JCrew-Inspired Necklace Tutorial (and the Basics of Jewelry Making!)

Here is my latest little jewelry love!


It was inspired by this little pretty at JCrew:

I thought it would be a perfect little necklace to introduce some of the basics of jewelry making to those of you who have been asking about that! I'm sorry it's taken so long!

Like any craft, there are endless tools, supplies, and techniques that can be used for jewelry making. But so far, I rarely use anything other than needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, and these few supplies;

Chains and clasps:

Delicious beads, and vintage buttons and pendants:


And the "boring" hardware; Eyepins, headpins, and jumprings:

These three are all for attaching your beads and things to your chain, and can be purchased at a craft store (or even Walmart!) for very little. If you take a close look at the jewelry you have, you will probably recognize some of them!
Today we're mostly using eyepins, because we're attaching something on either side of our bead, but if you're designing a necklace with dangling beads, you would use a head pin instead, as pictured here:


Ok! Let's get started with our necklace! You'll want to get a simple 18" chain, and a clasp, if it doesn't already have one attached (again, you can purchase these at a craft store, or Walmart, if you don't have one on hand), 7 large pearl beads, 8 small pearl beads, and a 1/2" wide ribbon in your color choice.

1: Start by slipping one large pearl onto an eyepin, and clipping it about 1/2" from the top of the pearl with wire cutters.




2: Using your needle-nose pliers, grasp the very top of the clipped eyepin firmly, and turn the pliers over twice, to bend the eyepin into a circle. Then bend the bottom of the circle back a little, to form a hook shape (3rd photo). Repeat for 2 more large pearls.


3: Do the same thing, but threading 1 small pearl, then 1 large, then another small one, and repeat to make 4 sets of the three pearls.


4: Snip the link in the very center of your chain with your wire cutters. Then grab a single pearl, open the hook on one end slightly with your pliers, by twisting it to the side, and loop one of the ending links of the chain onto it. Then close, by bending your hook back into place (be sure that the hook is closed all the way!). Repeat for the hook on the other side of your pearl, so that your chain is intact again, with a pearl in the center.


5: Starting from your center pearl, measure 1.5" away, and snip another link. Add a 3-pearl accent using the same method as in step 4. Repeat, measuring 1.5" each time, to add another single, and 3-pearl accent.
6: Repeat on the other side of your center pearl.
7: Add a clasp, if necessary, by opening the loop on the end, and threading the ending chain link onto it, then close with your pliers. Add a jumpring to the other end of the chain.


8: Then tie three small bows onto your chain; the first right above the first pearl accent on one side, the second, right next to the center pearl accent, and the third, between the first two pearl accents on the other side. I gave mine a few securing stitches with a needle and thread.


Enjoy!!


I love the simplicity and femininity of this necklace.
It's not flashy at all, but I think it may be one of my favorites!

So I hope that gives you a little motivation to try some jewelry making! It's really not very complicated at all, for the most part. But I must warn you, that it is a little tedious, and your neck can really start to hurt after a while! :o)

P.S. the necklace from JCrew is actually 36" long, so to make one just like it, you'll need to get a longer chain, or add two together, and add more pearl accents.
Oh, and P.P.S. I'm so blown away by how many of you enjoyed the last two posts! I feel so encouraged, I'm just beaming! :o) Thank you all!!

Comments

  1. Ooooo la la so cute!! You have the best ideas ever and I can't wait to try some.... actually a bunch of them!! I am addicted to your blog!!

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  2. Thank you so much for sharing this! Ive always wanted to try jewelry making, and as soon as Im rid of at least 1/2 of my craft stash I will buy some jewelry making materials :D

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  3. oh my goodness that's BEAUTIFUL! I am definately going to try this thanks so much!! xxx

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  4. This is a great post. Thank you for the basics. I am not a beader so this was perfect!

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  5. Disney, that is just lovely! So feminine and sweet! You make it look easy too...thanks!

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  6. Thank you for another beautiful well described tutorial :) I am going to be so much better prepared for home made gifts this year thanks to you!

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  7. This is so delicate and cute! Thank you so much for sharing, I think I'll try this one.

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  8. I was just at Hobby Lobby the other day and stood in the jewelry section forever! I had my arms full with goodies but put everything back because I had no idea what I was getting. I’ve been collecting a few charms and what not from GW and thought I was ready to get started but I didn’t know the “must have” tools and didn’t want to waste money. Now I know! Thanks for posting this.

