40 www.britishfibreartmagazine.org.uk

www.britishfibreartmagazine.org.uk 41

Wool fibre is the perfect medium for sculpting into shapes for decorative jewellery. Necklaces, rings, brooches, earrings – all can be created with a barbed needle, wool fibre and a few jewellery findings. Create wonderful gifts for family and friends, add variety to your own accessory collection, or create wonderful options for your customers next time you do a fair or update your Etsy or Folksy shop!

You will need:A chain length of your choiceJump ringAbout 10g Wool fibreFelting needle24mm Swarovski raindrop pendant20cm length of 1mm aluminium wirePliersFoam padSharp pointed scissors.Set aside a small amount of fibre. Squeeze the remaining fibre into a tight ball and begin to needle felt. Work the shape into a teardrop and felt until quite firm.Use the tips of the scissors to snip a small hole in the centre of the teardrop shape. Do the same on the back so that you have a small hole right through your work.Push the pointed end of the crystal through the hole at the front until it just peeps through at the back. If it doesn’t fit, make the hole slightly bigger [but not too much bigger] with the scissors. The crystal needs to sit very tight.When the point of the crystal appears at the back, push the 1mm aluminium wire through it to hold it in place.Snip off the wire leaving about 1.5cm on either side of the crystal.

Use the pliers to turn these ends into circles that lay flat against the felted surface.Lay the spare fibre over these circles and felt into place. Start felting inside the wire circle then around the outside of it. Take great care not to stab the wire or your needle may snap. Felting over the wire will secure the crystal and give a neat finish.Neaten the front of the shape, and continue felting until VERY firm, adding more fibre around the crystal if necessary. Very firm means until there is practically no give when squeezed. Leaving your needle felted items too soft, especially jewellery items, will lead quickly to pilling, fibres shedding and shape being lost. Use a knitting needle or similar to push a hole through the top of the felt pendant from side to side. Push the 1mm aluminium through here and use the pliers to create a ring.Add a jump ring to the large ring then thread the chain through the jump ring. If you don’t have a chain you could use ribbon or cord.Your necklace is now ready to wear, give as a gift or sell, displayed in a pretty box.

Swarovski crystal pendant from www.cooksongold.comWool fibre from www.winghamwool.co.ukCostume jewellery can be bought cheaply in second hand shops. You can then ring the changes by adding new needle felted elements, or break down the piece to recycle the parts.gift box from www.tinyboxcompany.co.uk, cooksongold.com, www.eco-craft.co.uk

Sparkly Pendant