Hi! First, Lucille has nothing to do with this post. I just liked the way it rhymed! So this post is really about Chenille, not the fabric – the crafty stems. I don’t think anyone calls them ‘pipe cleaners’ anymore.
Don’t know where I saw this technique … wish I could. Since I’m over 50 memory is becoming more like “that dog won’t hunt.” Regardless, go out and get yourself some chenille stems at a craft store. Pretty – silvery shiny ones, colored ones, iridescent ones, too.
Here’s a few minutes entertaining myself wrapping with some interesting textural yarns.
Almost any yarn will do, I would say. As for me, I’d try anything, anyway. It’s a great adventure!
This is how I began…
I chose the pretty silver chenille stem to start.
And then a pretty pinky mango ‘flimsy’ type of yarn. Easy to wrap… not so much if you want to unwrap!
It’s a bug! A plane… No! It’s a fishing lure?! Ummm… ok, maybe not.
Wrap ’em any way you want. Build up the yarn, or spread it out. Or make a combo (see below)
Switching to a different color; this is a flat ribbon-like yarn. I sometimes like to place the end of the yarn down the stem a ways, and then begin wrapping at the top, overlapping the end.
Twist and wrap. Add another color on top of the first! I also like to let some of the silver sparkly stuff show through – otherwise what’s the point of buying the pretty chenille stems?! But you can let as little or as much show. It’s your party. (No crying allowed).
So now what do you do with them? They would be great as stems for flowers… stems for pom poms, or yo-yo’s… I bet you can think of lots of ideas. They’re easy to couch on with a zig zag stitch.
Here is one I placed on a pin. (sorry the photo is cut off).
I also used one as a hanger on a little bit of an art quilt. I loved the ‘popcorn’ look of this yarn!
It’s the hanger of the little art quilt: “Play With Abandon.”
I added another chenille wrapped stem at the very top too. One of those ‘frilly’ furry ones.
Twist ’em, turn ’em, wrap ’em, couch ’em… I think you get the picture.
EnJOY!
Leslie