where to buy good quality felt?

[grannyweatherwaxslippers]

I have a lovely pattern for some Christmas decorations and need some felt for little snowmen, etc.

Now in my scrapbag I have oddments of felt from when I was a kid, which is smooth and opaque and in loads of colours.

But I have looked in Hobbycraft and the local sewing shop and they have yukky stretchy "felt" stuff that has thin patches, frays, and is generally not the stuff of a future family heirloom.

Is John Lewis going to be worth the trip, or does anyone know of online supplier. I'm reluctant to buy unseen but only need a tiny bit.

thanks. DS wants some "roundy faces" now

Have you got a Dunhelm Mill close to you ? Some of their felt squares are OK but you need to check as some I've found afre a bit on the thin side.

Also, Gingermonkey a fellow crafty friend has a supplier from Etsy I think.

Try searching on Etsy or Google 'Felt' or Ebay perhaps ?

We got ours in John Lewis. I'm no expert but it seemed decent-enough quality. If you are near Solihull, Beaties has 50% off ALL sewing, knitting etc stuff at the moment.

Can you knit?

A nice way to get lovely felt is to knit some squares (you have to use wool) then alternate hot and cold washes to shrink it - it makes proper felt.

Might be nice to do that, if it's for an heirloom piece.

try here

Yes, I am near Solihull! I was thinking of John Lewis but it's perhaps worth an outing to take in Beatties too.

I can knit but then I might as well knit the little ornaments, which is a possibility since I certainly have the colours in my colossal stash. I'm stepping into unknown territory with a sewing project because I was swayed by these at the Knitting and Stitching show, and consequently am having to shop for different sorts of materials.

Thanks lucykate I may order a swatch card from paper&string.

I get all my felt from paper and string and it is really nice felt, very soft and lovely to work with - not like the hobbycraft rubbish, and Sarah (who sells it) is lovely (I would say that, she's my friend!!! )

Well I will be happy to support her business then. I loved her designs for decorations too! I would say, I'll mention your name but possibly she wouldn't recognise it

she will! , tell her gingermonkey sent you and she'll know exactly who you mean.

Ive been making felt decorations for a Winter Fair next weekend. Wish id seen this earlier - the Paper and String felt looks lovely, and Ive been using Craft Planet stuff which I dont think has ever seen a sheep! It feels very "nylony" iykwim.

Bookmark it for next year!!!