Harvest_Gold_Necklace.pdf

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Harvest Gold Necklace

by Judy Zedalis

MATERIALS:

24-gauge dead soft sterling wire
Assortment of amber, gold, black and brown
seed beads amber faceted glass bicones, other
assorted amber beads
2 small melon beads
1 large melon bead
Gold spacer beads
Rochaille beads
4 jump rings

A combination of wire crochet and wire sculpture.

After my mother died in 2005, I felt very
lost. I didn’t know what to do with myself
and found myself spending hours on the
computer just surfing the web. One day
I came across wigjig.com. I was in awe
at the thousands of jewelry projects they
have posted on their Web site. I was
intrigued with the beautiful jewelry one
could have just by twisting some metal and
adding beads. I started buying magazines
and books on beadwork and wirework
jewelry making. I began experimenting,
adding my own skills to the new ones I
was learning. My grandmother taught me
to crochet when I was nine years old. So
it was very natural for me to add this to
my jewelry making. I picked up a spool of
fine wire, a bowl of beads, and my crochet
hook. And you see the results of that
attempt ... this necklace.

All photos courtesy of the author.

TOOLS:

Crochet hook
Coiling jig/gizmo
Dowel
Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Wire cutters

TECHNIQUES

Wirework
Crochet

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

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HARVEST GOLD NECKLACE

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Step 1

Step 3

Step 4

Step 2

Begin by stringing a random pattern of beads on three 30” pieces

of wire.

Crochet two of the strands and use the third strand to crochet the first

two together. Tuck in the ends of the wire on each side of the crocheted
piece, but leave enough room to attach the wires to the other pieces. You
will end up with something like this. Repeat Steps 1-3 to make a second
crocheted piece for the necklace.

Take about 18”-20” of wire, and tightly coil both ends with a wire

sticking up from the middle of each coil. If you use a coiling jig, you should
have just the right size wire sticking up. Add whatever findings you like to
decorate the middle of the spiral with the wire sticking up. I used a rochaille
bead and a gold spacer.

Loop one piece of wire over

a crochet hook, and begin a chain
stitch. Choose random amounts of
beads to loop and use in the chain.

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HARVEST GOLD NECKLACE

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Step 5

Step 6

Step 8

Make three of these,and wire two

of them together.

Bend the tail in half. Bend the

tail of the third coiled component, and
slide it over the tails of the first two
you wired together. Wire all of them
together for stability. You need four of
these components for the necklace.

Using round nose pliers, begin

coiling each end of the spring and
wire until you have an “S” shape, as
pictured. Make two of these without
the spring on one side for the necklace
closure.

Step 7

Create three 3”-4” springs of wire by using a coiling gizmo or wrapping

wire around a screwdriver, dowel, or anything round. Slide a piece of wire
up into the coil with approximately ½” of wire sticking out of each end of
the spring.

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HARVEST GOLD NECKLACE

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Step 9

Step 10

Step 11

Step 12

The third coil with a wire insert should be shaped for the pendant. Coil

one end, and thread the straight end through the center of the coil.

Place two beads on the straight wire, and twist the end with the

round nose pliers to hold the beads in place.

Start assembling the pieces. Attach an “S” coil on either side of the

pendant with jump rings. Attach the “S” links to the coiled links. Attach
the coiled links to the crocheted beads. Attach the next set of coiled links.
Attach another “S” coil to the coiled links. It should follow the same pattern
as in the photo.

To make the closure, take two 4” pieces of wire, and bend one end of

each into a hook shape, using either your pliers or a coiling jig.

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HARVEST GOLD NECKLACE

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Step 13

Step 14

Step 15

Pass the straight end of each wire through a small melon bead, a large

melon bead, and another melon bead. Slide the wires toward each other
until you get the approximate size you want.

Bend the straight end of the wire in a 90° angle, and wrap close to

the small melon bead on each side.

One side of the hook should be enclosed in the smallest part of a coil

link to keep it in place. The loop on the other side is large enough to slide
over the other coil.

JUDY ZEDALIS grew up in a family that enjoyed arts and
crafts. She studied art in school, and like most women
loved jewelry. She has worked in an office environment
since graduating high school. About 10 years ago, she
returned to school and got a degree as a paralegal. She
works for her husband in his construction company, plays
with her dogs, and makes jewelry. She may be contacted at
jzedalis@tampabay.rr.com.