Jeffrey Rowe
light cotton rope
28 gauge wire
tapestry needle
White glue
to paint
Decorative wire, beads, other embellishments.
1. Cut several pieces of 6" rope.
2. Thread about 1' of cord through the tapestry needle and double it. Carefully run the needle through the center of one of the pieces of string. Make sure the needle is sharp.
3. Pull the wire through the rope, leaving about 1" of excess on each end. Bend the rope to create a link and twist the ends of the wires securely. Trim any excess and reattach all ends of the cables on the rope.
4. Create more links, connecting each one to the necklace. Add links until the necklace is big enough to slip over your head.
5. To stiffen the necklace, mix white glue with a little water to thin it out a bit. Mix in a small amount of acrylic paint, if desired, to add color to the piece.
6. Dip the necklace in the glue, covering all surfaces.
7. Place the necklace on a piece of granite or wax paper. Shape the necklace as desired and wipe off excess glue.
8. Let the necklace dry completely. When the necklace is almost dry, move it to a clean piece of granite or wax paper so the glue drops don't stick to the piece.
9. To make a knot necklace, choose a cotton rope with a larger diameter than for the rope chain necklace.
10. Tie a knot about 4" from one end, then tie another knot every couple of inches, spacing them evenly.
11. When the necklace is the desired length, connect the ends with a square knot and trim off the excess. Leave it pliable or coat it with a glue mix as above.
12. Add decorative wire, beads, or other items to these necklaces if you like. Try using these techniques to make fun rope bracelets to go with your new necklaces.
