Mother's Day Braided Necklace
By: Mia Cronan
Difficulty: Easy
Age: 6 and up
Parental supervision is recommended
;)
Just in time for Mother's Day, this is a perfect little piece for Mom, Grandma, or that one-of-a-kind aunt! This also makes a great camp arts and crafts activity. All it takes is some simple materials and a little love.
Be sure to visit all of our Mother's Day crafts, as well as our jewelry crafts, wearable crafts and crafts for teens.
What you'll need:
- Three 22" lengths of six-strand embroidery floss in coordinating colors (we used dusty pink, pale blue, and mossy green).
- 3 large beads, one in one color (a), two in the other (b).
- Blunt point needle or pin for pushing braid through beads
- Two sets of closure clasps
- Two crimping beads
- Coordinating bead stringing wire (we used a silver tone to go with the silver clasps and crimping beads)
- Needle-nose pliers
- Scissors
- Two spring clip to block the ends of the wire while stringing
- A bead board, or clean white towel for laying out beads
- Hot glue gun
How to make it:
- Lay all three embroidery floss strands and the jewelry string together, gather at one end, and tie into a knot. Grouping the jewelry string with one of the colors, braid the three pieces together. (See photo.) Secure the end with a very tiny dot of hot glue.
- Figure out the three spots you want the beads to appear on the braid. String one of the color "b" beads onto the braid and push it to a place you want the first bead to appear. (Use the blunt point needle if necessary.) Then tie a knot to the right side of the bead.
- String the color "a" bead, and then tie the second knot on the left side of the second bead. Tie a third knot in the place you'd like the last bead to hang, then string the second color "b" bead onto the braid, allowing it to fall to the right of the last knot.
- Using the hot glue gun, glue each end to secure the floss along with the jewelry string, to keep it from sliding down while worn.
- Adding the closures: String a crimping bead onto one end of jewelry string, string one half of the closure, then bend the wire, coming back down the opposite way, through the crimping bead, letting an adult crimp it tightly with the needle-nose pliers. Secure the other half of the closure on the other side, using the same method. This should create a nice, snug clasp.
Tips:
- Using a sewing pin or bobby pin could also help you push the braid through the bead.
- You may find that good lighting is necessary. Even bright sunlight helps when working with small pieces.
- Most crafting supply stores have all the items necessary for this project. Enjoy!
Mia Cronan is a freelance crafter from NE Ohio where she is an at-home mom to five children, ages 4 through 13.
