DIY Network

Needle-Felted Earrings These earrings are a wonderful introduction to the process of needle-felting. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-110

Rebecca Lavell, of the North American Felters Network, shows how to make a pair of felted earrings. This is a great project to help you learn needle-felting!

advertisement

	Needle-Felted Earrings
	Felting technique

Needle-Felted Earrings

Materials:
foam work surface
36-gauge felting needles
multineedle tools (optional)
1 lb. mixed colors of feltable fiber (variegated roving is especially attractive)
sewing needles, large and small
scissors
wire
needle-nose piers
beads
shepherd hooks
pencil or knitting needle

Directions are for earrings approximately 5" in length.

Note: Always work on a foam work surface to avoid injury.

Beading wire:
Cut two pieces of wire the same length (8"). Place a bead 1" up the wire; bend and twist, securing the bead at the bottom (figure A).

Adding fiber:
Starting at the bottom to hide the twisted wire, begin wrapping the roving around the wire firmly. Continue to wrap to the top, leaving about 1" of wire showing (figure B).

Felting:
Holding the roving-wrapped wire firmly and carefully, poke the roving with a felting needle (avoiding the wire) until the felt is firm (figure C).

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Shaping:
Wrap the felted wire evenly around a knitting needle or pencil to form a corkscrew shape. Remove from knitting needle.

Make the second earring to match, pulling to adjust so they are both the same length.

Finishing:

Using the pliers, make a pleasing shape by twisting the remaining wires at the top. Add a shepherd hook.

Machine Needle-Felting

Materials:
item to embellish
roving or yarn
barbed punch attachment for the sewing machine (or machine specifically made for felting)

1. Lay out roving or yarn on the piece you want to embellish.

2. Place the piece under the barbed punch tool and slowly move it around, outlining the design with the punch tool.

3. Quicken the speed of the sewing machine and punch in the center of the design.

4. Work until design is complete and is securely entwined with the fabric piece.