On a hunt for coral jewelry I found this bracelet and LOVED it. First thought: gotta pin it. Second thought: I can make that! Which is good because the original cost $395 and is out of stock (people paid that?).
I picked up a chain necklace from Goodwill a few weeks ago for $2 and figured I could braid it with some kind of thread. Funny, I can’t braid hair worth a flip (maybe because I don’t have any) but I can braid jewelry!
You will need:
- Gold chain in the length you prefer (bracelet or necklace). If you don’t buy a necklace with clasps already in it, you can use the paper clip method above to link the chain together.
- Embroidery thread. I got 3 little bundles of each color. They were 17 cents each!
Total cost about $3.
Step 1: Good news: this is the hardest part. Create your thread bundles. You want about 15-18 individual threads in each bundle, and they should be roughly 2-3 times the length of chain.
Step 2: Knot the two bundles of thread together at the top, leaving about 1-1.5 inches at the top. Lay the thread out to the left of the chain.
Step 3: Take the thread on the right (the one closest to the chain) and bring it through the chain from underneath.
Step 4: Cross the thread on the left over the right then pull it through the chain from underneath.
Step 5: Continue crossing and threading. Once you get the hang of it, it goes really fast.
Optional: If you have a wider chain you can bring both threads through each link for a chunkier look. I did some of both on my necklace.
Step 6: Knot the thread when you get to the end and trim the edges.
I’m not usually a necklace person but I have been having fun wearing this and my turquoise one!
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Beautiful work, very nicely done!
Beautiful work, this looks so good!
Beautiful work, very well done!
thank you for that! I’m glad you liked it so much, that inspires me to make more DIYs!
Please do, our readers love a good tutorial and we love to share talent with our readers. We really appreciate the time and effort you put into these. Thank you so much!
I tried this before but it didn’t really turn out the way I wanted it – time to try it again!
I really LOVE your necklace. And I want to make it too obviously :D BUT I have NO idea where I can get a chain like yours… :( I am searching for a long time now and I haven’t found one. Do you have a tip for me, where I can buy some, best online, cause I am from Germany. :)
Greetings Vera
In germany we got Opitec, it´s a catalogue and online craft shop. I think it sells all over Europe. Good Luck!
Very nice, i’ll try it !!!
You are genius! I love it.
I *love* this, and have a few notes on developed technique from making a bunch of these:
I attach really small safety pins to the end of the bundles and use them like needles. Makes it TONS easier to thread the bundles through the chain.
I also managed to make this work with THREE bundles of thread. It looks fierce, but you have to account for slight loss of space, especially if you’re like me and over-bundle. It looks gorgeous but if I didn’t have the wrists of a toddler it would probably be too small for me.
If you can’t find chains anywhere, hit up Ebay. I got ten silver-plated toggle-clasp chain bracelets for £10 (around £16). You can also buy curb chain by the metre.
Hope these hints help anyone else stumbling across this!
wow lovely! first time in your blog, enjoyed reading.
Beautiful work, well done! :)
Awesome, thanks so much for stopping by!
ooo, I love this idea!! Will definitely have to give it a try! (just found your blog and really enjoying it so far!)
What a fabulous and amazing DIY! I will definitely have to try this. Man…are you amazing or what??
-Linh
OMG, what an awesome DIY! I totes want to try this!
This is gorgeous. What a great idea – go you for giving it a go!
love it – you are so clever!
So pretty–I'll be looking for chain necklaces & bracelets the next time I go to Goodwill!
This is great! Love the pop of color!
Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Love that your first thought was pin it!
Super nice Stephanie! I think it's really cool that you see something you like and you decide that you can make it yourself…that's a gift!
I love this Stephanie! You've been making lots of jewels lately that I want. :) Pinning this now.
Oh yes please ! I'm off to find chain tomorrow!!
LOVE it!!! I want a bundle of bracelets like this :) You did such an amazing job, too!!! xoxoxo brynn
Wow this looks so good! can't believe how much money you saved on making your own! And you call yourself a "wanna be" crafter. You are SO crafty! :)
That looks so pretty! Hehe, that's awesome that you saved about $392 dollars on it! ;)
love that we think the same way i have to pin just about everything i see – best way to never have to search for it right? but this necklace is awesome you did such an amazing job looks as good as the real thing xx
I love the coral with the gold. This is such a cool way to spruce up old jewelry! Thanks for sharing. Stopping by from Hope Studios b
Oh my gosh Stephanie, this is beautiful! I have a bracelet just like this necklace, so I'll be making this…for sure!
Oh, cool! Would love to see what you create! Tonight is picnic on the beach :)
That is gorgeous! People looking for chain jewelry are going to be a big boost for Goodwill!
This is genius! I love it.
Ahh Stephanie how beautiful and cool is this?!! Love it!! So creative and I love the colors as well.
How fabulous is that?! Love it!
Jo-Anna