Author Sherri Haab's newest book Felt, Fiber and Fabric Jewelry: 20 Beautiful Projects to Bead, Stitch, Knot and Braid from publisher Watson-Guptill has something for all crafters. Her easy-to-follow instructions for creating necklaces, pendants, chokers, bracelets, brooches and rings using sewing, quilting, embroidering, felting, crochet, knotting, and braiding techniques combines these traditional needle-art techniques to create beautiful jewelry using decidedly non-traditional fiber materials.

All that is needed to make the 20 projects are assorted scraps of fabrics, various buttons, pearls and beads, yarns, threads and cords for knotting and embellishment, jewelry findings (necklace chains, lobster or loop-and-toggle style clasps, pin backs, jump rings), craft adhesives and sealants designed for textiles and fibers, and a fertile imagination.

Many projects, like the fabric covered bead necklace, and hooked fabric flowers are in fact no-sewing-required using instead modern adhesives and fabric glue to create wrapped or layered elements in the jewelry design.

Minimal hand sewing is all that is needed to create the beautiful ribbon flower pins and the surprisingly elegant and modern yo-yo necklace.

There are mixed media fabric charms to make using fabric scraps, stamp pads, and seed beads as well as minimal machine sewing for the quilted cuff-style bracelet. The bracelet lends itself to embroidery and appliqué for embellishments. Basic embroidery instructions are clearly illustrated and explained and are helpful in creating fabric and embroidered rings. These four projects alone make for easy gift-giving and a sewer-crafter's must-do for the holiday seasons yet to come.

Recognizing the new found popularity of the process of felting wool fibers to make a dense material to be used in small crafting projects is seen in the felt flower necklace, felted bead bracelet and needle-felted heart pendant. Wet felting and needle felting are illustrated with clear instructions and template shapes to use.

There are jewelry projects to crochet for bracelets and necklaces using circle and flower motifs then embellish with beads. There are easy-to-do contemporary knotting and braiding projects(both ancient techniques) that modernize how cords or fibers can be intertwined to make seemingly intricate designs for necklaces to adorn with pendants of polymer clay or faceted beads.

Many of these projects are easy portable take-alongs for those busy sewers and crafters who want to utilize any spare time well. The many full color illustrations throughout the book do provide inspiration for choosing materials and for how the finished project is projected to look.

Sew happy, sew well.

Editor Recommended Book