Traditional hooking techniques are applied here on a small scale, to create innovative jewellery. Showing how a classic craft can be adapted and updated to devise something truly contemporary, the artist has used waste packaging material. Instead of recycled rags and wool, these environmentally friendly pieces are made from sweet and candy wrappers, wrapping paper, foil and plastic shopping bags.
Materials and Equipment
- Thin card
- Scissors
- Assortment of wrapping papers, packaging and shiny materials
- 3 small pieces of hessian/burlap, each slightly larger than the hoop
- 25 cm (10 in) embroidery hoop
- Cotton tape
- Thick felt-tip pen
- Hook
- Latex/PVA glue
- 3 small pieces of velvet, slightly larger than the designs
- Quick-drying glue
- Jewellery findings (pins or ear-clips)
Draw out your jewellery shapes on thin card to the sizes required. And cut out as templates. Simple shapes are best.
Cut your materials into strips, about 1 cm (0.5 in) wide.
Place a piece of hessian in the embroidery hoop. It is advisable to wind cotton tape around the inner hoop to stop the hessian from slipping. Tighten the hoop as much as you can. Place a template in the centre – here the heart-shaped brooch – and draw around it with a felt-tip pen. Star hooking from the centre outwards.
The back of the work (as shown here) may look a little more loopy than in traditional hooking; this is due to the stiffness of the materials being used. However, try to make the back as neat ads you can.
Continue to build up your design, juxtaposing colours and materials in a balanced way.
Remove the complete piece from the hoop and cut around the shape, leaving a narrow hem. Turn the hem under – you may have to snip it in places to ease it – and cover the back with a layer of latex. Place latex-side down on to the back of piece of velvet.
Holding the hooked piece and the velvet together¸cut around the shape very close to the edge, trying to cut at an angle so that no velvet shows on the front. Then, using a quick-drying glue, attach the chosen brooch finding to the back and leave to dry. The same method is used for both the earrings and hair slide shown in the photograph . You can of course work a pair of earrings on the same piece of hessian.
