Felted Easter Eggs

from Ann Merriwether, Nyala Farm Alpacas

This Fun Project really celebrates Spring. In this project you will learn how how to make

Two Kinds of Alpaca Fiber Felted Easter Eggs

Get some of those plastic eggs and get ready to felt around them. With these directions you can make two kinds of Easter eggs.
For the first kind you need:
• Carded dyed fiber
• Plastic Easter eggs
• Soap (Dawn dish washing liquid works well)
• A large dish with warm water
• An old knee high stocking
• A bit of yarn or string to make a hanger.
• An embroidery needle to thread the hanger though the end of the egg

1. Wrap the egg in three or four layers of dyed alpaca (carded fiber works better than un-carded fiber).
2. Stick the wrapped egg in the toe of an old knee-high stocking and loosely knot the stocking behind the egg.
3. Dip the whole thing in warm soapy water (a large bowl with just a dash of Dawn dishwashing liquid works well).
4. Squeeze and pat the egg in the stocking until the fiber seems to be felting around it. Don’t squeeze and pat so
much that the fiber felts right through the stocking.
5. Remove the egg from the stocking and squeeze and pat it some more. If you want to felt the fiber really tightly to
the egg and do it faster, when you take it out of the stocking throw it into your dryer while the egg is still damp.
Let it bang around in there and it will felt really tightly
6. You can make little hangers for them by stringing yarn through one end with an embroidery needle. Repeat with lots of colors and make a nice felted Easter Egg Tree.
7. You can just leave the felted egg on the plastic eggs or you can cut them off (bandage scissors work well) and have hatching eggs! Dye some fiber yellow (I use a mix of orange and lemonade Kool-aid to get a brighter yellow) and needle felt a little hatching chick!

felted easter eggs

Foam felted eggs with needle felted designs
You will need:
• Carded Dyed fiber
• Styrofoam Craft Eggs
• Soap (Dawn Dish washing liquid works well)
• A large dish with warm water
• An old knee high stocking
• A felting needle
• A bit of yarn or string to make a hanger.
• An embroidery needle to string the yarn through the felted egg.
The other way to make felted eggs is to purchase some Styrofoam eggs at the local craft store. They come in a variety of sizes. Any size will work it just depends what size egg you want to make. You felt the fiber to the egg in the same way as you do with the plastic eggs. You are not going to cut the egg off of these but you can needle felt lovely designs on them since there is a foam egg inside. Some ideas are just abstract designs like spots, or rings.
Alternatively, I like to do bunnies, chicks, flowers, even tiny little Easter baskets. You can then put a hanger on them and hang them up on your Easter egg tree. These make lovely presents! Happy Felting!

Thanks so much to Ann Merriwether of Nyala Farm Alpacas for sharing this awesome project with us. Ann lives in New York on a farm with both alpacas and sheep. She admits that she and her family are “fiberholics” and she is happy to teach others the joys of fiber arts.

What fiber or Easter projects are you working on? Leave a comment and share with us.

March 29th, 2010 | Tags: alpaca, alpaca fiber, Ann Merriwether, carded dyed fiber, Easter eggs, felted easter eggs, felted eggs, felting, Fiber Arts, foam felted eggs, needlefelted, Nyala Farm Alpacas | Category: Alpacas, Fiber Arts, Girl Stuff, The Alpaca Lifestyle | Comments (15)

Louise Fairburn raises award-winning and rare Lincoln Longwool sheep. She loves them and loves their fleece. Why not incorporate her beloved sheep into the most memorable day of her life – her wedding day?

The bride wore a dress she designed from one of her favorite sheep, Olivia. Her groom wore a woolen waistcoat. The ring bearers’ pillow was made of fleece, and Louise carried a shepherd’s crook, reminiscent of Little Bo Peep. Their guests dined on lamb from Louise’s flock. (Eewe!) Read more about Louise’s wedding at the Daily Mail.

I find Louise’s ideas rather charming. At the same time I’m glad I got married before I got alpacas. This type of thing could have added even more stress to wedding planning. Leave a comment and tell me – What do you think?

