10 Minute Boa by Lydia F Borin A Beadwrangler Workshop

Introduction
I already had a P hook so it tried chaining with it but soon realized a size Q would be more comfortable for a soft but full chain.  The Q hook was perfect and I combined the three yarns to chain a boa type necklace.  Once I had enough length to put the necklace over my head, I stopped, fastened it off and tied it around my neck with the loose yarn ends.  It would not have mattered if I let the loose yarn hang in back or in front, it looked great.  I have continued to experiment and make more boa items such as belts and headbands.  Next I plan to add beads to a few of the pieces.   Whether you use the type fibers I listed or have enough yarn stash to make up a boa necklace, you will have fun.

Supplies 2 skeins of thick eyelash yarns in 2 colors, examples, Stars, Techno Hair, Aura, Salsa and Funny and 1skein of Eros, a thin ribbon yarn with little colored squares (Uncommon Threads, nnollett@gte.net, 727-784-6778, my local yarn store, or check Beadwrangler.com  links for yarn supplier websites. 1 size Q hook (yarn and craft stores) scissors optional, large tapestry or sewing needle optional, 12 size 6mm or 9mm glass pony beads and 6 size 6/0 beads  (6/0 beads, www.7echoes.com , pony beads, local bead or craft stores

If you have a yarn stash, you can combine 3 or more yarns, just make sure you have some thick eyelash type yarns to add  or two thinner eyelash yarns together since that is what really creates the boa style.  You can also string bead strands and chain them through the boa or use a needle to work them through the fiber.  K1C2 Adornments, precut Fun Fibers for Fabulous Effects, 3.25 yds each,  7 fibers, will make a 27” boa with additional loose thread ends left over to tie together or stitch in.  My example is the America 50010 colors. I also combined a thick moss green yarn that feels furry, a yarn that is gray ribbon with a loose weave and a thin gray silky yarn.  I added two eyelash yarns instead of one because they were not as thick as I needed.  One was a dk bluegreen and the other a multi-color.  The boa necklace and earrings look very organic and under the sea type motif.  All these yarns came from Uncommon Threads.  Rosemary has a sticky label on all her yarn skeins that includes her store name and phone number so I always know which yarns from her store for reordering.

Instructions
For crocheters, it will only take about 5 minutes to make the boa necklace.  If you are a beginner, it will take a while for you to learn to use a large hook and make chains.  I have also included instructions for beginners, even those who do not want to use a hook.

Boa Necklace
Gauge:  2ch equals 2 ¼” with a size Q hook.  Do not feel you have to have this exact gauge.  Your chains can be smaller or larger and you can use a P hook if you prefer.  Have fun and do not worry about exactness for this project.

Put all the yarn ends together and form a slip knot, leaving about 7” as the tail.  Chain for the length you want your boa such as 27”, 35”, 40” or longer.  Then fasten off and leave 7” of loose thread on that end.  Tie the two ends together if the necklace is long enough to go over your head.  Leave them hanging in front or in back.   If you want the necklace short and make a closure, stitch some of the yarn ends together at one end and add chained Rainbow Elastic thread to form a loop and stitch a button on the other end.  If you do not want the loose yarn ends to dangle, then stitch them into the end of the necklace with an needle eye that accommodates the yarn.   You could also make a loop on one end and let loose thread ends hang from it and then bring the other ends through like a lariat.

Boa Earrings Chain 3 and join with a slip stitch to form a ring.  Leave 5” loose threads on each end.  Tie them in a knot twice and add an earring wire with sewing thread and needle or sharps needle and Silamide thread into the top of the center loop of chain three. Then take the needle through the ear wire circle and back into the chains and stitch enough times the thread will not come loose.  Cut the loose ends as short as you want them.  If you want smaller chains for the earrings, use a P hook instead.   You can also use large hoop earrings instead of earring findings and insert them through the center opening of the joined chain 3.

Beginners Instructions for the Boa Necklace
Most Q hooks have a hook on each end for other crochet techniques.  Use the hook on one end or the other.  You will not need both.

Making a Slip Knot
To make a slip knot, lay the yarns down flat with the cut ends together.  With 7” left on the ends, put your fingers onto the yarn right past the 7.”  Make the shape of a loop, crossing over the yarns.  Then bring the yarns right before the last 7” under the loop and pull the thread ends up through the loop but not all the way.   Then pull that loop closer together but not real tight.  If you end out with too short a piece to make the loop, take it back out and begin the loop further down on the length of the yarns.

Making the Chains
Take that big hunker hook and put one of the hook ends through the slip knot loop.   Put the hook in the hand you use most, right or left hand.  Hold it like you hold a knife.  Use your thumb and third finger from the thumb of your other hand to hold the cut ends of the threads below the slip knot.  Use your other hand also to hold onto the longer fiber by putting the yarn over your forefinger of your other hand (finger next to your thumb).  Take the hook under the yarn that is held by your other hand and pull the hook back through the slip knot loop on the hook.  Now you have two chains on the piece.  Take the hook under the yarn again and bring it through the last chain you made.  You will have to move the hook a little so it grabs the yarn before you pull it back through the last chain.  Practice until it becomes comfortable.  Continue for the length you want.  When you have the last chain you want to make, if you are working from yarn balls, pull the yarn through the last chain until it is about 5” long, then cut at the center of the 5” and pull the yarn balls away.  You will have loose thread ends on the last chain.  If you are working from cut threads, just pull all the yarns through the last chain.  Now you can finish the ends as you like.

I Can’t Do That Hook Thang!
If you can not or do not want to work the hook, make a slip knot and then use your fingers to pull one loop through another to make the chains.  You just keep pulling a loop through the last loop.

Finishing Touches - Bead Embellishment!
If you want to add beading, you can use a bead spinner to string strands of beads and interlace them through the chains or chain them and attach them to the fiber or wrap them around the fiber.  You can add lots of strung strands or only a few.  I use Jean Stitch thread to string seed beads for this type project and SoftFlex or SoftTouch for bead stringing other projects.  You can also make braids of the bead strands and then wrap them around the fiber chains.  You can also add beads to the earrings with a small strand or strands of beads, or chained, the same as the necklace.  You can use a big eye needle or twisted wire oval eye needle to string on 3 size 6/0 beads on the ribbon type yarn and 2 large glass pony beads on one of the eyelash yarns and one pony bead on the other eyelash yarn.  Be sure and make a knot after the last bead on each loose yarn end so the beads do not work their way off.

Conclusion
There are any number of items you can make using simple chains this way, belts, headbands, long boas, bracelets and broaches.  You can also chain the chains you already made which will pull them up for a thicker piece that can be a broach or wearable.  Just have fun and see what you come up with.  If you want to see how chain stitching is worked with fiber, check the Crochet Guild of America website, www.crochet.org .   They have how to instructions for basic crochet.  I have how to instructions for adding beads to crochet on www.beadcrochet.com and a kit, Learn Bead Crochet from Scratch for beginners.  You can also try a size P hook for a little thinner fibers.   The P hook is smaller and will form nice chains with a thinner group of yarns than those worked with a Q hook.  When you come up with something unique, I would love an image or photo of it.