how to make tube beads with pencils

[Shepherdess]

This is from another post and I thought it would be a good post on its own so we can find it later.

 I will do try to explain how to make a wet felt tube bead. for the washer you would need to scale it up ending with the size dowel that matches your need.

1) Bunch 6 round or hexagonal pencils together.
2) Wrap some wool around the pencils 3 or 4 times in about a 1 inch wide strip. The more wool you use the thicker the bead.
3) Wet your hands with warm soapy water( dish soap is fine) and start gently rubbing the wool and pencils back and fourth between your hands.
4) Keep wetting your hands and rubbing until the wool is completely wet and the wool tightens around the pencils.
5) Remove 1 pencil. Roll the wool and pencils a little more aggressively around the remaining pencils.
6) Every time the wool gets tight around the pencils remove one until there is only one pencil tightly wrapped in wool.
remove the last pencil and you have a bead.

I would practice making beads with different wool till you find what you think will work best, then scale it up. It is a noisy thing to do so I don't recommend sitting watching TV with your spouse for this. Mine was not impressed.

[lyn]

What a good idea Ann!

I use a baby's rattle when I'm making pods and the constant noise annoys my spouse, so I think the pencils would drive him round the bend.

[MTRuth]

Ooo... Let's all have a bead making party and really drive them nuts

[Teri Berry]

I like to use wooden skewers for mine, I find the single skewer is perfect for threading with thick cord.

I have given up trying to keep the OH happy while felting, he's either complaining about the mess and getting our wooden worktop wet or the noise, even needle felting in front of the TV is a no-no.

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Ann, can you include a photo of the tube beads? Not quite sure what that would look like.

BTW, my cats have never once complained about my felting--only when I get too close to their food bowls!

[Pandagirl]

Teri, my husband would never dare complain if I had skewers or needles in my hands. :-)

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Marilyn, he sounds like a wise man!

[Pandagirl]

:-)

[carole aka craftywoman]

I make mine on straws, and wrap a small piece of fabric round first and glue it position, then add felt and threads, no noise only me cursing because I'm stuck to the felt :-)

[halay]

I would also appreciate a picture or two because I don't quite understand the procedure. Sounds like a good idea. I'm lucky too - my husband never complains about the mess in the kitchen when I'm felting. But I do tidy aup after I finish.

[zara]

Yes, please post photos of the beads! Sound like a fun project!
I also get some comments when I take over the kitchen with felting and boxes of wool and fabric. The family has to move their meals from the kitchen table to the dining room table (so glad we have 2 large tables!). I also take over the bathroom for a couple if days when I am washing wool in the bathtub... :-)

[Shepherdess]

I am fortunate in that I have a messy husband and neither of us is house proud. here are the lambs in the living room. I will see if I can find my beads and take a picture.  I will add making a tutorial to may list.

[halay]

Yes, tutorial, please.

[carole aka craftywoman]

Here are some beads I made last year, not really felted but made with rovings.



And this is what happened today when John between me and my felting



Repair job at the hospital!!! no really just being silly he cracked his head on the edge of the balcony, but I reckon I could have made a better job with my beads

[Pandagirl]

I'll bet you could felt those beads if you put something inside when you wet them.

Oh, poor John. I hope he recovers quickly. Yes, the beads would be very stylish as a dressing!