I glance over at my workbench and let out an exasperated sigh. I dig around under pieces of paper, pushing aside tools and bits of silver and half-formed pieces of jewelry that litter the surface.
Hard as I try to keep my physical space organized, my workspace is almost always a hot mess.
Case in point: as I sat at my desk writing this easy DIY necklace tutorial and look over at my workbench, this is exactly what I see:
Sadly, this is a common occurrence.
While this constant state of chaos is often the source of frustration because inevitably I cannot find the tool or supply I need — and very often, it is something I literally just put down — it also leads to these fantastic inadvertent “Aha!” design moments.
Or happy accidents.
For example, the necklace I’m about to show you how to make.
Back in 2011 when I was preparing for my wedding, I decided to make my bridesmaids necklaces. My colors were purple and silver; naturally I went with a silver necklace with a purple Swarovski briolette pendant accent.
(In case you’re wondering, a briolette is just a fancy word for an elongated pear-shaped crystal)
There were five bridesmaids, and the briolettes came in packages of six, so I had an extra one.
One sad, lonely briolette that went unused for years, just sitting in my bead box, day after day, week after week.
Fast forward four years. One day I’m working on a pair of earrings for a show. The briolette happens to be just hanging out on the workbench, minding its own business when I place the half-made earring onto the bench right next to it as I went digging around for an earwire.
I look down. Aha!
Happy accident.
Perhaps sometimes it pays to be messy.
And now, my friends, for the easy DIY necklace tutorial with its fancy shmancy crystal pendant:
(And just a little heads up, those are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission helps me to run this blog — or, at the very least, it will cover about one cup of coffee a month.)
For this necklace, you will need the following supplies:
- 2 pairs of flat nose pliers
- 12 large open jump rings
- I use 18-gauge 7.0 mm inner diameter (ID) sterling silver rings
- 13 small open jump rings
- I use 18-gauge 3.5 mm ID sterling silver jump rings
- 2 tiny open jump rings
- I use 22-gauge 2.2 mm ID sterling silver jump rings
- length of chain
- for an 18-inch necklace, I use about 17 1/2 inches of flat cable chain
- 1 small lobster clasp
- 1 Swarovski briolette
- I used one that a 11x5mm briolette. You can use any bead or accent of your choosing
Instructions:
To get started with this easy DIY necklace tutorial, make 4 sets of 3-ring mobius spirals. (If you aren’t sure how to do that, check out this tutorial.)
Now loop one of the smaller jump rings (3.5mm) through one of the spirals like so:
(And pay no attention to the fact that workbench looks like it changed colors. I swear it’s the same table.)
Go ahead and add another spiral onto that little jump ring and close it up nice and snug like a bug in a rug….erm, I mean like a snugly closed jump ring.
(Can you tell that I spend too much time around small children?)
(By the way, how much fun are you having with my tangents? Don’t worry, it’s even worse in person!
Connect the two spirals with another small jump ring, and continue with the other two jump rings until you have a little caterpillar of jump rings.
See, caterpillar! Wait, yours doesn’t look like that?
Loop your (imaginary) caterpillar’s head around so it’s getting a nice look at its tail end like so:
Just like you did with all the other spirals, connect the head and the end with two more jump rings. It may not look quite right when you’re in the process, but when one end is pulling from the tension of the chain I promise it will!
Just be sure not to twist the line around or it will definitely look off. Or keep it as is. The only rule I have around here is to have FUN and enjoy your jewelry-making process.
(Though I promise you I have my moments of frustration with the process.)
Now use one last jump ring to add your bead to one of the spirals (doesn’t matter which one)…
Attach another jump ring or two to the spiral on the opposite end, string it on a chain, and ta-da, a super simple yet fancy-looking pendant.
Unsure about how to make a chain? Scroll to the bottom of this post to see how!
Now go tell me in the comments — who will your first necklace be for, and what color will it be?
Gorgeous pendant and seriously though you are just so talented and creative with all your jewelry making ?
Thank you, Janine! <3
This necklace is gorgeous!!! I sincerely wish I had your talent. I could see my chubby fingers getting in the way and then my mouth spouting off colorful language. 🙂 You are a jewelry making superstar!
XOXO
Thank you <3 I think you could do this...just take a little bit of practice 😀 (And my early days of jewelry making -- and sometimes now -- includes some colorful language as well!)
First of all, it’s gorgeous.
Secondly, my mom is an artist as you know and we were talking about “happy accidents” in art. It started because she told me that she loved the way my words and photos aligned in my recent post and I said it was an accident. Then she told me about how she matches up paper and frame materials for hanging artwork and she puts them in two piles and they always suit each other as perfect pairs.
Thank you! Your words and photos do align so well, it is like they were meant for each other. But that’s amazing about your mom’s artwork! Sometimes these things just have a way of working out.
So pretty! I’d like to say I will make one, but I’d rather just buy from you! I love your tangents, btw, and your little caterpillar. 🙂
Thanks! I think I had a little too much fun with that caterpillar 😉
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I notice you say small lobster clasp. can you tell what size you used?
Hi, Darlene, thanks for your question! I typically use a 9.3mm clasp. It’s pretty small, and I think it would also work with a slightly bigger one as well (around 13mm)
Very Pretty!
Thank you, Edith!
nice design would make a lovely set with earrings
Thank you! I agree 😉
OMG!!! You are Just too Funny!! I am enjoying your tutorials, and what did you call them. ..little rants? I can’t remember anyways I do Like them… gives me chuckles every time!! Thank you….I can’t wait to try to make this necklace!! ????????
Thanks, Kelly, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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