How to Make Wool Beads
Wool beads are made using a process called felting. Felt is created when fibers interlock with each other. As a result, felted fabric or objects are very strong. To make felted wool beads, carded wool fiber known as roving is manipulated so the hairs of the wool interlock with each other. This produces a compact, round bead strong enough to be used in jewelry making.
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Instructions
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Grab a tuft of wool roving the size of a golf ball. Fluff up the fibers with your fingers. Gently form it into a general ball shape without compressing the fibers.
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Fill a large bowl with warm water. Apply liquid soap to the palms of your hands. Dip first one hand and then the other into the water. Pick up the loose ball of wool roving and start rolling it between the palms of your hands as though rolling a clay marble. Roll with a light pressure. At first the wool fibers will stick to your hands. It'll take up to 5 minutes for the wool to start felting into a round, compressed bead.
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Stop periodically and squeeze excess water out of the wool ball, but don't squeeze too often. As the bead begins to take shape more pressure can be applied to the wool while it's being rolled.
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Rinse the finished wool bead under cold tap water and gently squeeze out excess. If the bead loses its firmness and shape while being rinsed, the wool fibers aren't sufficiently felted. Continue to roll the felt bead some more.
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Stick a wood skewer or round toothpick through the center of each bead to create a bead hole for threading the beads. Set the beads aside on a tray to dry. Depending on the diameter of the bead it will take a minimum of two days or longer to dry.
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Tips & Warnings
Make marbleized beads by combining different colors of roving before starting to roll the bead.
After the beads are dried the surface can be painted, embroidered or beaded with seed beads.
Not all roving can be used for felting. "Super Wash Wool" won't work.
If you apply too much pressure when starting to roll the wool roving in your hands, creases will form in the surface of the bead.
References
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