The Crafted Sparrow Link Party #2 + Fabric Necklace Tutorial

Thank you to those of you who joined in the link party fun last week, I had 17 total links.  I think that's pretty good for a first go at it, don't you?  I'm hoping to see more of your creativity this week.  So spread the word, grab a button from my home page.  There's a button for you if you are featured too!

I also wanted to share another quick and easy jewelry idea.  
If you have an old t-shirt in a few fun colors you my friend have yourself the materials for a simple, and cute necklace!  

Here's what you will need:

-  Old t-shirts or knit fabric 
{larger t-shirts will make a longer necklace, so shop your local Goodwill or hubbies closet}
- Scissors
- Glue gun or a needle and thread


First step is to cut your old t-shirt in to strips, I used about 1.5" strips for this particular necklace.  I folded my t-shirt in half length wise and cut the bottom seam of the shirt off first.  Then cut my strips.  I then trimmed off the side seam pieces of those bands.  Feel free to make your strips as wide or narrow as you'd like, it will just add to the character of the necklace.  Make sure to keep one extra strip set aside for later.

Take each strip of fabric and PULL!  Stretch that sucker until it's nice and tube like.  Do this to all of them.

For my necklace I took some of the strips and braided them, the rest I either just knotted or left plain.  I wanted it to have different textures to it.  You can also add beads if you have large enough holes in the bead to have the knit fit through.

Once I had all my strips finished the way I wanted them I began sewing them together to create the necklace.  I started with one sewing the ends together, and just create all your necklace strips by sewing the ends together...but measure as you go laying them flat on top of each other so you create a waterfal effect to your necklace.  

Once your done with that you can begin to assemble your necklace rings together.  Gather them and either hot glue or sew them to each other by stacking them together at the seams.  You will need that extra strip you set aside earlier now.  Your going to use it to cover all your seams.  So either by sewing it or gluing it start about 1/4" away from your seams and start tightly wrapping it around all the bands and continue until it's even to the other side of the seams.  Now just stitch it in place to finish it or glue it neatly.

Then your done.  Some great colors to do this necklace would obviously be turquoise, coral, tangerine, yellow, a bright green...be bold and get all those fantastic spring and summer colors ready.  This necklace is a great accessory to your simple jeans and t-shirt look.  Note:  If you are a girl with a larger chest like I am, you might be better getting some guys t-shirts in 3x or knit by the yard if you want your necklace to hang longer.  Ha Ha. 

Have a Great Weekend!