Pennant Necklace

If you're doing your first jewelry project, and you make a pennant necklace, don't kid yourself. Not all jewelry projects are so easy. Most require needle-nose pliers, wires, and tiny clasps, and are really tedious to put together. But when you make a pennant necklace, you create an adorable piece of costume jewelry, and you put in very little effort. If you have scraps of fabric - even really small pieces - you can make the necklace in no time. And, if you have no fabric, just replace it with paper, and you'll still end up with an adorable new necklace.

There's something about a pennant that makes a person feel good. It represents winning, or team loyalty, or good times with friends. A pennant necklace is a striking way to put all of those sentiments into one fashion piece. And, since it's so easy to make, you'll definitely want to own several.

Choose the type of cord you want for your pennant necklace. You'll find all sorts of choices a craft store. You'll have the easiest time with stringing the pennants if you choose a type of cord that isn't stretchy. You'll find small-diameter cord in many colors and types, including glitter versions, and metallic varieties.
Cut the cord according to how you will fasten the finished necklace. If you'll be tying the necklace on, you'll need the cord to be longer than if you're going to tie on clasps.

The pennants are easy to make. Decide on how large you want each one to be, then fold the fabric, and cut the triangle on the fold. When you open the fabric, you should have an elongated diamond shape. Cut enough pennants to cover just the front of the necklace.

There are two ways to attach the pennants. One way is to poke a small hole in the two corners of the pennant, along the folded side. Weave the cord through the back of one hole, across the fold of the pennant, then through the other hole, to the back.

Another way to attach the pennants is to glue them to the cord. Open the triangle, position the cord against the fold, then glue the two triangle halves together. Whether you're gluing or threading, space the pennants evenly apart, and attach as many or as few as you want - but just in the front.

There are lots of pennant necklaces you can make, depending on the paper, cloth, and embellishments you use. Make scrapbook paper pennants to create a particular theme. Or, use ordinary paper and stickers to spell out your name on the pennants. Use metallic thread and metallic paper to make an elegant pennant; use circus-theme fabric for a fun, child's necklace. There are zillions of different pennant necklaces you could make and they're all easy, cheap, and adorable.