DIY Network

Looped Memory-Rock Necklace From "DIY Crafts" episode DIC-137

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The finished pouch Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G The finished basket

Judy Mulford is head of the Los Angeles Basketry Guild, has a master's degree in art, teaches around the country and exhibits her work internationally. She is perhaps best known and recognized for her love of working with natural fibers and materials.

Here Judy provides the steps for turning small and special travel mementos into wearable works of art. For her simple necklace and pouch, Judy introduces a looping technique that molds cording around an object of your choice (small stones, shells, foreign coins, buttons, etc.). Once the pouch is complete, a chain and small decorations are added.

Materials:

Favorite stones, shells, wood, ceramic pieces or other mementos
String
Yarn
Waxed linen thread
Small beads, buttons and charms
#18 tapestry needle
Small piece of cording or silver strip

Pouch

1. Wrap the leather, cording or silver around the top of the stone or memento about a quarter of the way from the top, leaving its top exposed. Overlap the ends of the cord on the back.

2. For the first row, use the thread to tie a knot over the overlapped ends of the cord (figure A).

3. Begin to "loop" (also called "knotless netting" or "buttonhole stitch") by making a loop of thread below the cord and guiding the threaded sewing needle from the top down behind the cord (figure B). Bring the needle up through the loop of the thread. Repeat. Keep the loops about 1/4" apart ( figure C).

4. For the second row, create two loops in each loop of row one (figure D).

5. For the third row, create one loop in each loop of row two. If you need to enlarge the piece as the width of the stone increases, stitch two loops in one loop of the previous row, appropriately spaced across the row. If you need to decrease the size, skip one loop (figure E).

6. To finish the bottom of the stone, decrease the wrapping on the sides, whip-stitch the bottom, and hide the end (figure F).

7. Add embellishments by tying beads, buttons, charms, etc. onto the pouch. Beads may also be added as you loop by taking off the sewing needle, stringing the bead and rethreading the needle.

1. Tie one end of the cording to the top of one side of the stone pouch. Measure around your neck to determine the proper length, and tie the other end of the cording onto the other side of the pouch (figure G).

2. String beads on the cording, and tie overhand knots between the beads to keep them from slipping.

Judy Mulford's telephone-wire baskets are constructed via the same looping technique used in the necklace. To achieve the ideal result, she suggests 24-gauge, #4 or #8 conductor telephone wire; for a smaller basket, 10' of #8 conductor wire is sufficient. The wire comes in assorted colors and is available at most hardware and electrical stores.

The basket may be started at the top or from the bottom. From the top, make several circles of wire, and loop over them; from the bottom, create a small circle, and increase its size with every loop until the base is large and flat. Bring the sides up with the same diameter as the base. To narrow the opening, skip a loop every five loops or so.