Sticky Paws Blog

Over the weekend I made these bracelets using the beads from my tutorial.  Again they are very easy to make using clear elastic beading cord 0.5 mm and some pretty beads.

Felted Bead Bracelets

As mentioned in an earlier post I am hopeless at making felt balls/beads.  I have tried most methods and my balls/beads are always a bit hit and miss.  However, a few weeks ago I stumbled upon a tutorial from a blog called Red 2 White which even I can do.  I very successfully made several balls but although the balls were successful I still felt that it took too much time if you wanted to make a lot of balls.

Therefore, I decided to experiment to see if I could make balls/beads which turned out perfect (no creases etc) but didn’t take too much time or energy.  This tutorial is basically my Swiss Roll Bracelet Tutorial with a twist.

Follow the instructions for the Swiss Roll Bracelet Tutorial using 3 pieces of prefelt in one colour for a single colour ball/bead or 3 different colours for a marbled ball/ball until the roll will stay upright by itself if held vertically.

Prefelt Rolls

Roll Cut into Segments

Very gently roll each segment in your hands for a few seconds only as though making a ball.

Segments gently rolled

Place the balls/beads in a laundry bag (rembering to close the zip) and wash on a 40 - 60 degree cycle in your washing machine.  When the cycle has finished remove the balls/beads from the laundry bag.  They will probably look a bit squashed so gently restore them by giving them a quick roll in your hands.

Finished Felted Balls/Beads

I made approximately 75 one cm felted balls/beads in less than one hour’s hand felting time.  For larger balls/beads you just increase the size of the original prefelt.  For cyclindrical balls/beads do not roll them in your hands before putting in the washing machine.  For tubular shaped beads cut the slices longer than the diameter of the roll. 

I hope you will agree this is a very quick and easy way to make felt balls.

3 pieces of merino prefelt 3 inches x 6 inches in different colours

9 inches approx of clear elastic beading cord 0.5 mm

or

‘Swiss Roll’ Bracelet Kit

and assorted beads, buttons etc (optional)

3 pieces of merino prefelt

Place the pieces of prefelt on top of each other on a piece of bubblewrap with the colour to be on the outside on the bottom.

Prefelt stacked

Thoroughly wet the prefelt with warm soapy water.

Wetted out prefelt

When the prefelt is completely wet carefully roll up from the longside trying to keep the roll as tight as possible.

Rolling up prefelt

Gently roll the felt as though making a plasticine snake until the felt begins to harden ensuring that the ends are equally felted.

Roll beginning to harden

Continue to felt the roll applying more pressure until it is hard enough that it will hold itself up if held vertically.  You can continue rolling in this way or (my preferred method) place the roll in a laundry bag and wash the roll in the washing machine on a 40 degree cycle.

Felted Roll

Using sharp scissors cut the roll into approximately 1 cm pieces.  You should get 15 pieces and two ends.

Pieces of Swiss Roll

Thread the beading elastic into a sharp needle and thread through the sides of the swiss rolls alternating with beads if using.

Threading Swiss Rolls

Finished Bracelet

You will need:

• 1 pongee silk scarf or piece of pongee silk 180 cm x 45 cm
• 180 cm  x 18 cm merino prefelt cut into 3 cm strips
• Bubblewrap at least 200 cm x 60 cm
• 1 plastic bottle with holes in the cap

 1)  Wet out the scarf/silk in warm water that has had one drop of washing up liquid added to it.  When the scarf/silk is thoroughly wet lay it onto the bubblewrap smoothing out any wrinkles.

2)  Lay the strips of prefelt onto the scarf/silk and using the bottle with holes in the cap gently rub warm soapy water onto the prefelt.

3)  Using this technique place the prefelt around the edge of the scarf remembering to slightly loosen the short ends of prefelt where it meets another piece of prefelt.

4)  Next place the prefelt down the centre of the scarf/silk leaving a gap of appoximately 7 cm between the pieces of prefelt.

5)  When the pieces of prefelt have been thoroughly wetted, continue to work the prefelt by rolling the silk/scarf in the bubblewrap and by rubbing with the end of the bottle or with a small piece of scrunched up bubblewrap.  You will need to continue rubbing and rolling the prefelt until the prefelt passes the pinch test and will not move, which might take a least half an hour.  It is really important that the prefelt is sufficiently felted to the silk as once the prefelt starts to harden, if it is not sufficiently felted to the silk it will come away and it will be impossible to felt it to the silk.  The prefelt is then hardened by putting the scarf into very hot water and gently scrunching and dropping the scarf.  It is important to check from time to time that the prefelt is not felting to itself by stretching the scarf out periodically.  Once the scarf starts to harden you can start dropping the scarf more vigorously until the scarf measures approximately 150 cm x 35 cm.   Rinse the scarf in clean water and spin in the washing machine to remove excess water and dry.  The scarf can be left as it is or ironed carefully with a medium hot iron as in the photograph.