August 15th, 2009 | Tags: bride, fiber, Fiber Arts, fleece, Lincoln longwool sheep, shepherdess, wedding | Category: Fiber Arts, Girl Stuff, Lifestyle | Comments (10)

Alpaca Fiber is made into luxurious garments. Watch as sumptuous alpaca products are strutted down the runway at the 2nd Annual World Conference and Fashion Show. See more fashions in our Slideshow.

July 2nd, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, Alpacas, AOBA National Conference, fashion, fashion show, fiber, slideshow, World Alpaca Conference | Category: Alpacas, Events, Fiber Arts, Girl Stuff, World Conference | Comments (4)

You Go GIRL!

Because it’s Indiana blogs, “Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better” in the voice of Super Filly Rachel Alexandra. Well said.

After beating the boys yesterday, this gorgeous gal becomes the first female to win the Preakness in 85 years. Strong, confident, and imminently capable, Rachel Alexandra brought women and girls across America together. She affirmed what we already knew: We can do anything. For all the years of having our pigtails pulled, it’s nice to see a girl give the boys a taste of their own medicine. Delicious.

Rachel Alexandra’s Winning Run in the Preakness (video)

Rachel Alexandra’s new owner, Jess Jackson of Kendall Jackson wines, also owns super horse, Curlin. The thought of a Rachel Alexandra – Curlin cross sends shivers up the spine of die-hard racing fans. Talk about your Royal Family. America has always wanted one. Maybe this will be it. Hey, we can dream, right?

Rachel Alexandra is a heroine for the ages. You go girl!

May 17th, 2009 | Tags: Curlin, horse racing, Kendall Jackson, Preakness, Rachel Alexandra | Category: Girl Stuff, Good Breeding, Lifestyle, Weekly Web Finds | Comments (6)

In honor of Mother’s Day, Fiber Arts Friday this week is about Mothers and Grandmothers. Knitting, Crocheting, Quilting, along with other fiber arts, remind us of our mothers and grandmothers. These crafts have been passed down, from generation to generation, with love.

Many of us remember someone special from our childhood who always had some handwork in her hands when she finally sat down in the evening. These crafts connect us with our past, with those who came before us. Those who loved us. Many of us take up these same crafts and pass them down to our children. They connect the generations.

We know how much Mothers do for us. On Mother’s Day we attempt to show them our appreciation for all their love and hard work. This weekend, let’s also think about all the handmade things they made for us over the years and thank them for those too. Perhaps a young person in your life might be interested in being taught a fiber craft. The memories will be well worth it!

Recently my daughter saw me working on a scarf that I was making for her. She asked if she could learn to “do that”. My first reaction was that she was too young (6). But I quickly squashed that notion and told her that we would have an expert teach her. – Her grandmother, of course.

When you leave a comment this week, please share with us your memories of your mother, grandmother, aunt, etc., the handwork she did, and how it has inspired you. Happy Mother’s Day!

Fiber Arts Friday Blog Carnival!

To participate:

1. Add the permalink to a specific blog post that features something Fiber Art related, rather than your general blog address and not your Etsy store. (Please DO put a link in your blog post that takes us to your store though.)
2. Link back to Fiber Arts Friday from your post so that your readers can come and see everyone else’s projects! Use the button or a text link to http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com.
3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and leave comments! That’s what helps us all connect!
4. Double-check to make sure your link works and goes to the right page so it doesn’t get deleted.

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

May 8th, 2009 | Tags: crocheting, Fiber Arts, Fiber Arts Friday, grandmothers, knitting, Mother's Day, mothers, quiliting | Category: Fiber Arts, Fiber Arts Friday, Girl Stuff | Comments (9)

Participating in Wordless Wednesdays.

Photography by Lori Seaborg at Just Pure Lovely.

Visit our Farm.

March 4th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, alpaca farmgirl, chasing alpacas, Fairhope Alpacas, Wordless Wednesdays | Category: Alpacas, Girl Stuff, Lifestyle, Wordless Wednesdays | Comments (10)

For Today…

Outside my window… I see the alpacas grazing. The two females who are due today are lumbering a bit, but they don’t appear uncomfortable.

I am thinking… that I have a busy day ahead, feeding and tending the alpacas as well as getting the house into shape.

I am thankful… for my family and the tranquility of life on a farm.

From the kitchen window, I can watch for Lorraine and Harrah’s cria (baby alpacas) to arrive.

