felted beads... and example of how to use them - in action on gloves tutorial

[artistrachelmarie]

Hi thanks, I'll add some pictures for the tute soon...
what you need: kool aid, roving, vinegar, water, a couple bowls, a hot water boiler or pot on a stovetop, Ivory dishsoap, and Mister Clean Gloves
This is how I make the beads:
1) Take roving and dye it with kool aid: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=4268.0
2) Heat water with a couple squirts of  Ivory
3) Pinch one or two colors of roving together and dip them into the water
4) Roll the roving in your hands like you would a clay ball.... experiement with pressure and speed... you'll feel the felted bead get tight and then you can put it in a bowl to dry ( I use record bowl! haha) I find that when you paid natural white roving with a color they look really whimsical b/c of the contrast
The soap will make lots of bubbles and your bead will look a lot nicer when it dries
Also if you get a "butt" just take a small amount of roving and drape it over the whole bead and roll again. Try and do this before the bead gets too dry.

[Saree]

Those are adorable!!  Do you just roll dyed wool and water to make the beads?

[artistrachelmarie]

Those are adorable!!  Do you just roll dyed wool and water to make the beads?

Yup, I use uhm Ivory soap... I think. You should use a soap that is biodegradeable or however you spell that. I have a little hot water boiler that I can take with me wherever so I have hot water to use wherever I go... and I wear gloves when I felt them b/c my hands get wrecked otherwise! They are easy to make, but the more you do the better you get. (lots of times you get bumps and "buttcracks") I also dye the wool myself with kool aid. It's fun to experiment with different types of wools. You get different textures.

I just put my ebay store back up! Someone hacked into my account and sold a bunch of flat screen tvs! ahhh ... so it was down for a while. Anyway I have more pictures in some of the felted bead listings there: http://stores.ebay.com/rachelmarie_W0QQsspagenameZl2QQstorecachemissZrachelmarieQQtZkm

If you need any help making them or want any advice on where to buy wool or how to dye with kool aid let me know... <3 Thanks for the post. I'm so psycho about these beads. I was hoping someone would reply! haha

[Saree]

So much fun.  All the more reason for me to get off my butt and buy some roving.  I keep saying I'm going to pick some up and play with Kool-Aid dying.  I think it's about time I get to it!  They would be so fun instead of fringe along the end of a scarf or wrap!

[artistrachelmarie]

So much fun.  All the more reason for me to get off my butt and buy some roving.  I keep saying I'm going to pick some up and play with Kool-Aid dying.  I think it's about time I get to it!  They would be so fun instead of fringe along the end of a scarf or wrap!

Omgosh... yes. I had a scarf on at a show that I had been wearing for a couple weeks... it had red and pink beads on the end... and a keyhole, and it was red eyelash plyed together with pink acrylic yarn... very whimsical. I sell my scarves with vintage pins on them and this one had a silver heart on it. Anyway to say the least it was sweet... and I sold it right off my neck! haha I figured, hey, I can make another and I wore it all through Valentines... I sold it for 10 bucks because it was used... bahaha. anyway... yes... they look so whimsical at the ends of scarves.

[amyshrugged]

Yay for felted beads!!  I am in a fibers class right now, and one of my classmates combined her felted beads with the coiling technique we learned.. she is coiling a basket with some raffia-type material and using the felted beads as spacers around the top portion.  It looks so cute.  Wish I had a picture to show everyone. 

Anyway, I would really love some info about dyeing wool with Koolaid!  We have access to the fiber-reactive dyes and chemicals, but it would be fun to play with something different, and Koolaid colors are so bright!  Do they fade quickly?  Bleed?  Do you use other chemicals?  Any info would be fantastic.  Thanks!

[artistrachelmarie]

Yay for felted beads!!  I am in a fibers class right now, and one of my classmates combined her felted beads with the coiling technique we learned.. she is coiling a basket with some raffia-type material and using the felted beads as spacers around the top portion.  It looks so cute.  Wish I had a picture to show everyone. 

Anyway, I would really love some info about dyeing wool with Koolaid!  We have access to the fiber-reactive dyes and chemicals, but it would be fun to play with something different, and Koolaid colors are so bright!  Do they fade quickly?  Bleed?  Do you use other chemicals?  Any info would be fantastic.  Thanks!

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=4268.0
that's how i got most of my info... I use a microwave, vinegar, and a few packs of kool aid.
I haven't washed my beads really... but whenever some dyed wool from my pockets accidently goes through the wash the color stays the same. There's info on that post about that I think. I doubt you would want to wash felted beads much anyway except by hand.

[snlfreak83]

wow, i have never heard of those. they are sooooooooo cool.

[amyshrugged]

Thanks for the dyeing link!  I am going to try this ASAP.  Koolaid ahoy.  Does the wool end up smelling strongly (or mildly, I suppose) of vinegar?  Or Koolaid for that matter, as my boy just pointed out? 

[imamunke]

Super cute, they look like candy!
I would love an explanation of how they are made, if it wouldn't be too much of a bother.
Thanks for sharing artistrachelmarie