Love to Make
October 2015
Make it Today
Issue 1 - October 2014
In her book, Felt with Love, author Madeleine Millington shares her tricks for making the most of this versatile fabric. The colourful projects include hearts, flowers and lovely little gift items.
Stitch
Oct/Nov 13
Having heard Madeleine talk on her passion for working with felted wool, and have attended her very enjoyable workshops, I couldn't believe this talented lady had yet to produce a book. So it was with particular delight that I received Felt with Love. Working with felt is a tactile delight that, once experienced, has stitchers coming back for more. As Madeleine says, 'Wool felt has a wonderful surface to stitch on; the stitches sink into the fabric to give it an almost quilted look.' Hand stitching on felt is particularly pleasurable, and this is the focus of Madeleine's work. Shapes are simple and folksy and Madeleine has done the hard work of designing, leaving readers to enjoy tracing off the templates and getting straight into snipping and stitching. I especially love the ease of trace-off templates that don't have to be enlarged. Madeleine's work is typified by the use of hot, chalky pastel shades, vivid and funky as a slash of pavement art on a dark New York sidewalk. There's nothing soppy about the colour palette of richly saturated fuchsia pinks, corals, deep lavenders, burnt oranges and lime greens here, and yet there remains a certain gentleness in their use. Part of that may well come from the colours being used on such a soft medium as felt. This book would make a lovely gift for a novice stitcher. That said, as an experienced stitcher with bookshelves groaning with a lifetime's collection of textile-related books, I can certainly find space to squeeze this little beauty aboard. To flick through its vivid pages is like a ray of sunshine pushing through the clouds on a grey day.
www.examiner.com/knitting-in-hartford
July 13
"Felt with Love" by Madeleine Millington is a book for felting hearts flowers and much much more. Madeline has been inspired by Medieval and Elizabethan and Folk Art in her work. She creates using a wonderful palette of bright and bold colors. You can either felt your own fabric to work with or purchase pieces by the sheet in the hobby or fabric store and the results will be lovely items to give as gifts or decorate with.The book is filled with everything you will need to get started and beyond. There is also a section on dyeing fabric, adding embellishments and embroidery stitches that add that extra touch. If you want to teach a child to hand sew, this is a wonderful way to start. The projects are quick and easy. The results will thrill. You will be able to teach them about color placement, how to sew on a button and encourage their creativity.The photographs are large clear and pretty to look at. Crazy patchwork 'Cushion' is a random selection of colored squares. After completing all the over-stitching and French knots, you will have a piece to be proud of. The dove of peace 'Tree Top Bird' makes a nice decoration all year round when not gracing the holiday tree come this winter. The sequins and spangles done tastefully will add shimmer to the lights on your tree. Templates are provided at the back of this paperback for you to trace. If sewing is your passion and you haven't tried felting yet...pick up this book and enjoy.
Sewing Directory, The
May 13
This book is full of colourful projects that you wont be able to resist making. Madeleine tends to dye her own felt for her projects which is why they have such a unique mix of colours. At the start of the book she teaches you how to dye your own. She also shows you how to do the stitches featured in the book with detailed step by step photos of every movement of the needle, making it easy for beginners to follow. The photography throughout the whole book is great, large colour photos breaking down every single stage of the projects. The projects include felt brooches, bags, wall hangings, flower garland, hanging heart, pin cushion and a patchwork style cushion. There are full size templates in the back of the book so no need to enlarge. Beautiful colourful felt projects ideal for beginners or more experienced stitchers alike.
Fabrications
Apr/May 13
Madeline is best known for her work with recycled, dyed blankets and is a popular exhibitor at quilts UK, Malvern. She is based in the west country and teaches regularly for both the Embroiderers' and quilters' guild. This is a colourful one off book where Madeline shares her bright, bold use of colour and quirky, fun filled small projects made from felted wool. As well as easy to follow instructions and super photographs, there are 15 bright and simple felt projects for craft workers of all abilities. Templates are provided at full working size an there are tips on how to dye other recycled fabrics as well as wool, plus comprehensive stitch library for giving extra embellishment to your chosen project.
Myshelf.com
June 13
Felt is a rather irresistible material and is a grand way of starting sewing for people of any age. Here is a whole book of simple, attractive projects to make with felt that reminds me of how I learned to sew. I was seven years old and stitched felt pieces together to make a bee, further decorating it with embroidery stitches at school. It was a fun project and demonstrated how easy it is to have fun with such a pleasing fabric that doesn't fray. Make and display hanging hearts and flowers, a bird pincushion, fairy tale hanging, Christmas star tree topper, bird and snowflake decorations and a garland of angels bunting style to adorn a wall. Have a go at dyeing your felt and use up oddments to make brooches or decorate larger projects. There is a section on embroidery stitches and another on embellishments, and at the reverse all the full-sized templates you need to make everything in the book. It is a not a children's book but is suitable for them with its mostly fairly large staged photographs and not too much to read. No project requires lots of expensive equipment and is simple to follow. I would recommend this book particularly to anybody who thinks that sewing and embroidery is not for them but wants to decorate their home for a festival with handmade items. Lots of fun.
