Spring in our area is a leisurely, restrained beauty, it gently and slowly reveals its charms. In other places it is wild and unrestrained, blossoming every day with new colours. Each spring has much great in it, and today we will combine calm and bright colours in the new patchwork tutorial.

We often use scraps of silk of different densities when felting, they are usually hand painted scraps left from batik production. Before you start, you need to wash the scraps to remove all extra paint (but if you see that the piece continues to loose paint — use it either on a dark wool or on wool of the same tone).

To felt the scraps to wool properly, it is better to lay them out on a plane surface and cut the elements exactly according to the pattern, you need to make the silk similar in properties to a sheet of paper. Starch or gelatin solution will help us.

Soak leaf gelatine in warm water (2 sheets per 1 liter).

Lay out the scraps on the plane; if you value your table, cover it with a film. Apply the solution with a brush and leave to dry.

Find the right pattern and increase it in proportion to the pattern. Select the right colours and shades — this can be done just on paper at the beginning.

Move the parts of the pattern on a yellow film.

Pin the template and cut out the elements with small scissors out of a dry piece of silk.

Put the elements of the applique aside.

Today we are going to felt a light sweater with short sleeves using a pattern of an easy Dolman fit.

Spread a thin viscose strands diagonally, gently pulling fibers from the tape.

Wet with warm water. Begin the layout wool diagonally. The strands should be thin, with each next layer overlapping the preceding for about 2/3. A small allowance for the bend (2-3cm) goes beyond the template.

Begin and end the layout with an additional strengthening layer along the open edges of the item (neck, hem, sleeves hem): these should be thin strands parallel to the edge at the width of about 5 cm.

After the layout is over, wet wool with warm water and soap, cover with a net and slightly rub with hands. Form smooth edges along the neck, hem and bottom of the sleeves with soft movements. Look carefully at your layout, if you see some problem areas, cover them with thin strands of wool crosswise.

Turn over the detail of the back together with the template. Proceed to the layout of the shelf. Start with viscose, wet it, then gently bend the sides and shoulder allowances.

Continue the wool layout diagonally; the fold allowances also go behind the edge of the template. Wet and rub the wool; remove the excess of moisture with a towel. Evenly distribute a thin cloud of light viscose fibers across the felt surface, wet and rub.

Gently fold the allowances on the back, rub with hands first, then through the net. So, the base is fully prepared.

Start decorating, first make a tree branch using fiber viscose of various shades of brown.

Then carefully transfer the flowers.

With soft and thorough movements, rub the elements of the applique until the wool fibers do not appear on the surface of the silk.

Felt the decorative elements so long until they securely stick to the surface. Continue to felt until you feel that the felt is quite dense and the item becomes larger then the template. Pay special attention to folds — look carefully to avoid folds and creases.

Remove the sweater from the pattern and felt it in an open roll in different directions — in length and width. Firm, felt up, align the edges at the same time.

Rinse the item, press in a towel; add fresh soap. Go on felting, but watch the size.

Now, magnolia flowers came to life and blossom and are left on the sweater:

I wish you love and spring inspiration, see you next time :)