Fabric Scraps to Fiber Jewels

After making fabric-based necklace sets as gifts for friends,  I made similar ones to keep for myself:

striped knit fabric cut in narrow strips

and tied in multiple knots

matching bracelet with rolled fabric bead

Plus...

fabric scraps from my favorite elephant print dress

rolled into beads and strung onto a strip of black chiffon

bracelet made with black knit strip knotted on either side of bead

I continued experimenting with the forms.  To see what I came up with and also for a quick showing of how-to, continue after the break.


Here, I just waded up small bits of scrap fabric any which way around a chopstick and then bound it together by sewing it up with gold flecked string.  I even used snipped off thread scraps for one of the round beads!

Gold Bound Necklace Set

fabric scraps bound with string

that's the thread ball on your left

and strung on wrapped bronze organza 

 metallic threads unraveled from cloth twisted around itself, with satin rolled and bound by seed beads

Next up is this necklace made from scraps left over from my reversible coat of tapestry and velvet:

coat scrap beads threaded on velveteen strip of scrap

here is were I started stitching the rolled beads with thread

dangle bead - stitching made all the difference in transforming this one

bracelet made from wrapped paper around wire that loops into stretchy fabric

Now seed beads become more part of the action, as well as more defined stitching patterns:

Black and Tan Necklace Set

using silver seed beads, silver metallic thread, and knit fabric scraps

keeping the palette simple

bracelet wraps around twice with stretch knit cording

There's more, but here's a quick couple photos which are pretty much self explanatory on how this is done:

fabric rolled onto chopsticks and pinned in place

fabric is cut in long, narrow triangles.  size and shape determines bead

Raw beads, wrapped and pinned, but before stitched or strung.

These are the beads from my reversible coat used in 4th necklace shown above.  I stitch them after they are strung.

So that's how I've been doing it.  You could also use straws, knitting needles, artist's paint brushes, rather than chopsticks.  You can use paper rather than fabric scraps, glue rather than sewing.  Straws would be cool because then you could just leave them inside and cut at the edges of the bead.  That way you wouldn't have to negotiate the bead off the chopstick and you'd have no trouble stringing it on your new cording.  I use dull manicure scissors or tweezers to sometimes pull the cording through the bead. 

Anyway, there's no way they don't come out looking terrific.  I find stitching them really makes all the difference in giving them a little more oomph and direction.  And then adding anything metallic is hard to resist.  Oh the places you'll go.