The other day I was playing around with embellishments and remembered way back when I made fabric beads. It was a long time ago but I remembered it being a whole lot of fun so decided to make some more and share the process. They are so easy to make and it will be another fun activity I can do with my granddaughters.
Instructions for Creating Fabric Beads
What you will need:
- scraps of fabric
- straws
- PVA or fabric glue
- an old rotary cutter blade in your rotary cutter (scissors can also be used but may flatten the bead somewhat)
- plastic sheeting to work - it gets a little messy!
I cut strips of fabric. The longer the strip the fatter the bead will end up. The wider the strip the longer the bead will end up. I cut out a couple to show you the difference. You can see one strip is short and wide (approximately 1 1/2" wide by 4" long) - this will make a longer bead - and the other is long and narrow (approximately 1" wide by 10" long) - this will make a thicker bead.
![strips of fabric cut for fabric beads](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-1.jpg)
cut strips and taper them
You can also see that I have tapered the ends. Leave the first half inch straight and then start tapering it off to a point or almost a point.
Lay the strips out on something to protect your board. I used a piece of cooking paper or parchment paper and then coat it with glue. It can be a little messy. I used a fabric glue and a popsicle stick to spread it. You can also use double sided tape if you have it on hand. I didn't today so went with the glue.
![strips of fabric with glue applied to the wrong side](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-2.jpg)
apply glue
Next I took a regular straw and placed it at the wide end of the strip. Press it into the glue and pull the glue right back to the start of the strip.
![straw positioned at wide end of fabric](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-3.jpg?v=1684176462)
position a straw at wide end
Then roll the straw over half a turn. Make sure the start of the strip is glued to the straw.
![check fabric has adhered to straw](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-4.jpg)
check fabric has adhered to straw before rolling it up
Now roll it up. Use your finger to keep the roll tight as you turn the straw.
![roll up the fabric around the straw](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-5.jpg)
roll it up
Make sure the tail is glued well in place.
![fabric bead rolled around the straw](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-6.jpg)
fabric rolled in place
Using an OLD rotary cutter blade, cut the straw off close to the fabric. Yes the straw stays inside to give some support to the bead.
![rotary cut the bead to size using an old blade](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-7.jpg)
rotary cut using an old blade
Now that was easy right?
![straw trimmed off](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-8.jpg)
straw trimmed off
Here are my two beads. The long skinny strip formed the bead on the left. The short wider strip formed the bead on the right.
![>my two fabric beads](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-9.jpg)
my two fabric beads
I made a few more too.
![>fabric beads](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0443/0253/2763/files/fabric-beads-10.jpg)
more fabric beads
It was fun even though a little messy making these fabric beads but the fairy frost fabric made them real cute (hard to see in the photo but they have a definite sparkle. I wonder what fabric I should try next.
I could make a whole jar full of these ready for my next embellished project but for now, I might simply organized some fabric strips ready for the weekend when my granddaughters are here so they can make their own beaded necklace.