Design Inspiration Supplies

Design Instructions

 

Supplies needed

  • 1    Poppy 1" Bezel Pendant    (94-2580-18)
  • 1    Botanical Pinch Bail    (94-5827-18)
  • 1    Leaf Clasp Set   (94-6039-18)
  • 8    Milgrained Two-sided SS16 Bezel Link    (94-3235-18)
  • 10    Oval Jump Ring 20ga 4x3mm ID    (01-0018-18)
  • 14"    Flattened Brass Cable Chain 4x2.5mm    (20-0125-18)
  • 12    8mm Faceted Gemstone Bead (Amethyst shown)
  • 16    4mm  Gemstone Cabochon (Green Serpentine shown)
  • 22 Gauge Craft Wire, copper
  • Cotton, linen or muslin cloth, white or cream
  • Embroidery floss, 4-5 colors
  • Embroidery pattern (Thistle shown - https://www.dmc.com/us/thistle-pattern-9009622.html)
  • Sturdy poster board, 1mm thick, white
  • E6000 or G-S Hypo Cement adhesive

Tools

  • chain nose pliers (2)
  • round nose pliers
  • wire cutters
  • scissors
  • embroidery needle
  • small embroidery hoop
  • 1" round craft punch
  • toothpick
  • cotton swab or tissue

Skill Level: Beginning-intermediate

Finished Size: Approx. 28" 

Designer: Kierston Aiello

Download the Embroidered Thistles Necklace PDF

Watch our technique videos TierraCast Blog (look for Wrapped Loops and Jump Rings).

Tips: This project requires some experience with embroidery. Choose a pattern that will create a design that is less than 1" in diameter. The thistle embroidery pattern Kierston used recommends 4 floss colors, dk. green, med. green, turquoise, and pink. She mixed it up - using a dk. green, lt. green, purple, lanvender, and dk. pink.

Steps

  1. Embroidered pendant: Create your embroidery piece and cut it out in a round shape about 1 3/8" in diameter.
  2. Cut a 1" round piece of poster board. Check fit in 1" bezel. Fit should not be tight, but allow a small amount of space around the edge for the fabric that will wrap around the poster board. Trim if necessary.
  3. Use a toothpick or the applicator to apply small drops of adhesive around the edge of the round on the back side.
  4. Center embroidered piece on the front side of the round carefully, then wrap edges around and press into glue on back side, adjusting position as needed. Set aside to dry. (Optional: use a small piece of tape to keep the fabric in place as it is drying.
  5. Place a few small drops of adhesive into the bottom of the bezel not too near the edge. Press embroidered piece into bezel carefully, making sure it is upright. Set aside to dry.
  6. Bezel links: Use a toothpick or the applicator to apply a tiny drop of glue into 1 side of a bezel link. Set 1 cabochon into the bezel and press firmly. (Use cotton swab or tissue to clean off excess glue if needed.) Repeat with second cabochon on other side of link. Repeat with remaining bezel links and cabochons. Set aside to dry.
  7. Gemstone link segments: Cut a 3" piece of craft wire. Bend wire at right angle 1 1/4" from 1 end and use round nose pliers to begin a wrapped loop. Before wrapping attach loop to end of 1 bezel link. Complete loop with 2 wraps, then trim excess wire.
  8. String 1 gemstone bead onto end of wire. Form a 2nd wrapped loop. 
  9. Repeat Steps 8-9, attaching to gemstone link completed in Step 9 instead of a bezel link.
  10. Repeat Steps 8-9 once more, attaching a 2nd bezel link to the final wrapped loop. 
  11. Repeat Steps 7-10 three times.
  12. Necklace assembly: Cut three 1 1/4" pieces of chain. Cut remaining 10" piece of chain in half.
  13. Open 1 jump ring and attach to 1 end of a 5" chain segment. Before closing attach clasp ring. Close jump ring. 
  14. Open a 2nd jump ring and attach at other end of chain. Before closing attach to end of 1 gemstone segment. Close jump ring.
  15. Open a 3rd jump ring and attach at other end of gemstone segment. Before closing attach one 1 1/4" chain segment.
  16. Continue connecting gemstone and chain segments, attaching 2nd and 3rd 1 1/4" chain segments, then 5" chain segment. Before closing final jump ring attach clasp bar. Close jump ring.
  17. Use chain nose pliers to spread pinch bail open enough to fit over chain. Place bail over chain at center of necklace, then place pendant loop onto bail peg before pinching bail closed securely.