I have a bag full of embroidery thread to play with and I tell ya what, I sure don't feel like embroidering anything with it! It has been inspiring other projects tho lately, like this simple necklace I finshed today.
I'm just aching for some vibrant color to help brighten these awfully grey June days! These colors remind me of sherbert and smoothies and berry stained lips- ah, I can't wait for summer!
The necklace is super simple and easy to make, as you can see!
- I just braided three lengths of embroidery thread- cut them about 3x longer than the length of the necklace you want to end up with. Tie 'em in a knot and safety pin the knot to something sturdy (like the arm of your couch) so you can pull the threads taut, and braid away!
- Towards the middle of the necklace, instead of braiding, I used a friendship bracelet stitch I remembered from grade school days (the solid pink part you see). It's called a half-hitch sprial (instructions there, it's really easy!)
- I spiraled for a little section and then continued braiding til the end.
- Then I slipped some vintage lucite hoops on it (from my bead collection, a past life!) for some weight and more color and tied the two ends of the necklace together at the length I wanted it to hang.
Now yay! New summer necklace!
What have you been making/doing/craftin/cookin lately?
so cute! i love it!
Posted by: Color Collective | Jun 08, 2011 at 03:23 PM
I made a summery bear in a hammock for a friend, and now I can't stop making them. They're very addictive! If you'd like to see it, check it out on our blog : http://threestrandstogether.blogspot.com/2011/06/reading-bear.html
Posted by: Kelly | Jun 08, 2011 at 04:15 PM
I love this, beautiful summery colors! The colors and shapes remind me of tropical life savers. I have enough floss to try this one day, I just wish I braided as neatly as you do!
Right now I'm working on a new art line, sketching up a storm and I love it :)
Posted by: Van | Jun 09, 2011 at 07:06 AM
Love it! I have some embroidery thread lying around too, I must give this a try.
I started a DIY beauty dish yesterday for my speedlight.
Posted by: Sweet Ronit | Jun 09, 2011 at 07:18 AM
Love the color combination Jena. I loved making friendship bracelets at my babysitter's. I thought she was soooo cool! :)Thanks for the inspiration to get braiding.
Posted by: Megan Leone | Jun 09, 2011 at 04:39 PM
That is such a neat idea. It's simple yet you can do a lot of color combos with it to change it up.
Posted by: vanessa | Jun 09, 2011 at 08:28 PM
sweet! reminds me of my ole friendship bracelet makin' days! I recognize that little twisty knot behind the beads!
way to craft mamacita!
Posted by: AcanthusNichole | Jun 09, 2011 at 11:06 PM
yeah, exactly!
Posted by: Miss Modish | Jun 10, 2011 at 03:11 PM
Love this idea. Like many of the others have said, this brings up some serious nostalgia and with all the embroidery floss I've got laying around, it's time to get cracking. Where did you find the beautiful lucite beads?
Posted by: Hairofthehare.wordpress.com | Jun 17, 2011 at 11:53 AM