Free Demo Sunday! How to Crochet a Necklace! Part 2!

Here is Part 2 of last week's How to Crochet a Necklace!
If you have not completed last week's project, refer to the last blog entry for instructions on how to create the crocheted necklace.  In this entry, we are embellishing with crystals and wire.

Cut at least 3 lengths of 26 or 28 gauge artistic wire at various measurements ranging from 2 feet to 4 feet.(If you have made your crochet necklace longer, adjust your measurements.  Tack on the amount you added to your necklace.)

Make a loop 6 inches down the artistic wire to start your slip knot to crochet.
Wire onto your crochet hook.

Add about 15 beads to the bottom of your wire that you will crochet, then bend the end up to stop them from falling off.  You will be adding more as you crochet, so don't make too harsh of a bend.


Bring two beads up towards the hook.

Complete one chain stitch around the beads.  Watch the opening video if you're having trouble with this technique.


Continue to crochet in this manner.  Try just pulling up one bead every other chain stitch.  You could also crochet all of the different wires with different numbers of beads in each stitch.


As you crochet, begin to pull on the chained section to elongate the loops.


You could also try untwisting the chains to make the beads look more at random.

Once you are about 6 inches from the other end of the wire, pull the tail end through the last chain loop to end your chain.  Lay the chain on your necklace to make sure that it is at the length you want it.  Each of your strands of wire that you will complete will look best at a different length, so your shorter cut wire should be the highest on the necklace.

Poke the end of the wire up through the knot that is 3 inches from your yarn chains.  Make sure that you have at least an inch pulled through.

Spiral the inch of wire around the top of the knot so that it is secure.


Do the same to the other side of the chain.


Complete the other strands in the same manner and arrange them however you'd like on the necklace!

Free Demo Sunday! How to Crochet a Necklace! Part 1

Part One!
Here is the first part of the demo on how to create this beautiful sparkly crochet necklace.  Crochet necklaces were the trend in the craft community for such a long time, so we're taking it to the next level by adding some metal and sparkle to it!  The first part of this demo is just the basic crochet necklace.  Check back next week for part two to learn how to crochet crystals onto the wire in a couple different ways and then weave the wires into the necklace.

Materials needed (part 1):
1 ball of ladder or ribbon yarn (or at least a good 10 yards)
Scissors
Size K/ 7mm crochet hook. (I prefer the Addi Bamboo because the hook is deep enough that it grabs both sides of the ladder yarn)
Tape Measure

Additional Materials needed (part 2):
28 or 26 gauge artistic wire (I used silver but choose whatever color you'd like)
At least 100 beads to add onto the wire (I think 4mm Swarovski crystal bicones look the best)
Wire Cutter

Cut five strands of the yarn that are two yards each.  If you want a necklace much longer than 24 inches, you should add about a foot to the total length, or just add however much you think you'd like.

Starting with the first strand, measure 12 inches on the yarn.

Loop the yarn over itself to begin the chain stitch.

Insert your hook into the loop and pull the longer tail end up through the loop to start a slip knot.

Begin to chain stitch!

Crochet until you are 12 inches from the other end.  You may want to do one or two more stitches than you think you'd need because when you pull out of the stitch, your tail end might get a little longer. :)

Pull the tail end all the way out of your last chain stitch.

Complete all of the strands in the same way!

Combine all five strands.  Your chain sections should all be about the same length. 

Measure 3 inches up from your chain sections and tie an overhand knot.

Do the same thing to the other side!

Make sure that your knots are about the same length from the chain sections on both sides.  If they aren't, it's easy enough to loosen one and then slide it to where it needs to go.

Tie another overhand knot at the top of the necklace, and there you are!  You've made your crocheted necklace!  Slip it on over your head, and it should be the perfect length!  If you'd prefer a clasp, just get a little crafty and tie your favorite style on at the right length for you.  You could even knot both sides separately and tie your necklace on at the perfect length each time you wear it.


Stay tuned!  Next week we'll add the sparkle!

Free Demo Sunday! How to Create Cute Beaded Starfish!

Here is a FREE demo on how to create these adorable beaded starfish!  There was a pretty simplistic pattern for a beaded starfish in a bead magazine a couple years ago that Chou and I fell in love with, so we decided to re-do it and jazz things up a little.
(By the way,  this is a great way to use up extra seed beads that you just have small amounts of left over from bigger projects!)

Materials needed:
Approx. 2 yards of 8lb Fireline.
(35) size 6 seed beads
(30) size 8 seed beads
(1) flexible beading needle (Big Eyes work!)

String (5) 6's onto your threaded needle.  Bring them down towards the end of your Fireline.

Tie the seed beads into a circle using a square knot (right over left, left over right) or two.  Make sure that it is secure by pulling on the beads.  If your knot slips, tie another one on top of it!

Add an 8 to your needle.  Take the needle through the 6 that is next to your knot.

Pull the Fireline so that the 8 snugs down in between two 6's.  Continue to add 8's in this manner until you've put them in between all of the 6's.

When you are adding the last 8 in the circle, take your needle through the next 6 in the row, AND go up through the very first 8 that you added.

Add two 6's to your needle and pass through the next 8 in the row.  (This step should remind you of peyote stitch, but we are actually setting up for some herringbone.)

Pull the Fireline tight so that your newly added 6's lay against your work like this.  If they aren't laying like the picture, you might need to nudge them into place with your finger.

Continue to add two 6's in between each 8 all the way around the circle.

 When you are passing through the last 8, also pass through the first 6 that you added in this last step.

Add two 6's and take the needle down through the next 6 in the row.  Also pass down through the 8.

Pass up through the next 6 in the row.  Add two 6's and continue down through the next 6 and 8, then back up the 6.  Continue this until you have completed the circle.

Once you've completed the circle go up through the first 6 that you added in the last row.

Add two 6's and go down through the next 6 like you did in the last step.  Continue down through the next 6, the 8, then back up the two 6's.

Continue this until you have completed the circle.

Once you have completed the circle and your Fireline is coming out of the 8 at the bottom, take your needle up through the three 6's.  Add two 8's.

Take the needle down through the three 6's and the 8.  Continue this until you have completed the circle.

When you've completed the last step ending with your Fireline exiting the 8 in the middle of the starfish, take the needle up through the next three 6's and the 8 added in the last step.

Add one 8 and take your needle down through the next 8 in the row and down through the next three 6's and then the 8.

 Double check your work against the picture.  The 8's that you are adding in this step should make the point of the starfish arm.  Continue like this until you have completed all five of the arms.

Make sure that your Fireline is exiting the 8 in the middle of the starfish.  Add one 8 and take the needle through the next 8 in the middle of the starfish.

Pull the Fireline tight so that your newly added 8 sits in the middle of the two 8's.  It will actually be resting in the middle of three 6's that were added at the beginning of the project.

Add another 8 and go through the next 8 in the row.  Continue this all the way around the circle until you have five 8's added on top of the starfish.

When you have taken the needle through the last 8 on the starfish, go up through the next 6 in the row.

Add one 8 then take the needle through the next 6 in the row.  Then go down the 8 in the middle of the starfish.

Take the needle up through the next 6 in the row.

Add one 8 then go down towards the middle of the starfish through the next 6 and 8 in the row.

Continue this step until you have added all five of the 8's around the circle.  Reinforce if you feel the need and then knot the tail end onto the starfish next to one of the 8's in the middle.

The last step is... make more!  They make great charms, pendants, or better yet, RINGS!  Cocktail rings are HUGE this summer and the more HUGE, the better!  Make a tubular peyote ring and stitch one of your cute starfish onto the band.  How adorable!