DIY Network

Stargazer Crystal Necklace From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-303

Designer Quinn McDonald's necklace was inspired by a constellation.

Materials:

0.014-inch SoftFlex? jewelry cable silver colors
44 Sterling silver crimps, 2mm long X .051" hole diameter
20-26 Swarovski 4-mm bicones in Tanzanite color
1 small lobster claw clasp in sterling silver
1 jump ring, soldered closed about 5mm. in gold or silver
Chain-nose pliers
Crimping pliers
Cutters for the jewelry cable
A tailor’s measuring tape or a piece of heavy string and a ruler
Round-end scissors

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

1. Cut 12 pieces of 0.014-inch jewelry cable, each 3.5 inches (88 mm) long.Choose eight 4mm bicones (six for the neckpiece, two for the ends) with holes large enough to hold two strands of SoftFlex. Thread a piece of jewelry cable through the bicone. Bend the cable so it creates a loop with the bicone at the bottom and two overlapping ends of uneven lengths.

2. Slide a crimp over both cable ends. Push the crimp toward the bicone until the loop is about the size of a green pea. Two uneven ends will stick out of the crimp. The ends should cross each other (figure A) . Using crimping pliers, press the crimp shut.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 on the same Swarovski bicone, so that the bicone is in the middle of two cable loops, each facing in opposite directions. The round part of the loops should be about equal in size, but the four ends should be different lengths (figure B). Make a total of six components.

4. Connect the components by crimping one end of one component to the end of another, using only one end from each side of the component. You will want to hold them together to make sure that the piece stays straight so it will lie around your neck evenly. To keep the necklace even, connect some component ends top to top, some top to bottom, and some bottom to top. The ends should cross through the crimp and stick out of the other side. Each connector crimp should have two ends of jewelry cable sticking out of it. Continue connecting all the components (figure C). The piece should measure about 14" in length at this point.

5. You will now finish the piece to fit your neck. Using a tailor’s measuring tape or a piece of string, measure your neck and how long you want the necklace. A standard size is 16", but now is the time to pick the right length for you. Use a tailor’s tape measure and decide how long you want the necklace.

6. To put on a clasp, make two end pieces, each with one piece of cable instead of two. Follow steps 2 through 4. Pick up one of the finished end pieces and thread a 1.5 inch (38 mm) piece of cable through the bicone. Hold both ends in one hand. Freeing one end of the jewelry cable, thread a jump ring that has been soldered closed (you can buy them that way) and a crimp. Push the other ends of the cable through opposite ends of the crimp to form a circle with the jump ring dangling from it. The crimp should have one end piece of cable going from right to left and the other end going from left to right.

7. The size of the circle is the place to adjust the final length. Close the crimp with crimping pliers. The ends of the cable will stick out of the crimp, but the protruding ends are shorter than on the component ends. Turn the crimp so that it is not in the way of the jump ring. Create the other one-end piece in a similar fashion. Instead of a jump ring, use a lobster claw clasp that has a soldered jump ring or a closed loop for attaching. If you use an open ring, the delicate cable will eventually slip through the tiny opening. Before you crimp the final crimp, measure the necklace to adjust to the exact size.

8. To finish the necklace, add a 4-mm Swarovski to one of every pair of cable ends that point down. Put a crimp at the end of the cable. Instead of using crimping pliers, flatten the crimp with a pair of chain-nose pliers, to create a flat little rectangle. It’s not a weight-bearing piece, so giving it a flat look adds sparkle, not security. Add Swarovski crystals to one of every pair of cable ends that point up. Then add a crimp and flatten to all the rest of the cable ends. When you are done, every cable end should be covered.

GUESTS :

Quinn McDonald
Quinn Creative
Phone: 703-307-2106
E-mail: quinncreative@yahoo.com
Web site: www.quinncreative.com