Easier fabric necklace

I often wonder if pattern designers sit in their offices and plot against me.
Is it their intention to make steps more complicated and confusing than they need to be?
Do they secretly hope that I overbuy and waste precious fabric?
Because that is not cool.

Last week I followed this pattern, 
wasted a ton of time, 
pulled out my hair and 
needlessly cut TONS of fabric.  
(Make bias strips?  Really?  For what?)

Let me save you from the same fate.

Meet the much easier,
fabric conserving,
time saving,
chunky fabric necklace.


This is a really easy and inexpensive project.
The fabric combinations are limitless and it is a great use for scraps.


Supplies:
1 inch wood beads
(I found mine at Michaels.  They can have holes or no holes, it doesn't matter.
12-20 depending on the length you want the necklace to be.)
Three to five different fabrics
(you will need five 4 x 18 strips of fabric.)
Coordinating thread


Cut your fabric into 4 x 18 inch strips.
You need five total.


Sew all of the short ends together in your desired pattern
using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
You can snip the threads and press the seams, but I'm too lazy.
That's how I roll.


On one end fold down the fabric 1/2 inch and sew.



Fold in half right sides together.
Sew down entire length using a 1/2 inch seam allowance.
Feel free to pin sides together if this is too scary.
Once again, I'm too lazy.


Stick a big old safety pin on one end and turn it inside out.
These next steps are boring, so I usually watch something mindless on the Tivo.
Today it was The Fashion Show.
Which is awful.
Project Runway, please come back quickly!

 
Find the center of the long fabric snake and tie a knot.
Push a bead through the tube until it hits the knot.
Tie another knot. 
Repeat on both sides until necklace is desired length.
I used 18 beads on mine and it fits easily over my head.


Here is how I finished it.
I tucked one side into itself,
then clipped off the extra length off of the polka dot side.


Then I stuffed the polka dot side into the other side, 
pinned it and did my best attempt at hand sewing.
It came out crazy and bunchy, but then again, 
it looks as though a bead is in that part of the necklace too.
If you want a shorter necklace, instead of sewing both sides together, 
sew a ribbon on each end so you can tie and untie the cuteness.


My assistant has taken on a part time job in the Quality Control department.
It passed her very stringent standards.


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38 Comments

  1. JillJuly 2, 2009 at 6:03 PM

    OH! Thanks for the MUCH easier version...too cute! (the assistant and the necklace!)
    Blessings!

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  2. Cora Anne DesignsJuly 2, 2009 at 6:38 PM

    Thanks for the tutorial! I wanted to wear one of these necklaces for our upcoming family pictures, and now I can just make one!

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  3. JaimeJuly 2, 2009 at 6:42 PM

    Thank you, thank you...I have been wanting one of these so badly. Now I can make it!! Yea!! You are awesome.
    (I too hate patterns, but my mom cannot sew without one. I guess it is a generation thing.)

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  4. DeannaJuly 2, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    I think your assistant needs a modified necklace to chew on! Love the easier directions - Thanks so much for all of your great postings!

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  5. BethJuly 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM

    cute assistant :)

    I just made one myself, but only used one fabric (boring, I know). Yours is much fancier - you actually bought beads. I stole from my kids. haha. And I didn't even fancy up the ends - I just tied another knot. The best part - the safety pin to pull through. That's my DUH moment of the day.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Cheryl @ a pretty cool life.July 2, 2009 at 7:15 PM

    ROFL! I also think pattern makers try to frustrate me to no end!

    Thanks for the tips.

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  7. AnonymousJuly 2, 2009 at 7:34 PM

    very cute!!! And your assistant is mesmerizing(said in a completely friendly non stalker way :))

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  8. SarahJuly 2, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    I've been looking into making these :)
    Your assistant is so ridiculously cute!
    And I think Project Runway got picked up by another channel. Gonna have to look into that a bit more, though.

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  9. HollyJuly 2, 2009 at 8:21 PM

    That turned out SO cute! I'm glad to see that you had a good assistant too, that's important. :-)

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  10. LSGJuly 2, 2009 at 8:24 PM

    very cute!! we made these when i was MUCH younger using marbles instead of wooden beads...and with very much UNCOOL fabric.... great step-by-step!! :)

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  11. LSGJuly 2, 2009 at 8:25 PM

    very cute!! we made these when i was MUCH younger using marbles instead of wooden beads...and with very much UNCOOL fabric.... great step-by-step!! :)

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  12. JeanetteJuly 2, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    Julie, do you take tons of pics of her until you finally get one where she is smiling (like I do with my kids) or does she ALWAYS smile? She is so cute!!!!!

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  13. Heather | Cookie MondaysJuly 2, 2009 at 8:38 PM

    after much confusion and pondering, i'm thinking that the pattern is in bias strips, since it's meant to curve around. cutting with the straight grain doesn't give as much? which doesn't really matter in this case since you're tying knots every inch! whatever. cuteness is all that counts! love your black & white version! :)

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  14. TrishJuly 2, 2009 at 9:05 PM

    this is too cute and i really want to try it! maybe tomorrow :)

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  15. MarjorieJuly 2, 2009 at 9:16 PM

    Great tutorial! I think that I might be able to do that:)

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  16. Jen~ Lipstick and LaundryJuly 2, 2009 at 10:01 PM

    That is really cute! The other tuts I have seen scared me... This I can do!

