Eco Bead Jewelry Set

Here's a chance to prove quilters are truly top recyclers and do not let even the tiniest bit of fabric go to waste! Make a set of funky jewelry using all those round fabric beads you have been making (and collecting!) from your stash of itty bitty fabric scraps. Here are step-by-step instructions for a necklace, bracelet, and matching earrings!

The number of beads needed pretty much depends on the size of your beads and how long you want your necklace or bracelet to be. In my case, my beads measure about ¾” in diameter. My finished necklace measures 22” and needed 19 beads to complete. My finished bracelet, on the other hand, measures 10” and took 9 beads. Feel free to adjust these sizes as you see fit.

Click here for the link to the Round Fabric Beads Tutorial

Because of these beads are wrapped (fabric and thread), you will find it is very difficult (if not impossible) to string the beads. So the option here is literally to sew them together. For this project we are going to use a plastic or glass bead in between our fabric beads (I used some fun tagua beads for my samples!). I like to use strong hand quilting thread to sew my beads together.

(Click on thumbnails for larger view)

NECKLACE 1. Do not knot your thread. Working with one strand, insert the needle at some distance from where you want to start “sewing” your bead together.

2. Gently pull the thread until it disappears into the fabric bead.

3. Knot the thread 2-3 times.

4. Thread your bead and then knot the thread 2-3 times on the next bead.

5. Pass the thread through the bead again.

6. And knot a couple more times on the first bead.

7. Put the needle through the bead one more time and bring the thread out at some distance from where you have been knotting it. Clip the tread. Proceed in the same way until you have “sewn” your whole strand.

8. Attaching a barrel clasp. Use two strands of thread for this part. Insert and knot the thread as indicated in the previous steps. Thread one of your beads.

9. At this point you might want to consider threading several smaller beads onto your strand. Otherwise it will be very difficult to close the clasp. In my case, I used 5 small seed beads.

10. Wind the thread around the clasp 2-3 times.

11. Then thread your way down your row of beads again, and knot it several times again on the fabric bead. Finally, pull the thread out at a distance from where you knotted it and clip it off.

12. This is what the end of your necklace should look like. Repeat this process for the other end.

BRACELET
The process for the bracelet is exactly the same as for the necklace. In this case, however, you might want to consider using a box clasp that is easier to open and close with only one hand.

EARRINGS
Follow the same process – in my case, I used one fabric bead and one tagua bead and threaded them onto the earring wire and then back down to the fabric bead where I tied off the thread. But you can add more beads, if you like!

Naturally, if you prefer a more sober look, you can use the same color fabric beads for your project!