How to Make Embroidery Floss Necklaces

Most people are familiar with friendship bracelets, but fewer realize that it's just as easy to make embroidery floss necklaces. This article introduces a relatively simple method to introduce the basic techniques of crafting jewelry with embroidery floss, though there are a number of variations. You can still create a variety of looks with different colors, patterns and numbers of threads.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Embroidery floss
• Strong tape, nail or safety pin (optional)
• Thin cardboard (optional)

1. Choose at least one color for your necklace. Measure and cut two or more strands of floss. If you want a necklace with just one color, cut two or more strands of the same color. If you want lots of colors, choose as many threads as you want. Cut a length at least three times as long as the embroidery floss necklace you want to make, or even longer if you'll be using many threads. Keep in mind that a small number of threads will make a thin necklace, while a large number of threads will make a thick necklace.

2. Knot one end of your strands together and secure this end to something stable. For example, tie the floss to something strong like a table leg, or nail or safety pin the knot to something secure. You can also use strong tape to attach the end of the necklace to a stable surface.

3. Choose one strand to start with first. Hold this strand in your right hand. Hold the remaining strand or strands in your left hand.

4. Loosely drape the active strand over the others, from right to left, 1 inch or more below the knot. With your right hand, drop the thread, reach between the active strand and the other bundle (closer to the knot), and grab the dangling end of the strand. Pull it through to gently tighten a knot around the inactive strands, then pull upwards toward the secure end of the necklace.

5. Use the same strand to create more knots in the same way, pulling each upwards until it touches the last. After you create a few of these knots, you will start to see the pattern you are creating. When you want to switch to a different color, pick out a different active strand and add the previous one to the inactive bundle in your left hand.

6. Continue until you make an embroidery floss necklace of the length you want.

Tips & Warnings

• Left handed individuals can use this method in the same way or reverse all the directions mentioned.
• Long threads for a long necklace can easily become tangled. One solution to this problem is to wrap most of each strand into a ball, or around a small piece of cardboard, then unroll as you go along.