This week Annabel asked me to make her some jewelry. “Something with colors that is very beautiful, Mommy.” Aye, aye, Captain. I’d seen a necklace like this one on a few different kids’ clothing sites and knew it would be simple to make – and it wouldn’t carry a $15 price tag. It was even easier than I expected – so much so, that I made her a matching bracelet!Â
Lightweight cotton fabric
Wooden beads
Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
Pins, needle, thread
For the best results, you want a very lightweight fabric, not only for aesthetics but for ease of knotting. The longer your fabric, the longer the necklace. Your finished necklace will be about half the length you started with. ALSO. Measure the circumference of the largest/widest bead, THEN cut your fabric. I know, math. Pretty sure I haven’t used the word “circumference” since tenth grade. My largest bead was three inches around, so I added another 3/4 of an inch and then cut my fabric, so my starting dimensions were 44.5 inches by 3.75 inches.
Fold your fabric in half, print-side in, then pin in place.
I angled both ends, then sewed a seam on the long side, keeping the ends open. Once you complete your sewing, turn the fabric right-side out.
Add your beads! I lined up all my potential beads in order, because I am crazy.
Slide your first bead to the center of the necklace.
Tie a knot on both sides. I twisted my material before I tied. This made it easier to tie the knots, and they ended up small and neat. This is why it’s crucial you have thin material.
Continue adding beads until you’ve reached your desired look. Annie’s necklace has seven large beads. Make sure you leave enough to tie the necklace! Sew the ends of the fabric closed. You can topstitch if you want a more finished look.
This finished necklace is 22.5 inches long. When I make it again, I will start with a longer piece of fabric! Still, I’m very pleased with how this turned out.
I whipped out a matching bracelet for Annie in no time. The fabric was the same length (44.5 inches) to start, but not as wide (2.75 inches). Since her wrist is obviously more narrow than her neck, I was able to tie the extra fabric into a bow. She looooooved that.
She insists on wearing the necklace and bracelet everywhere – even to dance class.
She’s the best.
But oh, the future. It’s going to be interesting.
Any questions, let me know! Have fun!
Paula says:
Those are adorable and great for little girls! They look sturdy and easy!
Wendy says:
Love it
Meg says:
Very cute! I see an Etsy store on the horizon . . .
Nic Singleton says:
Almost 4yrs ago, when my daughter was tiny I bought a necklace, for myself, just like this from someone on Etsy. She called them “chomping beads” and were marketed as a necklace for moms to wear and teething babies to chew on while being held by mom. My daughter loooved chewing on the wooden beads inside my necklace when she was teething. Just a thought, since you recently wrote about James teething.
Heather says:
Oh interesting! And it didn’t ruin the fabric?
Nicole says:
Not at all! It’d sometimes get really wet, which would get my shirt wet where it sat on my shirt, but it was just drool so that dried. As far as the necklace fabric, it’d dry a little crunchier than it started out, but it wasn’t ruined. Oh, the fabric she used was advertised as being organic since baby would be “chomping” on it, if that makes a difference for one you might make for yourself/James.
Emily says:
She is the sassiest poser I’ve ever seen.
TonyaM says:
Sassy is the exact word imwas going to use! She reminds me so much of my 13 year-old at that age. And yes, your future will be interesting. On most given days she has me rolling laughing AND wanting to strangle her.
charlene says:
adorable, can’t wait to make this for my gran daughter
Jeanie says:
Very cute. Too bad we just have three little boys in our family. Annie is such a poser!
TheOtherElle says:
Oh my gosh! My little sisters and I used to make these, years ago! We used my little brother’s old glass marbles instead of wooden beads and slid a “pony bead” between each marble instead of knotting the fabric. I made a pretty batik fabric necklace with gold pony beads for my mom and she wore it for years. Fun to see the necklaces back!
Nellie says:
I have a question – can you make like three sets of these for my daughter and I’ll pay you?! I absolutely j’adore this and my daughter would too but I can’t sew, hem or knit to save my life! Seriously, I will pay you to make these for my girl, that’s how much I absolutely LOVE THEM!!!!!
Heather says:
HA! I guess I can, if you really want me to!
Brooke says:
I have wanted one of these for me and my daughter ever since I saw Zuri wearing one on the Disney Channel’s “Jessie”. Cute, CUTE necklace! Thanks for this!
Jessica Stringer says:
Adorable! You are getting really good at this sewing thing!
Jolene says:
Seriously…when are you opening up that Etsy shop again? (Hint, hint!) I would LOVE to say I made something like this for my daughter but I am SO not a sewer! And besides, I learn best by watching…in other words, I’d have to watch you doing this step by step in person and I’m sure I could do it. But since that won’t happen, you should just sell these. They are ADORABLE. Honestly, I’d wear this myself!
christine says:
If you sold these I would buy them! Love!
Anna says:
Annie needs to be in print ads!