https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/blossom-and-pearl-necklace • Posted by FW Media
This delicate piece is similar to the Blossom and Pearl Comb (see page 52) but is adapted to be worn as a necklace and has crystal beads for an extra bit of sparkle. You can add more or fewer blossoms, pearls or crystals as desired. This project utilizes a store-bought bead wire with magnetic clasps already attached, making it a breeze to add the wired blossoms and beads. Once secured onto the bead wire, it’s ready to wear and is easy to take on and off.
This delicate piece is similar to the Blossom and Pearl Comb (see page 52) but is adapted to be worn as a necklace and has crystal beads for an extra bit of sparkle. You can add more or fewer blossoms, pearls or crystals as desired. This project utilizes a store-bought bead wire with magnetic clasps already attached, making it a breeze to add the wired blossoms and beads. Once secured onto the bead wire, it’s ready to wear and is easy to take on and off.
Stack two to three squares of silk or cotton fabric and cut five-petal flowers. You can also cut through a single square at a time if you prefer. Make eight flowers.
Press the flower petals. You can press two to three layers simultaneously to save time. Use a small millinery iron for these small flowers.
Using a sharp pair of scissors or wooden awl, poke a hole in the center of the flower.
Slide a crystal onto the center of a piece of wire. Bend the wire in half and hold the crystal in one hand.
Twist the wire tightly until the twisted portion is about 1⁄2"–1" (1cm–2.5cm) long.
Slide a second crystal onto one of the twisted wire ends. As you did in Step 4, slide on a second crystal, stopping about 1⁄2"–1" (1cm–2.5cm) from the twisted portion. Bend the wire down around each side of the crystal and twist the wire.
Your crystals should look like a letter Y.
Add additional crystals in this manner until you have four to six crystals on the wire. Alternate the end you add the crystal to, creating a fern-like pattern. After twisting on a crystal, twist both wires together for about 1⁄2" (1cm). This will create a branch-like effect. Finish the branch of crystals by twisting the wires together for about 1⁄2" (1cm).
Slide one end of the wire through a pressed flower from back to front.
Slide one small bead onto the wire.
Bend the wire back toward the flower and insert the wire through the hole from front to back.
Pull the wire through until the flower and bead are about 1/2" - 1" (1cm - 2.5cm) from the last twisted section of wire. Holding the bead in one hand and bracing the wire, twist the bead until the wire is tightly wound.
Using fabric glue, add a small drop of glue to the base of the wired bead.
Slide the fabric petal toward the bead to adhere it to the glue and secure.
Twist the two wires together for about 1⁄2"–1" (1cm–2.5cm).
Repeat Steps 4–15 with three more pieces of wire. You can mix freshwater pearls, crystals, beads and flowers. Each wired segment can be different. When finished, you will have four branches. Join the branches by twisting the ends of one segment to the beginning of another until they form one piece.
Using the ends of the last wire segment, twist the floral and bead segment onto the bead wire necklace. Tuck in the wire ends.
Begin at one end of the floral and bead segment and wrap the last wire piece around it and the bead wire.
Continue to lash the floral and bead segment to the bead wire until the entire piece is secured. You may decide to leave 2"–3" (5cm–7.5cm) of the design free so it bends away like a real floral branch. Trim and tuck in the wire ends as needed to finish.