Harvesting Color: How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes.

Sheep Station NZ (2 DVD set). Dylan Winter explores a variety of sheep enterprises from all parts of New Zealand.