for all you crafty people...

[libramunoz]

Wal-Mart should have embroidery hoops and you can sometimes find them in the dollar stores if you look hard enough.

[DreamfulSpirit]

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Wal-Mart should have embroidery hoops and you can sometimes find them in the dollar stores if you look hard enough.

Wal-Mart doesn't carry cross-stitching supplies anymore. I went in there a few months ago looking for cross-stitch things and the woman at the craft counter said that corporate had decided not to carry that part of the craft section anymore.

[aephi alum]

I was up by my old LYS today. They used to carry cross stitch patterns and supplies, but they stopped a few years ago. I saw a sign in the window that said they had cross stitch stuff, so I figured they'd started again, parked and went in. Sadly... no. They still carry needlepoint, knitting patterns, and yarn (so... much... yarn...) but no cross stitch. I could have picked up some really nice yarns, but I'm on a self-imposed yarn diet. My stash is so big that one of the bedrooms in my house is known as the "yarn room".

Michael's carries cross stitch supplies, including kits, patterns, DMC floss, aida cloth, and embroidery hoops. HC, if there's a Michael's near you, check there. Unfortunately, they have yet to emerge into the 21st century - they do have a web site, but you cannot order online.

[wrigley]

I was at the my state's art teacher conference and I had a chance to try felting with a needle. I loved it so much. I bought set of needles and wool.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by wrigley

I was at the my state's art teacher conference and I had a chance to try felting with a needle. I loved it so much. I bought set of needles and wool.

What's felting? I'd love to try something new!

[wrigley]

Originally Posted by carnation

What's felting? I'd love to try something new!

There are two ways to felt. One way is wet felting. I don't know how to do that because the class was sold out.

The other way needle felting is when you take roving, wool that has been washed and or dyed, and use the small barbs of the felting needle shaft to catch and lock the fibers together when the needle is stabbed in. You go at it in a straight up and down motion. There is a felting board made out of some kind of foam that you put underneath the item you want to felt. It can be done on felted canvas or batting, anything that's knitted, denim, pillows, and roving itself.