I am wearing… sweatpants and a sweatshirt with a Nike logo. “Just do it!” That’s the kind of week I am hoping to have.

I am creating… a needlepoint piece for my twins with the Noah’s ark theme. Wonderful how this is a universal symbol for twins, as they came on two by two like the animals on Noah’s ark.

I am going… to my son’s Final Four basketball game tomorrow night, so excited!!!

I am reading… Isaac’s Storm: A Man, a Time, and the Deadliest Hurricane in History

I am hoping… that our farm sells in a timely manner after we put it on the market.

I am hearing… my dogs barking.

Around the house… there are boxes to be put away and things left to be packed and tidied to get ready to list our house.

One of my favorite things… is spending time with my friend Jodi, which is fabulous because she’s on her way over to help me today.

A few plans for the rest of the week… meeting with Lori from Just Pure Lovely to go over her photographs from our photo shoot, updating alpaca packages, going to the big game, and hopefully, welcoming a new cria (or two) into the fold!

Here is picture I wanted to share…

For more Simple Woman’s Day book entries, or to create your own,

click here.

March 2nd, 2009 | Tags: Alpacas, farm, Final Four, Harrah, Lorraine, Nike, Noah's ark, Simple Woman's Daybook, tranquility | Category: Girl Stuff, Lifestyle, Tending the Hearth, The Alpaca Lifestyle | Comments (5)

Black Alpaca Royale Tunic         Alpaca Blanket

Hand-carved Wooden & Silver Bracelet (left) Textile Pima Cotton & Alpaca Hobo Bag (right)

Clearance Items Marked Down Up to 75%. Shop Now!

February 11th, 2009 | Tags: alpaca, alpaca bag, Alpaca Blanket, alpaca tunic, shop | Category: Alpacas, Girl Stuff, Resources, The Alpaca Lifestyle | Comments (2)

Light Fawn Alpaca Yarn

Attention knitters and the people who love them! Here’s your chance to win 3 skeins of alpaca yarn (over $100 value)! This yarn is home-grown. Made from the fiber of our alpacas. It is light fawn in color (a touch darker than beige) and is 15wpi, labeled sportweight. These three skeins make up a total of 540 yards (the individual skeins are 180 yds and 3.75 oz. each).

Alpaca fiber is prized worldwide due to its luxurious fineness. Alpaca is very light, warm, and has a nice handle.  Alpaca also lacks the lanolin that wool has, making it wearable for those allergic to wool. It was made from the fleeces of Honeybelle and Butterscotch. We have white, brown, black, and grey yarn available in addition to more light fawn.  This yarn can also be purchased in our Etsy shop.  This yarn Giveaway made possible by the alpacas at Fairhope Alpacas!

Win these Three Skeins of Alpaca Yarn!

There are a total of 4 Ways to Enter to win, and everyone is eligible, except people I feed on a daily basis or write a weekly paycheck to. You can enter as many ways as you like. Each method of entry = 1 entry into the contest. Here’s how:

1. Leave a comment telling me what you would do with this luxurious yarn!

2. Subscribe to our RSS feed so you can keep up with what’s new on Alpaca Farmgirl. To do so, click the pink button on the homepage to subscribe to Alpaca Farmgirl. This means that you can receive updates from my blog each time I write a new post. You can choose to read them in a reader such as Google, or have them sent to your email account. Once you’ve subscribed to our RSS feed, leave a comment and tell me that you’ve subscribed.

3. Leave a tweet on Twitter about this giveaway. You can write whatever you like as long as you link to this post. Leave a comment that you tweeted with a direct link to your tweet.

4. Write a post on your blog about this Giveaway. You can write whatever you want, just link back to this post. Leave a comment that you did this with a direct link to your post.

* It is important that you leave a separate comment for each method of entry.* Winner will be chosen at random. This giveaway ends on December 21st at midnight CST.

View a list of all the giveaways so far. Happy Holidays!

December 8th, 2008 | Tags: alpaca, alpaca yarn, Alpacas, Butterscotch, Honeybelle, kinitters, knit, knitting, yarn | Category: Alpacas, Fiber Arts, Girl Stuff, Giveaways, Tending the Hearth | Comments (127)