What a Lovely Day - Make some Felt Beads!

August is usually my worst time of year, cold and very dry here in our corner of the world and dusty and windy,! I usually have dust induced sniffles and end up feeling very sorry for myself. Well this year hasn't been so bad. We had snow 2 weeks ago and then went straight to summer, the last couple of days have been in the high 20's C  and when I woke up this morning it smelled like rain. The sun is shining and it's warm outside but if I look out to the south there are clouds building so you never know, we may be lucky :)

Today I have taken the dye pots out again and I'm busy dying wool tops for felting. All of a sudden it's what every one wants. I love felting too and am busy with a felted project for the December issue of Stitches. I thought I'd post a tutorial on making felted beads here today.

Felted Beads

©Dana Biddle

 We’ve made a necklace using felted beads before but here is a different way to make them. Most methods of making felt involve a fair amount of work but this way uses your tumble dryer to do the work for you.

 What you’ll need

Wool tops – available from ColourSpun
Good kitchen scale
Old stocking or pantyhose
Elastic bands
A bowl of hot water (not too hot – you’ll be putting your hands in it)
Dish washing liquid
Tumble Dryer
Beading needle
Beading thread (dental floss works well too)
Other beads
indings

Instructions

1.      To make beads of equal size, divide the dry wool into portions of equal weight. You will need 6 x 3g, 6 x 2g and 6 x 1g.

2.      Take a portion of wool; wrap it around itself to form a bead shape

3.      Carefully place the wool into the stocking; holding the bead in shape, pull the stocking tight around it and twist a couple of times, secure it in place with an elastic band

4.      Repeat step 2 and 3 for all the beads

5.      Fill a bowl with hot water and add a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid.

6.       Wet the beads in hot water; make sure that the wool is wet all the way through.

7.       Squeeze out excess water

8.      Place the stocking full of beads in the tumble drier for about half an hour

9.      Check if the beads have felted enough by feeling how hard they are. If necessary, repeat steps 5 to 8 once more

10.   Remove the beads from the stocking and wet them again

11.   Rub each one between the palms of your hands using a circular motion to smooth the fibres

12.   Leave the beads to dry

 

 Once you have made all the felt beads you want, leave them to dry and then string them into a one of a kind necklace.

Enjoy!

Hello Again

Hi Everyone,

I've had a really long, unintentional break from posting here while I caught up with myself. After I broke my last computer I seemed to be in reverse for a while but I'm happy to say I'm well and truly in forward gear again.
 I have finished the writing of "From Fibre to Fabulous - a South African Knitting Adventure" and the knitting is almost done too - hopefully by the end of next week it will be there and then I plan to spin some yarn, that's something else that I haven't managed to find time for these last few months. I have some really way out, wild ideas for some funky art yarn that I really am dying to make. It hasn't been all book and nothing else though, I have managed to squeeze in some dying of yarn  and whilst playing last week I worked out a new technique for colouring :) My first batch was snapped up and so I'm going to make some more this weekend. We are promised perfect weather, so the sunstoves will be out and working overtime! I'll upload it onto my shop at  http://www.colourspun.com/  next week but here's a little taste of what it may be like. The way it is done means that each skein, although part of a family of skeins, has it's own unique character.

I have also done instructions for a little Rose Neckpiece that I would like to share with you today.

Rose Neck Piece

© Dana Biddle

Wear your garden on your neck. This lovely neck piece can be made using either wool or cotton making it suitable to wear in winter or summer.

What you will need
1. DK yarn – wool or cotton, about 10g in your chosen colour for the neck ring and bits in assorted “rose” colours for the rose necklace. Available from ColourSpun Natural Designer Yarns
2. French knitting dolly or circular or double pointed knitting needles 3 or 4mm
3. Knitting needles – 3 or 3.5mm
4. Crochet hook – 3 or 3.5
5. Scissors or snips
6. Knitters needle (rounded point) for sewing up
7. Wire neck ring
8. Some beads to make matching earrings (optional)
9. Findings for earrings – head/eye pins, earring hooks/studs.
10. Pliers – round nose, long nose and side cutters (for making earrings)

Instructions
Begin by making a French knitting cord long enough to cover your neck ring (if you are not sure if it will fit, rather make it too long than too short). Do not end it off before removing it from your knitting dolly, or knit an icord using the circular or double pointed knitting needles. Cover your neck ring by sliding the knitted cord over it from one side and then if necessary unravel some knitting until it is a perfect fit – Not stretched and not gathered. Cut your yarn leaving about a 20cm tail and thread onto knitter’s needle. End off cord by passing yarn through all 4 stitches and pull tight. Tightly wind the tail around the end of the cord and end off by threading the yarn under the binding. Snip off end close to work. Repeat for the other side.

You now have a covered neck piece to embellish with roses.

Roses
Crochet. Large rose – start with 8 chain. Work 2 single crochet into each chain. Turn and work 2 single crochet into each stitch. Work 2 more rows increasing into each stitch. End off leaving a tail of about 20cm. Wind crochet into rose shape and stitch to hold. Position on neckpiece and attach.
Small rose – work as for large rose but start with 5 chain and work only 3 rows.

Knit. Large rose – Cast on 10 stitches. Work 4 rows in stocking stitch increasing into ever stitch on every row. Cast off leaving a tail of about 20cm. Wind knitting into rose shape and stitch to hold. Position on neckpiece and attach.
Small rose – Work as for large rose but cast on 7 stitches and work 3 rows before casting off.

Leaves
Knit – work in stocking stitch. (Make 2)
Leaving a 20cm tail, cast on 3 stitches and work 2 rows.
Next row – K3 into 1st stitch, K2 into 2nd stitch and K3 into last stitch (8 stitches)
Work 3 rows
Next row – K2tog through back of loop, K4, K2tog
Next row – purl
Next row – K2tog tbl, K2, K2tog
Next row – purl
Next row – K2tog tbl, K2tog
Next row – P2tog
End off leaving a 20cm tail. Position leaves on neck piece and attach both ends.

The 2nd neck piece is knit with cotton and embellished with a covered bead.

ENJOY!

Tassel Necklace

Hi

The last few days went by in a blur and so I must apologise for not getting here - I will be making up for it in this coming week.  Last week I wore a favourite necklace that I made some time ago. I got so many compliments that I decided to share the instructions with you.

One will never be enough once you have made this necklace! Easy to make and easy to wear choose your beads and thread then crochet yourself an accessory to treasure.

What you will need

1. A skein of No. 5 or No. 8 embroidery thread
2. An assortment of beads –
a. Seed beads to be worked into your necklace - you will need about 10g or more depending on how close together you want your beads and how long you want your necklace- with holes big enough for your thread to fit through.
b. A large bead with a hole big enough for 12 threads to pass through.
c. 12 other beads for the ends of your tassel.
3. Findings –Toggle clasp and 2 large jump rings
4. Crochet Hook – 3 to 3.5
5. Tape measure
6. Scissors or snips
7. Sewing cotton (any you have got – colour doesn’t matter)
8. Sewing needle – fine enough to fit through your beads
9. Embroidery needle with eye large enough to take your embroidery cotton
10. Round nosed pliers, long nose pliers and side cutters.
11. Clear fabric glue or clear nail varnish.

Instructions are available in my Ravelry Store and also in my Craftsy store


Enjoy wearing your necklace.