Ruffle Necklace

It's GMAT weekend, and what am I doing? Meeting an etsy customer at starbucks...and crafting. Judge me.

So I’ve been seeing this Anthropologie inspired necklace around…and decided I MUST have it.

Well, more like “I must MAKE that!”

Ready for a tutorial?! I found a great tutorial, and decided to change it up a bit so I didn’t have to go to the store!

I had a bit of chain lying around (but not enough to make a necklace)

And some elastic

Extra fabric

Needle and thread

And no clasp.

So I went with the no-clasp-stretchy necklace.

For me, it was free. However, the cost will be SUPER cheap even if you don’t have any of the material. I’m surprised by the number of people who don’t know how cheap 1/8^th of a yard of fabric is. (around .29 cents) and while you’re hitting up hobby lobby, pick up some elastic and chain. It should be less than $5! (or, you can always simply attach the ruffle on a piece of ribbon you have lying around and tie it with a bow in the back! Very simple…and very cheap!)

I would suggest- pick a fabric that “melts” that is, has some polyester in it. Just ask the fabric ladies and they will show you what I’m talking about!

So I used about 29 inches of fabric, which I estimated…but found it to be PERFECT! I used a little less then 1/8^th yard wide (because I had already cut the fabric for making other crafts!) But fold your material in half (length wise) and cut it to be about as long as you want your ruffle to be!

My 1 regret- Now is when I should have singed the edges of my fabric. I did it afterwards

Before

After

But it would have been easier prior to finishing.

You can leave them unfinished…but I don’t like the look as much.

Sew a loose stitch about a fingers width away from the crease of the fabric. This is where you will put your elastic piece. Don’t knot it yet at the other end.

Now thread your elastic piece into the “tunnel” you just made. Adding a safety pin to the end will help you get it through all the way. Then start scrunching it to make the ruffles. As you scunch, pull the thread as well, to make it tighter. However…don’t pull it too tight. You can scrunch it without making the thread as taught. That way, your ruffle can stretch with the elastic to pull it over your head.

Anyway, once you’ve got the thread pulled as tight as you want, go ahead and knot it in the end and cut your thread! Measure your elastic to be the same length as your ruffle (plus a little extra on each end to tie) Then measure your chain with your ruffle, so it is the right length to sit where you want it! Go ahead and tie each end of your elastic to your chain.

And you are done! All you have to do is pull your ruffle up over the top of where you knotting your elastic to your chain, and slip it over your head!

So cute right?! And So cheap!



And I had to wear it that minute!