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Select one of the following departments:
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New Products
See all the newest designs we now offer in our large collection of patterns and kits. If we find another “needful things” you will love we will put them here first. Check back often to see what’s new at Bird Brain Designs.
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RedWork and Stitchery
RedWork is relaxing, fun and easy! Traditional RedWork uses one stitch – Outline Stitch – with a few others thrown in for special design features. I prefer using Back Stitch as I find it is smoother around curves and corners. The choice is yours – both look great! Bird Brain Designs stitcheries use many traditional embroidery stitches to create designs with texture and interest.
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Beginner Needle Felting Kits
Try your hand at fun Needle Felting with one (or more!) of these several designs built on very simple shapes. Each comes with all the wool roving, accessories and felting needles you will need to complete the design. Instructions include photos and diagrams to assist you in needle felting with success. Remember, you will need the firm needle felting foam listed below in the Needle Felting Tools. Have some FUN!
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Needle Felting
Needle Felting is an old needle work technique that is enjoying new interest. Of course, designs and tools are up to date. You will felt 100% wool roving into designs and shapes using special needles with tiny barbs on the tips. The barbs on the needle “grabs” the roving and felt the fibers together much like ratting your hair. It is quite easy to do – even the shaped designs. Working with basic shapes you can create all kinds of goodies!
The tools are simple but important. Felting MUST be done on a firm foam base…..not all kinds of foam will do. The foam will protect both your needles (so they won’t break) and you (so you won’t get poked!). Everyone needs single needles for fine details and small projects. To make larger designs progress faster, the multi needles with a comfortable wooden handle are terrific. Give us a call if you need more information.
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Wool Roving
Our 100% wool roving is blended shades of wool fibers giving you a fabulous result when needle felted. Each fleece color is dyed-in-the-wool to maximize brightness and color fastness. Then two, three, or sometimes four colors are blended together to create the beautiful heather mixes in the roving. The wool used is the finest imported Merino Cross wools from New Zealand with a short staple that is perfect for needle felting. Enjoy!
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Penny Rug Appliqué
Folk lore attributes “penny rugs” to table rugs created with woolen fabrics using coins or pennies as the pattern often seen on vintage pieces dating from the Civil War era. As with other folk art, everyday life design motifs are popular on original rugs. Designs were stitched with simple buttonhole and other stitches and finished with a tongue shaped border. Bird Brain Designs’ penny rug projects are created with a whimsical approach to this traditional folk art craft using wool or versatile WoolFelt!
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Wool
Wool fabric is so wonderful to work with in creating Penny Rug Appliqué or Rug Hooking designs! Our fabrics are 100% wool, all woven in the USA and 99% come from the mills of Woolrich Woolen Mills. We felt all our wool ensuring they will be soft, thick and strong for you – all will not fray when used. Enjoy our large array of beautiful colors! Please call us if you need an actual sample of the woolen color before you purchase.
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Wearable Wool Appliqué
Beautiful penny rug projects you can wear! Create a special purse, camera bag or cell phone case using felted wool. Projects are crafted using 100% felted wool for the body of the design and appliquéd with wool or colorful WoolFelt – a blend of wool and rayon.
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Punch Needle Embroidery
Punch Needle Embroidery is an old needle art that is enjoying renewed popularity….you are in for a treat and lots of FUN! Tiny loops of #8 perle cotton or embroidery floss create designs that look like miniature hooked rugs. The loops are created with a tool fitted with a needle to punch loops through Weaver’s cloth, a fabric with a texture and weave that holds the loops in place. Other fabrics can also be used when you back with a fabric stabilizer
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Perle Cotton Floss
I love using #8 Perle Cotton Floss for applique and stitchery. Bird Brain Designs offers DMC Perle cotton in many colors that are used in our designs because #8 Perle Cotton is NOT easy to find! Give it a try - you will love it too.
All color numbers are the same as those for 6-strand embroidery floss.
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Leaflets
Short of time to create? Make a quick and easy pin or ornament from one of these leaflets. Leaflets are available year ‘round with a fabric packet to match if you don’t have a stash of fabric in your sewing basket. FUN and EASY!!
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Holiday Products
Celebrate all year long with special designs to decorate your home – or to give as gifts! Choose from a large selection in every creative category. Choose your favorite!
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Stitching Accessories
Having the right tools makes any “job” easier and more fun….and stitching no different. We have searched out and found terrific tools to make your needle crafting more enjoyable and successful. Hoops and frames are essential while working from embroidery and punch needle to rug hooking. The Morgan hoops have a super groove and ridge built in to hold your fabric SUPER snug – perfect for punch needle and embroidery. The wide sides of the wooden hoops works in the same manner giving enough surface to hold your fabric taut while looking beautiful as you use them! Rug hooking needs 2 hands and our frame is the best as it swivels completely around while tipping side to side to make hooking so fun and easy.
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