Totally Tubular Fabric Necklace

This necklace has got balls.

Posted by Anna Nimh

About

This project is based on a design from Downtown DIY Sewing.

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You Will Need (2 things)

  • 55 in Cute Fabric
  • 6 Wooden Beads

Steps (14 steps, 30 minutes)

  1. 1

    You'll need some cute fabric and some chunky wooden beads. I made necklaces with two different sizes, and I like them both. The larger they get, the more unconventional the look.

  2. 2

    Now, you need to make a tube about 55 inches long. To figure out the width, fold the fabric around the bead to a snug fit and mark it. Remember seam allowances.

    55 inches may end up being a little long, depending on the size of your beads, but it's better to have too much tube than too little. Besides, if you have some extra tube, you're well on your way to a matching bow, right?

  3. 3

    After you draw a line across you fabric for width, cut it up.

  4. 4

    If you are lucky enough to have a handy stretch of fabric the right length, move on to Step 6. Otherwise, we need to stitch our wimpy lengths together, wrong sides out.

  5. 5

    If you were a little sloppy, be sure to trim close to your new stitches. The fewer chunks you have to contend with later, the better.

  6. 6

    Now for the fun part. Let's sew a tremendous tube! Just fold your fabric in half and stitch down the the line, wrong sides out.

  7. 7

    Now, you have a big tube, but it's inside-out. Attach a safety pin to one side and wiggle it through the tube to get things in their proper order.

  8. 8

    Make your first knot 12 inches from one end of the tube. Slide your first bead in the longer end and tie a new knot, snug against the bead. I found that giving a a couple twists helps to tighten things up and serves as a guide for the next knot to fall on.

  9. 9

    Do this five more times. A necklace is starting to happen.

  10. 10

    Cut you (hopefully) long end, so the two sides match.

  11. 11

    Make a diagonal cut at both ends, for prettiness.

  12. 12

    Tuck the raw ends in about a 1/4 inch.

  13. 13

    Now, sew those ends closed. Here you could do an invisible slip stitch, if you feel like hand sewing. I opted for a fancy zig-zag on one and two rows of basic straight stitch on the other. Both are cute.

  14. 14

    Voila! Tie that baby around your neck and rock it. Feels cute, doesn't it?