We think these beards are perfect for dressing up as wizards, vikings, pirates… old men… and of course Father Christmas. They are quick and easy to make… and a white beard makes a wonderful and fun Christmas present!

Did you know some cotton mops are made from recycled fibres? I found mop string has several advantages over buying wool; it’s cheap – you can make 2 beards out of 1 mop head. The string is already cut to size, saving a job and quite a bit of mess as you can pull out just what you need. You can dye cotton with natural dyes – yep – another fun craft project.

We used:

• A cotton mop head (Microfibre is horrible to work with and make terrible beards – we tried!)
• White felt
• Elastic

Some future ideas;

• Instead of buying a mop unravel an old jumper or blanket, or use leftovers from a knitting/crochet project
• Use left over string for other projects – I used mine for matching hair for a wizard’s hat
• Matching eyebrows!
• Come up with ideas yet for the screw part of the mop

What can I do with my beard after it’s bearding life is done?

• Pull apart and reuse the string in other projects
• Use it for stuffing
• Mop the floor with it?
• Pull it apart and compost it
• Recycle it in textiles recycling)

BEARD VARIATIONS

• Dye the string different colours – tea for brown, rust for orange, felt tip ink for grey, black and blue
• Make variegated colours
• Bushy beard by adding another shorter layer of tassels underneath, fastened to the chin
• Long beard by extending the template and adding more layers, like the bushy beard, just longer
• Viking beard with plaited moustaches