How to Make a Masonry String Cross Necklace
Masonry string is used in construction to create a string line as a reference between two points. A string line is one way of making a perfectly accurate straight line. While masonry string can be a very useful tool for bricklayers and masons, you can be creative with masonry string as well. It comes in many bright colors that can be suitable for creating many unique jewelry pieces. Learn how to make a masonry string cross necklace.
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Things You'll Need
- Masonry string
- 1/8-inch diameter wooden dowel
- Metal closure clasp
- Beading wire (22 to 24 gauge)
- Wire clippers
- Tape measure
- Hand saw
- Sand paper
Instructions
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1
Measure, mark, and then cut two 3-inch lengths on the wooden dowel. Sand the rough edges until smooth.
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2
Place the two dowels together so that they are perpendicular to each other in a cross shape.
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3
Choose a color of masonry string to begin the cross with and loop it around the point where the dowels intersect. Tie a tight knot at this point and wrap the string around the dowels in both diagonal directions to secure it.
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4
Pull the string all the way around one of the dowels. From this dowel, pull the string to the next dowel and wrap it all the way around this next dowel. Again, pull the string to the next dowel and wrap it and then finally pull the string back to the beginning dowel where you started wrapping. Always wrap around the dowels from the back to the front. In this way, the outline of the dowels will be visible underneath the masonry string as a cross-shape.
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5
Continue to wrap the string around each dowel again in the same fashion. Make sure that your masonry strings are wrapped right next to each other so that the wooden dowel is not visible between the strings. Again, always wrap the masonry string around the dowels from the back to the front so that the outline of the dowels is visible in a cross shape under the masonry strings.
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Change colors when desired by tying one masonry string off around a wooden dowel (simple overhand knot) and tying a new color of masonry string around the same wooden dowel to begin wrapping with a new color. Wrap the masonry string until the wooden dowels are completely covered in string.
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Cut a three-inch length of wire. At the point where you stop wrapping the masonry string around the wooden dowels, cut the string off leaving a two-inch tail. Make a small loop with the string tail at the end of the wooden dowel and secure the string loop by wrapping the wire around the end of the wooden dowel. Wrap the wire around tightly and repeatedly to secure the loop. Clip off any excess masonry string. This loop is the top of the cross where the cross is attached to the necklace.
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8
Determine how long you would like your cross necklace to be and cut another length of masonry string to this length plus three inches.
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Place the loop of the cross onto the necklace string and position the cross at the center point of the string. If desired, you can tie a simple overhand knot on either side of the cross to keep the cross at this point or you can allow the cross to move along the string. There is a "right side" and a "wrong side" of the cross as it is strung onto the necklace. The side that shows the cross shape of the dowels is the "right side" that should be facing out as the necklace is worn.
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10
Cut two 3-inch lengths of wire. Place one half of the closure clasp onto one end of the string and fold the string back one inch. Wrap a length of wire around the folded end of the string tightly to secure the closure clasp onto the masonry string. Wrap tightly to secure the loop and tuck the end of the wire in when finished wrapping. Repeat on the other end of the string with the other half of the closure clasp and the other length of wire.
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