Gorgeous Wool Appliqué: A Visual Guide to Adding Dimension & Unique Embroidery

Stitching with felted wool is most commonly associated with penny rugs, an American folk craft used to make use of worn-out clothing and military uniforms. But there's more to felted wool appliqué than folk art, as needle artist Tirico demonstrates in this collection of colorful projects. The introduction provides a concise overview of the basics, along with a brief exploration of the difference between appliqué with felted wool and appliqué with quilting cotton. The nature of felted wool makes it ideal for dimensional work—as the wool is layered, stitched, and embellished, its thickness gives it depth. Felted wool is also a forgiving fabric for appliqué, and beginners may find it slightly less fussy than working with quilting cotton. Standout projects include a Jacobean-style pillow cover featuring traditional motifs of the era, a nutcracker penny rug ideal for the Christmas table, and a small set of sewing accessories featuring a pincushion, metal box (cleverly constructed from a mint tin), and a scissor sheath and fob.