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  17. House QueenJuly 3, 2009 at 1:31 AM

    WOW...Way cool...when did you say you were making one fore me? LOL I cannot sew anything!!!

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  18. Karin SchuellerJuly 3, 2009 at 5:29 AM

    This turned out adorable!

    But I have to say that the first paragraph CRACKED ME UP. I offically gave up on patterns a few years ago. Every once in a while I forget and try to get one, and REGRET IT. They always have you buy twice the amount of fabric you actually need AND they always make you do everything the hard way! ARRGGGH! Your words described my plight perfectly. ;) I'm so glad someone else has this too, lol.

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  19. MollyJuly 3, 2009 at 6:26 AM

    Wow thanks chicka!! This one is so much easier!! Your assistant is too cute!! Have a great, safe and happy july 4th!!
    ~Molly P

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  20. Bonus MomJuly 3, 2009 at 6:52 AM

    So much easier! You should write patterns ;) That white fabric with black circles is my new favorite! I think I have personally bought all that my Joann store has!

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  21. TashaJuly 3, 2009 at 6:57 AM

    FABULOUS!!! This is why so many of us just love you. I cannot wait to make my own. Seriously, it makes me want to go out and buy beads right this very second! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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  22. nicoleJuly 3, 2009 at 7:03 AM

    I love this. I think I can actually learn to do this, once I figure out the basics on my machine. You are so inspiring.

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  23. Nikki SchreinerJuly 3, 2009 at 8:17 AM

    I'm soo happy you posted this before it was too late! I just bought beads to make the Amy Butler version, but did not want to sacrifice so much fabric! Leave it to Amy to make things complicated, right?? Thanks so much!

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  24. AlexJuly 3, 2009 at 9:17 AM

    Here's an even easier version. I bought a long skinny scarf that I liked/loved at Target. I sewed that into a tube, and did the rest as you did. Easy peasy!

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  25. HMaasJuly 3, 2009 at 10:14 AM

    Fabulous!! I too get frustrated when a simpler method could be used to achieve the same desired product .. grrrr...

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  26. GinnyJuly 3, 2009 at 10:18 AM

    If I get to hold and munch on that sweet baby, I will make one. hahaha

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  27. AshleyJuly 3, 2009 at 3:27 PM

    I want the assistant!!! So adorable...

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  28. LynetteJuly 3, 2009 at 4:05 PM

    I am so going to make this, my girlfriend and I are planning a girls night and I think this will be the perfect craft. Thanks!!

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  29. Sumo @ Sumo's Sweet StuffJuly 3, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    I love this idea! Can't wait to try it out!

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  30. TonyaJuly 6, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    your assistant is so stinkin beautiful...how do you get anything done with those baby blues staring up at you?

    Hope you had a fabulous
    4th!

    xoxo
    Tonya

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  31. saffiertjeJuly 8, 2009 at 3:57 AM

    Easyer indeed!!! Thanx!!
    I was reading the amy pattern but did not used it at all...

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  32. SuanneMay 24, 2010 at 6:16 PM

    I saw Amy Butler's and thought "oh how cute!", but couldn't open the .pdf file, so went Googling for more. I found yours just by clicking onto the non-pdf links. Your tutorial looks so easy to follow, I am thinking of making a necklace for my SIL, to go with a tiered skirt I am making for her.

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  33. buzzknitJune 27, 2010 at 8:39 AM

    Thank you - thank you - thank you!!! I was in my sewing room - husband at hand with calculator - had my 14x14 squares cut - but to no avail - I now have 19 triangles as cutting the first bias strip proved not to measure out. I will now use your plan! I think you are right - could be a nasty plot to waste fabric - I will make little flags from my triangles!!! Thanks again for saving me much aggravation!!!!!

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  34. buzzknitJune 27, 2010 at 8:39 AM

    Thank you - thank you - thank you!!! I was in my sewing room - husband at hand with calculator - had my 14x14 squares cut - but to no avail - I now have 19 triangles as cutting the first bias strip proved not to measure out. I will now use your plan! I think you are right - could be a nasty plot to waste fabric - I will make little flags from my triangles!!! Thanks again for saving me much aggravation!!!!!

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  35. ZZUSSJuly 22, 2010 at 11:20 AM

    Oh yes, Thank you so much for sharing..
    I was planning on making the Amy Butler one, but when I got startedI just didn't understand it, I needed to do, so how much fabric did I need. I then googled and found your easy to follow one.. And I much say, it was easy and it looks great!
    regards from the Netherlands!

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  36. JulietDecember 3, 2010 at 8:09 AM

    Hi, I found your blog when I googled "amy butler fabric necklace" because I was reading the official Amy Butler instructions and was like are you freaking kidding me, a bias strip? why? So you just saved me big time, thank you for posting this. Huge community service to a really frustrated college student.

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  37. Sara vs. SarahFebruary 27, 2011 at 2:27 PM

    hi - i was just looking at the AB pattern, like what? what a waste of fabric (and bias strips, really?) - google helped me find your version which looks way more doable! thanks - am gonna give it a whirl! :-) Sara

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  38. UnknownAugust 8, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    The necklace is delicate and cute. Thank you for sharing. By the way, your have a lovely assistant.

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