Hi guys! A couple months ago I was really wanting to spool knit.
There is article about that here. Since making my own spools seemed do-able, I did. Mind you, I focused on smaller ones that would hold 3-8 stitches so then, I could knit pieces that would work as cords for pendants or as necklace pieces on their own. As you can see in the photos below, I added beads to some prior to beginning the knit. It worked out really well. How did I make my spools you ask? Well, if haven't already guessed by the title, with Polymer Clay and some other items. Here, let me explain....
Materials Needed To This Build Practical Polymer Clay Project:
📌📌📌📌💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗Scrap polymer clay or canes, whatever you want to your spools to look like.
18 gauge or really hard wire, I used German Nickel silver and I tried making some with bobby pins.
A couple pairs of pliers and wire cutters
toilet paper tubes or a strong cardboard base to work from.
scissors
Masking Tape
Now What?
Foundation: I cut the toilet paper tubes to a bit larger than I wanted. In the case where I only wanted four stitches or for prongs, I rolled it small, about3/4 of an inch across. Lengthwise, I cut it about two inches long or less.
Prongs: I tried a couple ways. So do your own thing. I will tell you what worked for me. I cut wire pieces and bent them in half, the I curled at least one end a bit so it would bake into the clay. Once I have all four prongs shaped (keeping one side a bit longer,) then I masked them into position on my cylinder on the outside.
Hold the ends down with tape.
Clay Time: okay now my schools are quite abstract looking because I just sliced from scratch Clay and in some cases I used Canes that I didn't really like. So it is up to you if you want your school to look spectacular or you don't care I need just want to use up some clay that is lying around. Remember for me this was the first time ever trying this, so it's one turned out differently. But the one that has the German silver wire you can tell because there's silver wire showing. Once the cylinder and problems are taped into position, making sure they are evenly spaced apart, I just started covering the cylinder what's Clay. Then keep in mind when you're holding the clay on the outside, you want to think of what is comfortable for your hands to be holding on while you spool knit. As you can see by some of my examples they are rounded up at the top and narrow down below, Like send out you are the same.
Have fun this is an inexpensive way to create a very practical polymer clay project that can enable you to make some really cool things such as necklace cords with dimension, cool polymer clay pendant and you'll have quite a unique necklace. Or like I said you can just put a class on one of these spool knitted records and have a simple yeah it really cool necklace or bracelet.
I hope to get something together soon so I can show you.
Make sure you kind of wrap the clay in between the prongs and ideally, down inside the cylinder as well. I think it works better if you could get Clay on the inside and the outside. You will be leaving the toilet paper tube or cardboard foundation inside there. You may have a better way this is just what I did. I would love to hear from you are hurtfully creating Facebook page and see pictures if you try this or you have a better idea
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All Done Now What?
Well once you have all of your spools made, it is time to bake them in a 275 degree Fahrenheit of it. Now I am using sculptey/Premo products , as well, I sometimes mix in FIMO, but I still mix it the 275 Fahrenheit and it seems to be fine. FIMO has a lower baking temperature, but it is never dominant in my work, always combined with Premo. Big time at least one hour for strength.
I actually started out trying a couple first then moving on to making more trying different materials such as bobby pins for prongs, so that it is up to you.
About the prongs: I did discover that bending back the prongs once it was all baked, made using it to knit, much easier.
Another Practical Polymer Clay Project Tool:
Above is a needle, Actually a darning needle that I added polymer clay to in order to make a tool to help do spool knitting. You need a device to help lift the wire, string, or yarn up and over those little prongs.
How do I make that you ask?
I used a darning needle. Then I slipped some wire into the eye of the needle and crinkled up the wire a little, so the clay would have something to bake onto and not fall out. Then shaped the clay however you want it to feel in your hand, bake it at the same temperature as above, again about an hour and voila! A cool practical polymer clay project tool!
Bobby Pins?
Yes below is the school that I made using bobby pins. I tried it as a spool and it worked okay, I got the idea from another tutorial somewhere on YouTube, sorry I can't remember where. I even saw people use popsicle sticks if you're making larger spools.
See!
Here are just some of the examples of the really cool necklace/cords that I made using my handmade spools. The red and silver one I worked a metallic thread and a thin nylon cord, together to achieve a bit of a sparkly look. The Turquoise blue one is a wax cord about 1 mm in thickness, and then I added on beads before I began knitting.
Hope you enjoyed this article! Again, I would love to see photos of your work. Just click here to go to HeArtfully Creating Facebook Page, where are you can share photos ideas and if you have any questions, I Love to hear them.
