Craft a Quick and Easy Fabric Necklace

It's hard to get crafty when you have so many things to do. What you need is a creative project that's easy, fun and quick. This colorful fabric necklace is all of those things. It combines sewing and jewelry making. Most importantly, this crafty necklace is so easy it will take less than 30 minutes out of your hectic day.

You select the fabric of your choice: a neutral remnant or a whimsical print. If you've sewn a dress or skirt from a fabric you love, make a necklace from the leftovers. This is an adult project, but you and your child can do it together as long as you do the hard part.

What you need:

Materials

3 inches of 36 inch wide cotton fabric
A spool of color coordinated thread
Round wooden beads from the wood section of a craft store. The illustrated necklace uses beads that are 3/4 inch in diameter.
Craft wire (optional.) You may use thread instead.

Tools

Safety pin
Sewing machine (optional)
Pliers and wire cutters (optional)
Scissors

Creating your necklace:

Make a fabric tube

Cut a 3 inch length of 36 inch wide fabric.
Fold fabric in half, right side in.
Machine or hand stitch a 5/8 seam along the open side.
Pin a safety pin to one end of your fabric tube.
Work the safety pin through the tube to turn it right side out.

Add wooden beads

To secure your wooden beads in place, you can use wire for a metal accent or thread. Thread is easier and safer to use, especially if you're working with a child.

If you use wire, cut six 1 & 1/2 inches pieces.
Use your safety pin to mark the center of your fabric tube.
Slip a bead into the tube until it reaches the center.
Twist the fabric next to the bead.
Loop a piece of wire around the twisted section of fabric.
Tighten and secure wire into place with pliers.
If you are using thread, wrap eight inches of thread around the twisted fabric. Knot it a few times to hold it in place, then clip away the ends.
Secure the other side of the bead in the same way.
Add as many beads as you choose, first to one side of the original bead, then to the other.
As you add each bead, secure it into place with thread or wire.
To wear your fabric necklace, tie the ends together at the back of your neck. In just a few minutes you will have created a necklace that's clothing and jewelry all rolled into one. When you've got a few more minutes to spare, try using this technique to make a bracelet, belt or head band. Use different fabrics and different sized beads. Create alone or with your kids. Just get crafty and have fun.