Workshop On The Web
June 13
I have previously bought several of Madeleine Millingtons felt kits and was very excited by the prospect of her new book. The inspirations of Medieval, Elizabethan and Folk Art all shine through with her designs and stitching on full display. The felt used in the book is wool felt, dyed mostly in the washing machine, but it is specified that any felt could be used for the designs. If you are going to do the projects in the book, I think that aiming for hand-dyed wool felt or wool/viscose mix would be advisable, as the creations look so delicious and the colour and texture play a big part in it. (Oliver Twists produce lovely coloured felts and Rainbow Silks also sell these and others. See Traders Mall.) There is a simple guide to hand dyeing, should you wish to have more control over your colours. Most of the designs featured use simple and bold shapes but they produce such lovely pieces that this is not a book to pass over for want of complexity. The book is full of beautifully photographed instructions, easy to follow, and showing a wonderful use for felt. I loved the Christmas section, which contains several striking pieces which would suit anyone wanting to return to a rustic aesthetic. It made me think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and wanting to have all the sweeties in the shop. Most of these felt pieces look good enough to eat but, failing that, decorating your house with them would be the next best thing.
East Kent Embroiderer's Guild
May-June 13
Well known for her bright and quirky felt work, this long-awaited book from Madeleine does not disappoint. Using felt fabrics, simple stitches and embellishments such as buttons and beads, together with the full-sized patterns provided, bags, cushions and hangings can be made. There are even lots of suggestions for using-up the scraps! An inspiring book for anyone who loves felt.
Karen Platt Yarnsandfabrics.co.uk/crafts
Mar 13
I love this book. Absolutely adore it. I met Madeleine Millington some years ago at a craft show and bought a kit. I have also had a DVD of her work. So you can say that I am a fan. I love felt anyway. I love the way Madeleine uses it - her folk style with great colours. Here you'll find 15 wonderful projects. This is a perfect book for people who love to make gifts. It's also the perfect book to give as a gift. Big, step by step photos and templates. Information is included on dyeing, stitching and embellishments. It couldn't be easier. Hearts, snowflakes, birds, angels, cushions and more. Get making for Xmas - it's never too early.
Crafter's Choice
Mar 13
What a treat for anyone who loves working with sequins and beads, bold colors, simple embroidery stitches, appliqués, felted wool and the prettiest motifs! The 15 hand-stitched decorations in [this book] are the perfect on-the-go projects since you won't be tied to your sewing machine. They're quick and easy and oh, so sweet. Madeleine is know for her hand-dyed wools, so she shows how to dye your own fabric to achieve the same beautiful effects. Or, same time by using store-bought felt. Full-sized templates make it easy to replicate all the projects, so whatever you make from wall hangings to pincushions and brooches can look as great as the ones in this book.
sewingisforgirls.blogspot.com
Feb 13
[This book] is a colourful guide to working with thick luxurious wool felt. It's a perfect beginner book for those interested in starting to sew with felt and will also interest those who wish to hone their craft skills. There are four pages about materials and the tools you will need, two pages about dyeing fabric, six pages about different stitches (nine stitches in total) and two pages about adding embellishments. There are ten pages of actual size templates at the back of the book. There are 15 projects in total, three of which are festive, including snowflakes and a festive star. The quality of the projects is very high and I would say there are very original designs in here like the angel garland, the four seasons wall hanging and the princess and the pea. They are longer projects and would require more skill but would look very different to any other projects from a felt book. Madeleine sells patterns in her shop online and blogs - at Madeleine Millington.com. She is inspired by Medieval, Elizabethan and Folk art and teaches regularly.
Craft Business
Jan/Feb 13
Felt With Love is a must-have book for anyone with an appreciation of adorable hand-crafted objects. It is a colourful one-off book, filled with 15 cute, fun and simple projects (plus some variations) made from felted wool. As well as easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photographs for each projects, the book explains various stitching and embellishment techniques. Projects include mini hanging decorations, beautiful brooches, pin cushions, various wall hangings, plus much more.
Cake Craft & Decoration
Sewing World, March 05
Good artwork is an invaluable aid to all crafters...Garden Flower Designs includes cultivated flowers that originate from all corners of the globe including peonies, fuchsias, lilies, tulips and sunflowers, in both natural and stylised versions.
