Friday, November 4, 2016

Layered Fabric Scrap Necklace

Layered Fabric Scrap Necklace
by Martice Smith II

Hi everyone! Martice here, sharing a beautiful accessory that’ll turn a boring outfit inside out + demand all the right attention. I have several statement pieces to help infuse my outfits with my playful sparks of energy but this layered, fabric scrap necklace is givin’ me chills because I love it so much! It’s by far, one of my faves!

I’m going to show you how using only ONE stencil can give you an amazing project. Blast your edgy, free-spirited playlist to help you design a one-of-a-kind, boho-chic statement necklace. This one is for the unapologetic, heritage proud chicas!

Let’s get started! We’re making this beauty...



Supplies to gather:



Stencil:
Kilim Patterns (9”x12”) by Cathy Nichols

  • Old pair of jeans
  • Cotton fabric
  • Embroidery floss
  • Needle + thread

  • Fabric glue
  • Scissors
  • Small beads, drum beads, charms

  • Acrylic paint: Cerulean Blue White (DecoArt)
  • Sponge pouncer (Cosmetic wedges would be great for this project, as well)
  • Masking tape, optional (use to mask off parts of a stencil)
  • Soft-Touch Varnish (DecoArt)



STEP 1 // Stencil the fabric
Stencil cotton fabric with a sponge pouncer using a mixture of cerulean blue + white + Soft Touch Varnish.
Ok, I’ll admit - I got wild with the stenciling...I recommend that you not worry about how the design looks on the fabric because it will look completely different once we fold, twist + embellish it. (It will look more like an abstract design once we get through with it.)

I adore the intricate motifs + tribal feel of Kilim patterns. The geometric shapes paired with our two fabrics + beads gives an unexpected contrast. This is a bold statement necklace that will turn heads! Watch out, New York fashionistas!



STEP 2 // Cut ½ inch (1.27 cm) and 2 inch (5.08 cm) strips from denim and cotton fabrics.

I cut 8 strips, of various lengths, from denim + cotton fabric.
Messy, uneven cuts are welcome! You may not want to use all of the strips you cut, but it’s best to cut a few extra so that you won’t have stop later on to cut more.

Vary the lengths - the shortest strip I have measures 18 inches (45.72 cm).
The longest strip measures 30 inches (76.2 cm).



STEP 3 // Embellish the fabric strips!
Ideas to add a bit of edge + quirkiness to your layered fabric necklace:
  • Fold some of the strips in half
  • add bronze colored beads + charms
  • braid the denim fabric + embroidery floss for an edgy look!
  • Twist the denim strips for a pop of contrast + texture
  • Play around with different designs. I thought a simple knotted strip looked super cute!



STEP 4 // Build your necklace + stitch the ends together
After you’ve completed designing your strips of fabric, we need to arrange them from SHORT to LONG strips. (The shortest strips will be closest to your neck.)



Using a needle + thread, baste stitch the ends to hold in place.

Secure ends by wrapping a 2 inch (5.08cm) strip of cotton fabric that’s been folded in half, around the raw edges. (See photo 1 for reference.)

Make the closure: Tuck a 10 inch (25.4 cm) strip of folded denim inside of the wrapped cotton strip. Repeat this step for the other side of the necklace. (See photo 1 for reference.)

Attach with fabric glue; press firmly with your fingers.

(Note: the cut edges of the denim will, naturally, unravel + fray as you are working on it. If you don’t like this, you can apply Soft Touch varnish along the edges to prevent it.)


STEP 5 // Form the necklace
This step took the longest for me because I wanted to make sure it would hang correctly. I placed the necklace around the neck of my mannequin then adjusted each strip until I felt satisfied with how it looked.

TIP! Tack small areas together with fabric glue. This forces the fabric to stay in place as you work.

Finished necklace measures approx. 50 inches (127 cm) from end to end.

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Thank you for visiting us today!
Keep in mind that StencilGirl stencils can be used on just about any surface...the possibilities are endless!

Grab a few more stencils + decorate your shoes with this “Fancy stenSOLES” tutorial
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Martice Smith II is an internationally published artist + creative director of

She combines traditional mixed-media + digital techniques with her love for fashion, typography and wildlife, infusing her illustrations with her bold, urban style.
Follow Martice on Instagram as she mentors you on how to create with an expressive, free-style spirit while developing the artistic lifestyle + biz of your colorful dreams. Discover more tutorials on her blog!

7 comments:

  1. Super cool project and a great tutorial. Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tres chic! Love this project. You always come up with these great ideasπŸ’“

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  3. Love this, Martice! πŸ’—πŸ’—

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love this idea! Thank you for the inspiration!

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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