Bead and Spindle Whorl Making

Beads may be one of the earliest forms of jewellery. There are lots of different ways of making beads, they can be made from lots of different materials, and they can come in a different shapes and sizes. Beads can be strung onto a thread to make a necklace.

Spindle whorls are round weights enabling a spindle to turn for the spinning of wool. When archaeologists find them it may indicate evidence of material making and farming.

Instructions – Bangor Gwynedd YAC

Adult supervision is required.

Type of Activity : Crafting

How many people required (minimum) : 1

Safety Measures : Get a parent to help you use the oven!

Ages : 8+

Time Required: 30 minutes

Step 1

Break off a small strip of clay from each colour.

Step 2

Knead these until they are soft and warm with no hard bits.

Step 3

Using the palms of your hands, roll them in to balls.

Step 4

On a hard surface (such as a table) roll each ball into a sausage shape about as long as your hand.

Step 5

Plait the ‘sausages’ of clay together (wind one colour around the other).

Step 6

Roll the plaited clay into another ball.

Step 7

Roll this ball into another sausage.

Step 8

Roll this sausage into the final ball.

Step 9

Gently squeeze the ball to make it a bit flatter.

Step 10

Ask an adult to carefully make a hole through the bead (using something pointy like a knitting needle). It helps to make a hole on one side, then a hole on the other side so that both holes join. You can wiggle the knitting needle to make the hole slightly rounder and bigger.

Step 11

Ask an adult to help you bake your beads. Use a non-stick baking tray. We used Fimo Soft and baked our beads at 110 °C for about 25 minutes. Remember: the tray will be really hot when it comes out of the oven.

Step 12

Let the beads cool – they won’t be properly hard until they’ve cooled.

Step 13

If you’d like to make a necklace, ask an adult to cut a piece of string, thread this through the bead and tie to make a necklace.