Things You'll Need:
- Fiber - wool or another natural fiber
- Needles - crochet, knitting or tapestry
- Jewelry wire
- Jewelry findings
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Step 1
Choose a medium. For more intricate and felted designs, you will want to choose a fiber that can easily be dyed, spun and manipulated such as wool, angora or alpaca fiber. Sturdier, more macrame-like designs go well with hemp.
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Step 2
Design your piece. Choose whether you want to make something that is a full piece, such as a necklace made entirely of fiber, or just a focal piece such as a pendant. In order to showcase the unique look of your fiber jewelry, you may wish to create a fiber focal piece and use metal to complete the piece.
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Step 3
Create a base for your fiber design. Few fibers, if any, will stand up on their own - even if you crochet them. Using jewelry wire, you can create whatever shape you want for your fiber design. Use inexpensive wire that can be reshaped if you need to - you will be covering the wire with your chosen fiber.
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Step 4
Cover your design with fiber. This can be done in several ways - using raw fibers, such as batting, you can wind fiber around your wire to create a fluffy, bead-like look. You could also knit or crochet along the wire using yarn made from your chosen fiber. Thin fibers can be used to create a tatting look - the look of lace.
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Step 5
Complete your piece by adding all the extras - a chain, a bail for your pendant or charm, and a clasp for easy wearing. If this is the first piece of fiber jewelry you have made, try wearing it for a while to see how it wears - and to make sure that the fiber you are using does not fall apart with wear. Enjoy your new art, and you can then try making it for others.
