Some time ago, I visited a craft shop run by a young woman. She turned the shed of her house into a small store, with an abundance of choice - the place was stacked with beads, buttons, all kind of examples, quite close to what I would call heaven.
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| In black 'n white, quite artistic don't you think ? |
I bought several items, but somehow I never got around to actually making something with it. Too busy knitting I suppose. But now it was time for a challenge : I was asked by a group of ladies to show them how to crochet a necklace, using mainly buttons and beads. This is the result :
So I got out my box with manly tools ( cutters, tongs in all shapes, cutting pliers and metal threads) and the stack of pearl and buttons I acquired over the years. And there were the small beads and fine threads I bought at the shed - I forgot all about them !
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| silvery sewing thread and 100 swarofski beads |
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| the picture doens't do them right, they sparkle a lot more |
Well, It was so much fun, I couldn't stop making them.
And this is how you can make them too :
Make a selection of small beads, some buttons if you want, and chose a fine but strong thread. You can use fine embroidery silk, or colourful cotton, DMC will do or cordonnet, even nylon thread (like fishermen use) or fine metal threads. Use a very fine crochet hook, like a 1 or 1.50.
You start with putting a lot of beads on the thread you are going to use. I put on at least 100 different beads. Then you just start crocheting in chain stiches, and randomly add the beads. Like chain 5 stiches, add a bead, chain 10 stiches, add a bead, chain 7 stiches, add 2 beads, etc.... until no beads are left on the thread. Same with the buttons.
To add a bead : you just push the bead as close to your crochet hook
as possible and chain on, it will be automatically fastened in your
work.
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| this thread was on a spool, and was easy to use. |
You will end up with a very long piece of crochet, and to avoid it messing all up, wind it around a little piece of cardboard (I use the inside rolls of my kitchen paper towels)
Then you have to make it into a wearable necklace or bracelet. Use a technique for adding a little metal chain, or gather the long chain and twist it around so that the beads form a 'sausage' and add a clasp if necessary.
One of the ladies used nylon thread to crochet, and the result was very flexible, she could just put it around her head a few times and it was finished.
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| use your imagination ! |
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