Felting and Beading

Felting & Beading

As I contemplate my fist felting project, I know I want to add some bling and beads to the felted project. (What actually happens in the end is anybody's guess at this stage!) But I cannot decide whether to bead and then knit/crochet and then felt, or whether to complete the felting project and then embellish.

A few of the questions I want answered before I start in earnest are:

• If I use Swarovski crystals (for example) that have a coating on it, will either the crystals or its coating be affected by the felting process?
• Will the shrinkage from the felting process 'swallow up' my beads so that they can not even be seen after the felting?
• Can I use wooden beads, metal, plastic beads?

So I did some swatches, albeit, reluctantly.

Beaded before Felting

The first picture here shows a knitted sample swatch that has been felted. I strung the beads before knitting up the swatch. Then I hand-felted the piece.

The second picture shows a crochet sample swatch that has been felted. Once again, beads are strung, then crocheted, then felted.

Beading Before Felting Results

• None of the beads, metal, or finish on them are affected by the heated, vigorous, hand-felting process.
• However .. some of the beads are loose and hang off the piece.
  (Knitted swatch: enamel bead is actually quite loose though that is not obvious from image.
  Crochet swatch: the crackle glass bead is also loose. If you look closely, you will see the loose stitch.)
• The dangle beads from wire loops ~ ok but be aware that the wire part can get somewhat dangled with the fluff from the felted yarn. You can snip off the tangling fluff if you have to.
• Crystal Bead (4mm) in the Knitted swatch has indeed almost been swallowed up in the felting.

Conclusion

The pre-felt beading results are mixed. It certainly can be done but the results are a bit unpredictable especially if you are contemplating various types of beads and/or sizes. I can only conclude at this stage that I might have better control over my embellishments after I have felted and completed my project. In short ~ Embellish After Felting.