crochet necklace

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. 

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 !

silvery sewing thread and 100 swarofski beads

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.

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.

use your imagination ! 

zilveren juweel gehaakt

Hoi lezers,

 ik was vorige week door een tijdschrift over interieursaan het bladeren,  met veel artistieke zwart/wit foto's.  Het gaf me zin om nog eens een zilveren juweel te haken, om op mijn zwarte trui te dragen.  Dit is het resultaat.  Ik noem het prototype 1.  Het leek me leuk om kleine rondjes te haken, en die dan met een paar donkere glaspareltjes aaneen te rijgen.  De uitstekende draadjes wou ik eerst wegwerken, maar ik vond het eigenlijk wel een speels effect hebben.  Dus zijn ze eraan gebleven.   Ik maakte ook oorbellen die erbij passen. 
Wat vinden jullie ervan ?