Ruffled collar necklace

Turn a piece of silk into pretty pleats with basic sewing

Shibori is a Japanese method of dyeing cloth, and this hand-dyed silk has a myriad of colors running through its folds. To showcase its brilliance and lend a bit of structure to the fabric, I strung a silk cord through it. In just a few stitches, you’ll have a statement piece that’s light as a feather.

SUPPLIES

Necklace 19–21 in. (48–53 cm)

1 yd. (91 cm) shibori silk
18–20 in. (46–51 cm) “grande” silk cord
2 4 mm bicone crystals
6 in. (15 cm) 22-gauge wire
2 boro glass end caps
2 4 mm jump rings
hook-and-eye clasp
chainnose and roundnose pliers
diagonal wire cutters
pen
scissors
sewing needle and thread
T-pin or embroidery needle
tape
sewing machine (optional)

Supplies from Sonoran Beads, sonoranbeads.com. Check your local bead store for supplies.

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1

Cut a 1-yd. (91 cm) piece of shibori silk. Fold it in half lengthwise, with the front sides of the silk facing each other. Sew the edges together by hand or with a sewing machine.

Step 2

Use a pen to turn the silk tube inside out.

Step 3

Cut an 18–20-in. (46–51 cm) piece of silk cord (Tape it up, p. 40). String the tube on the cord, gathering the tube to create a ruffle. Trim the cord within 2 in. (5 cm) of the finished length.

Step 4

About 1 1⁄2 in. (3.8 cm) from one end of the cord, tuck the raw edge of the tube under. Gather the tube. Using a needle and thread, sew the tube to the cord. Repeat on the other end.

Tape it up

After you decide where to trim the cord, wrap a piece of tape around it, then cut through the center of the tape. Leave the tape on when you string the end cap; it will prevent fraying.

Step 5

On each end, use a T-pin or embroidery needle to make a hole in the cord. Cut a 3-in. (7.6 cm) piece of wire and string the cord. Make a set of wraps and trim the excess wire.

Step 6

On each end, string an end cap and a bicone crystal. Make a wrapped loop.

Step 7

On each end, open a jump ring. Attach the loop and half of a clasp. Close the jump ring.

Tip!

sewed coins If you like, sew beads to the necklace. I went through the coin pearls two or three times to secure them to the cord.

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Ruffled collar necklace

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