This adorable acorn pendant and pin is a wonderful handmade holiday gift that's simple to make and fun to wear.
Tools and Materials
Wool fiber
High-density foam, 2 inches thick
Felting needles
Acorn cap
Dremel fitted with a small drill bit
Cord
Hot-glue gun or fabri-tac glue
Acorn leaf template
Felt
Pencil
Scissors
Pin back
Acorn Pendant How-To
1. Select wool fiber in desired color, and pull off an amount about the size of a golf ball. Wrap or wind the fibers around themselves to create a denser ball. Place ball on work surface (a 2-inch-thick piece of high-density foam).
2. Using felting needle, or two that are taped together, start poking and stabbing the ball of fiber. This causes the natural scales on the wool fibers to rise away from the fiber shaft, so the scales then grab hold of each other bringing the fibers in on themselves. The ball will get denser and denser as you work; be mindful of your fingers, and don't look away while working.
3. Continue needle felting until the ball becomes firm and small. It will reduce in size a great deal. Ball can also be shaped while working with the needle, to actually create a more acorn, or oval, shape.
4. Select desired acorn cap size. With a dremel fitted with a small drill bit, drill two small holes in the top of the cap. String a length of cord through the holes. With hot glue gun or fabri-tac glue, attach nut to the top.
Acorn Pin How-To
1. Download and print acorn leaf template. Trace and cut out leaf shape from felt.
2. Using a hot-glue gun, glue felted acorns, made using the process outlined above, onto leaf. Glue a pin back to the felt.
Resources
A Dremel fitted with a small drill bit may be purchased at dremel.com.