About

Cost: $ $ $ $ $

Difficulty: • • • • •

Time: 20 mins

Create someting useful from leftover wool yarn scrap.
I have been knitting predominantly with wool and alpaca yarns lately. It occurred to me that I do not have to throw away all those little scraps of yarn because they will felt. So, I started collecting a pile of loose yarn scraps to make into little felt balls. They can become beads, cat toys, buttons, or whatever you like.

Posted by Ansley B. from Los Angeles, California, United States • Published 29th January 2008 • See Ansley B.'s 12 projects »

Print • Embed

Amy A. added Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn to Hempin’ ain’t easy 05 Jul 03:11
Kimya J. favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 21 Apr 03:04
Xfluffy_unitatoX favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 17 Nov 22:27
Kay T. favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 11 Nov 08:33
blue.eagle.1420 favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 02 May 03:33
mmotse03 favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 04 Nov 16:45
Elentine added Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn to Felting 15 Jun 23:52
Elentine added Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn to Yarncrafts 15 Jun 22:26
erin f. favorited Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn 17 Jan 07:35
nina.eriksen.90834 added Felted Balls From Scrap Yarn to To-make 02 Dec 15:11

Step 1
Save up wool yarn scraps from past projects.
Step 2
Wad-up the scraps of yarn, reserving a few longer strands. Wet the wad down in very warm water, squeezing out some of the water. Use the reserved longer strands of yarn to help firm up and gently bind the ball together.

Pour a little liquid dish soap on your palms and gently begin to rub and roll the ball around in your palms. Keep rinsing the ball under hot and cold water and adding soap as needed.

As the ball begins to shrink and get firmer, use a little more pressure as you roll it around in your palms.

When the ball seems solid, rinse it in cold water to remove any excess soap. Rinse again in a vinegar and water solution. Squeeze out any excess moisture and set aside to dry.
Step 3
Make something with your felt balls such as jewelry, buttons, cat toys, or whatever you like.

Made this project? Share your version »

Comments

Ansley B. · Los Angeles, California, US · 12 projects 8th July 2011

Nope. You can get away with a few strands of acrylic mixed with wool, but not acrylic by itself.

Dragoness · 28 projects 4th July 2011

Damn all my "wool" is acrylic, will it work?

Ariel B. · Kalamazoo, Michigan, US · 23 projects 30th March 2011

Clever!

Callie S. · U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado, US · 16 projects 23rd December 2010

This is very creative! Great job!

Carley J. 3rd August 2010

This is a great tutorial! You should submit this to instructables Summer Yarn Contest to win an awesome prize from Lion Brand Yarn!

http://www.instructables.com/contest/summeryarns/

Ansley B. · Los Angeles, California, US · 12 projects 20th May 2010

I used a needle and thread to string them as real beads. If you use a really thick needle after you make them, you can semi-stretch a hole into them.