DIY Network

Dahlia Necklace by Sheilah Cleary From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-411

In this segment, guest wire and bead jewelry artist Sheilah Cleary shows you how to combine the art of crochet with the art of jewelry making to create a beautiful crocheted wire flower choker.

The Materials list and step-by-step instructions are below!

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Guest Sheilah Cleary shows you how to combine the art of crochet with the art of jewelry by creating a beautiful crocheted wire flower choker.

Materials --

40 yds. of 32-gauge Artistic Wire
6" of chain
One 2" head pin
3 small jump rings
A small lobster claw clasp
Eight 6mm round beads
7 bead cups to fit 6mm beads
E-6000 jeweler's glue
Toothpick

Tools --

Wire cutter
Round nose pliers
Needle nose pliers
Size 10 crochet hook
Size 26 tapestry needle

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Dahlia Necklace

Tip: The container that bubble gum by the foot comes in is great to use to store your wire. Just poke a hole in the container, put your wire around the spool, and thread it through the hole. This will prevent your wire from getting kinks in it.

1. This choker has seven different dahlias and four different dahlia patterns. To begin, make a simple slipknot in the 32-gauge wire about 5" from the wire end and place this loop on the crochet hook.

   Note: Crocheting with wire is like crocheting with thread except for one exception -- the wire has no give. It is important that you go all the way up to the fat part of the crochet hook whenever you make a stitch (figure A).

2. Chain four and then join it like you would any kind of crochet by going into the first loop again and drawing the wire through.

3. Chain three and do 21 double crochets in that circle. After you do the 21 double crochets, you are ready to do the next loops. Start by chaining nine and then do a double crochet in every other double crochet from the previous row. After you do the first one (the first one is nine only -- the first three act as one double crochet only), chain three and do a double crochet exactly as if it were thread (figure B). Follow this pattern all the way around.

4. You need to finish off the wire from where you began. Needle it up with a little tapestry needle or use the wire itself to sew it in a little bit and trim it off with a cutter. Leave the end wire alone for the moment -- you will use that to sew the dahlias together.

5. Crochet two of the First Side Dahlia's.

6. Crochet two of the Second Side Dahlia's.

7. Crochet two of the Third Side Dahlia's.

8. Weave in the beginning wires on all seven dahlias.

9. Cut seven pieces of wire.

10. Slide one of the wire pieces through one of the 6mm beads. Bring the wires together and push through a bead cap (figure C).

11. Put both wires through the center hole in one of the dahlias. Use the tapestry needle to weave one of the wires through the work in one direction and the second wire in the opposite direction. Trim the wires. Prepare all seven dahlias in the same manner.

12. Use a toothpick to smooth some E-6000 glue over the wrong side and center area of each dahlia. Allow the glue to dry.

13. Attach a jump ring to the lobster clasp and a piece of chain that has been cut to 1" (figure D). Use a second jump ring to attach this chain to one of the Third Side Dahlias opposite the remaining wire.

14. Prepare the other Third Side Dahlia in the same manner except you will use 5" of chain and add the bead ball using the head pin.

15. Use the wire that is coming out of the prepared dahlias to attach the Second Side Dahlias opposite the wire. Trim the used wire neatly.

16. Use the wire that is coming out of the prepared dahlias to attach the First Side Dahlia opposite the wire. Trim the used wire neatly.

17. Repeat steps 14, 15 and 16 to prepare the second set of three dahlias.

18. Use the remaining wires to attach the center dahlia to the two prepared side sets.

RESOURCES :

Artistic Wire and Tools
Website: www.shebeads.com

GUESTS :

Sheilah Cleary
Owner
Artistic Expressions
PO Box 2451
Costa Mesa, CA 92653
Phone: 949-587-2879
Fax: 949-587-2889
Email: shebeads@aol.com
Website: www.shebeads.com