    Smiles,
    Kendra “Domestic Princess in Training”

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  9. I featured this on my blog today!

    http://diyjenellstyle.blogspot.com

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  10. I just found your blog and just have to tell you that I LOVE it! I love your sophisticated, feminine style. Both you and your lil one could grace the pages of a magazine, in my opinion! I can't wait to try some of the kiddy clothing re-do's and the elastic belt project :) thanks again and keep the ideas coming

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  11. It's lovely. May I suggest heat treating the ends of the ribbon so they don't fray? I really enjoy your tutorials.

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  12. Thank you so much for this tutorial! It's perfect and I seriously can't wait to try it! Everything you make is so beautiful!

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  13. Thank you SO much for this wonderful tutorial -- you are so sweet to share your secrets with everyone and I hope all this goodness comes back to you tenfold. :)

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  14. I think yours is even prettier than the JCrew one!! :)

    Thanks for the tutorial!

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  15. I like your version BETTER than the jcrew version!

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  16. Disney, I'm so glad you did this post! I have been wondering about those chains since you posted the one with the lace & metallic paint. I feel so clueless! I never go to Walmart (I guess I need to check it out!). Thanks for a really nice post. The necklace is so beautiful. Who doesn't love pearls and little pink bows! :)

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  17. Pearls and little bows--I can hardly wait to get started! Work today is interfering with what I REALLY want to do!

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  18. This is wonderful! It all looks so much easier than I thought! (Now we'll see if it actually is.) Haha. Thank you!

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  19. That's so pretty and elegant! Thanks for the great ideas!

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  20. Very pretty! It's so great that you are willing to put tutorials together for everyone. I know they can be so time consuming to do.
    You might want to mention that you should always open your eye pins, and jump rings by twisting side to side, not opening them up so they look like a "C". It weakens them by opening them that way and it makes it harder to close evenly afterwards. I am sure you know that but your readers who are new to jewelry probably don't. :)

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  21. Oh Disney - thank you for posting this!
    I have been wanting to try my hand at making jewelry and now I'm excited to try.

    Keep the great lessons coming, I really appreciate it!

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  22. Love it, love it!!!!

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  23. Thank you so much!! I spent all of last night going from store to store looking for large jumprings--except I didn't know what they were called so I couldn't really ask for help. This came at the best time!

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  24. I'm so excited about this! You are very sweet to share your jewelry making skills with us - you're awesome!

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  25. thanks for the tutorial, I would have never tried this but your steps make it look so doable

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  26. What a BEAUTIFUL tutorial!! I'm clueless when it comes to making jewelry and this makes me want to give it a try!

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  27. Beautiful necklace! Thanks for doing this! I've been wanting to learn how to make jewelry, and the ease of your tutorial has me believing that I can do it.

    Shannon

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  28. Disney, I don't think you know how excited I am to see this tutorial! I love all your tutorials, but I'm especially excited to see a jewelry tutorial! I have been wanting to figure out how to make some beautiful necklaces! Thank you soooo much!

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  29. Beautiful necklace. I like yours more than the J Crew one. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. D-The necklace is soooo pretty! Thanks so much for the tutorial! My little girl is really into making jewelry right now! She made some with her grandmother and cousins to give as presents this year for Christmas. I love your necklaces!

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  31. I love your pink bows! I can't wait to put one together for myself!

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  32. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! :) I LOVE it!

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  33. I like your version better! I have never made jewelry. I think I may have to give it a try! Thanks!
    Sarah

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  34. Very cute!! I wish i had the patience for something like that :)

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  35. Very cute! My best friend LOVES to make jewelry. Maybe I can get her to make one for me! ;D

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  36. Disney, thank you for the necklace tutorial. I have always wondered how those headpins and eyepins were used.

    Oh and your little girl is GORGEOUS! :-)

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  37. I just made a necklace, based off yours. I did mine a little differently though, used some random cats eye beads and silver spacers left over from some other jewelry projects. I haven't used chain much in my jewelry. . . actually I haven't done any bead work in forever! Thanks for the motivation! I did omit the ribbon though, a little too girly for me. . lol. . I'll have to find my camera and take some pics. I do like how it turned out. Thanks again for the inspiration!

