A Felting finish for Christmas

 one of those mad ideas that insist on being completed . Turning a cross stitch I modified from a Durene Jones design into a 3D felt sculpture.

Click here to see the cross stitch.

It was a plan for a long time. First I ordered felting wool in red and blue and greens ext. Then I wondered about how to do clothing on a character. I had only done a Bunny and a Cat before.

I even ordered a kit with the character wearing clothes thinking the instructions might help. Sadly it was a cheaper kit and the instructions were simply make as per picture. I have yet to make it!

I finally made a start during a BFF RAL.

I shared those initial pictures but once the image might have been more identifiable I stopped sharing. Including how I tacked the waistcoat.

Mind the first stage it looked more like the farmer from Shaun the Sheep.

That changed when I added the hair.

I had some fights with the right hand, it kept getting bigger and looser rather than tighter, the hand shown here ended up not being used I cut it off and started again.

Then I added the hat, including a tassel (a bought one this time)

The sizes of the cats perhaps not quite reflective of the cross stitch. And the smaller cat got bigger and erm bigger.

I am not great at cat features.

They are stitched onto orange felt.

I had bought a dome a long time ago, it was just say big enough (that tall hat and bigger cat).

After what was many months of thinking about and intention I finished it the day before it was gifted.

That works well as it stops me messing with it.

Gifted to my brother, he recognised The Hat that lead to the cross stitch that lead to this. My sister in law said we should get you a brown waistcoat and agreed the cats looked like specific cats  amongst those they have.

I was pleased at that. My sister in law has taken up felting since I made the Bunny, but her animals have progressed to realistic whilst mine have not. 

However, that does mean if I fall out of love with felting now this project is completed, if the kits from various sources once I try then do not equal the  joy of Bunny I will have a recipient for any left over stuff.