New Year New Craft

,Hi everyone, let's get started on a new craft, for the new year. Above is an example of a felted wool bead necklace. We are going to make one, Yeah. I love this method because you don't need any wool roving or special felting needles.
 If you don't know how to knit, you can learn with a You Tube tutorial in no time. This one requires a simple knit and purl stitch.
Ok here we go. As you know I love to make things from felted wool and reclaimed wool sweaters and the like. Now I have also found a way to use wool yarn that I had purchased with every intention of making felted purses but found no time to. So instead we will make some BEADS. Yes beads. I think you could use these in so many ways, like buttons and embellishments on hats, etc. Haven't you seen necklaces made from these? If not just Etsy them!

 So here is the tute:

Materials needed are 100% wool yarn, large eye needle, sz 7 knitting needles(but I don't think it really matters, just so that the stitches are not too big)

Cast on 9, leaving a 12-15" tail that you will need later!,

 Knit nine across, turn then purl nine across, turn,
 then knit 2 together( to decrease) across, you will have one left just knit as the others. Turn
purl 2 together across (decreasing)

You will have 3 stitches left on the needle. cut the yarn leaving about 6". Thread that yarn thru the large eye needle and slip it through those 3 stitches and gather up.

 Now sew up the two side edges of  the fan shape to make a cup.  Wind up the "tail" you left at the beginning of the cast on process and tuck it into the "cup" shape keep it in there while you baste around the top of the cup to gather it all up into a ball shape.

Then take your sewing needle and pass it with the yarn still on through the ball to hide the sewing yarn. Snip it off. You will have a rather irregular ball, BUT as we know felting cures all that.

 Now go to the sink, run some hot water getting the ball saturated. Then start rolling it around in your palms. It's like magic as it felts in almost no time. If you want it smaller or tighter just keep rolling.  Here are some before and after balls.

If you want a necklace just tread a needle with beading thread and join them. Elastic thread is good for bracelets!  Enjoy!