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  38. It's beautiful! What a fabulous tutorial, and I love your photos...you're good! :)

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    ~Kim

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  39. This turned out FABULOUS!! I enjoy jewelery making as well...specifically wire wrap with sterling silver and gold filled....I ADORE the ribbon element....it give it such a soft beautiful texture against the hard metal :) :)

    It's beautiful! :): )

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  40. this is such a great tutorial. I have made a few things and really enjoy creating but some times I just run out of new things to make so this is fantastic

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  41. I finally found my camera, it just hasn't worked right since I took it to the beach. . lol. . so the picture isn't the best, but here is a link to the necklace that I made. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/tangled_panda/Jewelry/CatsEyeNecklace.png

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  42. Thank you for this easy to understand step-by-step tutorial, really helpful and encouraging for jewellery newbies such as me:-) just what I´ve been searching for. And I love the design of your homepage! That combination of mocha brown ans dusty pink is so pretty without being cheesy. Great banner, too. I´ll keep stopping by to see your next projects!

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  43. I just made this necklace with the Disney kit from Joy Made Jewelry's Etsy shop. I have never made any jewelry before and this was easy...well sort of..lots of little hooks, LOL..But it was easy to follow and I had a fun time. I am so proud of my little necklace. I can't wait to wear it! Thank you so much :)

    Tasha at
    cheekabeeka@gmail.com

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  44. I am so glad you posted this! I had no idea I would love making jewelry, and I am in serious trouble now! lol I am so grateful your sister provided the kit for me to get addicted. I mean... try my jewelry making skills:)

    http://hodgepodgeness.blogspot.com/2010/03/kid-in-candy-shop.html

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  45. hey i'm from new zealand and somehow stumbled across your blog- you're AMAZING!! i love your style and how you've made the tutorials so easy to understand! i'm offically addicted =] keep it up!

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  46. I LOVE this and your entire blog! I am so inspired now! I am making this necklace and I want to make the isotoners with flowers as gifts and I want to make the flower bouquet tank too! I just love EVERYTHING! You are my new favorite blogger!

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  47. I'm going to make the lemonade dress too :o)

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  48. Disney,
    Where do you find beautiful beads and vintage buttons and other items? My style is vintage, but I can't seem to find things I love. :) Thanks.

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  49. Thank you so much for posting this, I made this necklace during nap time last week and it was so fun! I'm going to try again as I had slightly different colored pearls and ribbon.

    KJH, I ordered the stuff to make the necklace from Disney's sister, she has a shop on ETSY, Nissa Joy Jewelry. Her prices are great and she's an all around great person to deal with:)

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  50. Thank you so much for doing this tutorial! It really helped to understand jewelry making, and also the inspiration you used for making your necklace was a huge plus! J crew jewelery is expensive and this tutorial made it easy to have the same look for less! Thanks so much!

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  51. I just made this necklace, with black pearls, and it is so dang cute. Thanks for an awesome tutorial! Oh, and I had to add another single bead to both sides and add a few more inches of chain to either side at the top in order to get it as long as yours. Don't know why... but this WAS my first ever necklace, so that could be why. :)

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  52. Love this!!! Your necklace is actually prettier than the J.Crew original. Thank you for sharing. And thank you for posting an excellent, clear tutorial for those of us that are watering at the mouth to own one or two ever-so-expensive pieces of crew bling-bling!

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  53. Ooh I'm so excited! I have a necklace just like this (smaller beads) that got left behind by my grandmother or older sister. I've never been to crazy about it, but I all I have to do is add bows! :D

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  54. I have recently found your blog, and I'm in love with it! I fell in love with your J.Crew inspired necklace and your ruffle necklace. So much so that I made my own combination of the two of them. http://southerndisposition.blogspot.com/2011/01/ruffle-necklace.html

    Thank you so much for the inspiration - great, great, great blog!

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  55. Beautiful......and plain pretty

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  56. I saw this necklace in jcrew...but I think yours is much nicer

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  57. I just want to say thank you for the clear and close up pictures with full explanations your site has been the first that I stumbled upon that I can actually understand! I feel empowered and excited to try this!

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  58. Thanks so much for the tutorial! You really inspired my sister to make her own jewlery.... thats all she does now.... literally! haha. Love your blog :)

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  59. Where do you find all of your beads, vintage buttons and pendants that you use in your projects? They are ADORABLE! And you totally jazz them up. Being a student I have a tight budget so I am wondering where I could find these kind of things.

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  60. Very elegant...beautiful work...

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  61. Wow this seems easier than I have thought before. I always wanted to make these kinds of necklaces as gifts to my friends.

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  62. The necklace design is just charming and appealing. As a jewellery designer these ideas are more useful for me.

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  63. Where did you find all the clasps and chains? I have been looking everywhere for findings like that! (The necklace is so beautiful!)
    tegansbeads.weebly.com

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  64. Adorable! Jewelry making is my favorite craft :)

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