Fiber in Jewelry: Micro Macrame

Hey, kids!  Sherri Stokey here to tell you a little about my spin on using fiber in jewelry making:  micro macrame.  Haven't heard of it?  Picturing a plant hanger?  (Tell the truth.) When most people think "macrame", they think of thick jute and fist-sized ceramic beads tied together and used to suspend plants from the ceiling.  Or owls (what is it about macrame and owls?). 

 I made my fair share of plant hangers in the day and a fringed belt or two, but I didn't really go crazy for macrame until about a few years ago when I discovered nylon bead cord and found a renewed interest in knotting.  The cord I use is twisted nylon (usually C-lon or Superlon brand) and is available in four different sizes.  I favor the middle of the road size, which is .5mm in diameter.  It will fit through an 11/0 seed bead and an 8/0 bead will accommodate two cords. 

And the best part about nylon bead cord?  It comes in 104 different colors!  That means there's usually the perfect color to match my art beads:

Raku pieces by Star Spirit Studio

Let me show you a feew examples of what you can do with micro macrame, seedies and art beads:

Focal pieces from Dreams and Elements

Ceramic end pieces from Scorched Earth

Lampwork focal by Laurie Ament

If you haven't tried macrame before, but would like to give it a try, you might want to start with something like this piece with some half knots sections and regular old overhand knots between an assortment of beads (free tut here).  It's simple and a great way to use fiber to showcase some beads.  

Ceramic leaf from Marla's Mud

The strap on the necklace below is another easy one - I even have a free tutorial on how to do it on my blog (here).

Pendant by Humblebeads

Have I changed your mind about macrame?  If you're ready to up your fiber consumption (see what I did there?) using nylon bead cord and micro macrame techniques, you can find lots more information on my blog at KnotJustMacrame.com, including links to tutorials and online classes.  Oh, and in case you are still looking for that macrame owl...  You're welcome.

Tutorial: Silk and Fabric Necklace

by Staci Louise Smith

I have always loved fabrics and its a shame I don't sew much.  Imagine how excited I was to try adding them to my jewelry!  I had some reservations, as I know some of you may as well, and I covered some of them here.

http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2015/04/silk-and-fabric-care.html

I almost exclusively use them as the back part of a necklace.  I really tend to "go big" on the front portion of my necklaces, so I don't usually bead all the way around.  I found that fabric can keep that interest of color and texture in the design without competing with the main focal.  Also, its nice to have something light to balance the visually heavy front.  Anyhow, its simple to use silks and fabrics in your pieces, and you don't even need fancy or specialized connectors (though some do like them, so I will link to them at the end).

All you will need is your necklace focal portion
(mine used one of my uber chunky boho carved focals, Suburban Girl Studio's rustic yellow drop bead, amber, agate, picasso jasper)

Starry Road Studio batik strips and Marsha Neal Studio 3mm silk

(you can use sari silk or many different kinds of silks, but this is what I used)

round nose pliers

chain nose pliers

flush cutters

clasp (I prefer an "s" clasp)

 chain

I had fun first laying out the different colors with my beads and figuring out which I liked best.  I really liked the blue added into the purples and yellows, but it just didn't work out when wire wrapping it up, so I switched to a more monochromatic palette.

1.  choose your colors

 2.  Wire together focal

 3.  Take a piece of fabric and a 3mm silk together (like to double them up, especially when I use sari silk, which can be thinner, this just gives a little more color and added support).  Some tips: make sure your fabric has no weak spots by gently pulling on it before using it in your design

 4. Feed both through the wrapped loop on one side and fold over

 5.  Hold them tight together

6.  take a piece of 18g wire, about 3", and hold one end with a tail sticking up, tight against the fabric

7.  begin wrapping the wire around the fabric, pushing it tightly into a coil.  this takes some practice, you need to keep tension on your piece as you wrap, holding each end of the of piece in your hands while still using your fingers

8.  when it is done, make sure you tightly crimp the top and bottom around and into the fabric.  the fact that this is tight is what holds it together

9.  You can trim the little tails off

10. now you have one side halfway done

11.  Time to add the clasp

12.  feed the fabrics through your clasp

13.  Repeat step 7 above

14.  Do the same thing on the other side.  I also added a little seed bead detail to one side, just for some more texture and fun

15. You are done!  

Now, just a word about using silk.  I sometimes like to use it only on one side of the design- as I know others do as well.  Keep in mind, your design MUST be balanced, not just visually, but by weight, or it will slide around on your neck.  I always wear my designs for a day to see how they hang, and make sure the weight is correct!  There is nothing more disappointing to a customer then buying a piece that is made to hang one way and it never does.

I leave you with some other artists who use fibers similar to the way to do, and I just LOVE their work! 

Silk and Fabric Care

by Staci Louise Smith

As we move forward with our Fiber in Jewelry Boot Camp, I wanted to touch on the care of fibers.  

A reader had commented about being hesitant to use fabrics and such because they get dirty, and was concerned about longevity.  I had forgotten that I had those same concerns myself when I first started using silks in my work.

 These are some beautiful Marsha Neal silks on my table just begging to be made into something!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshaNealStudio

Because I work mostly with sari silk and other hand dyed silks, like Marsha Neal's, I can really only talk of the care they require.  

Longevity:  When making jewelry, I am really pretty strict about making sure it is made well and will last.  I guarantee my work, so I want it to last forever!  Of course, things happen, and I fix them when needed.  So using fiber was a bit scary to me.  I will share my tricks in a tutorial later for making sure your necklace is secure, and is  not going to break easily.  

these are batik fabrics from Starry Road Studio, still on my desk, also waiting to become something!  I cannot wait to dive in.

http://www.starryroadstudio.com/

After I got that down, there was the care and cleaning of it.  I personally love to wear my sari silk necklaces in the summer.  They are much more comfortable and light on a sweaty neck then chain.  However......there is the sweaty neck thing.

The nice thing is, that they are fabric, and you can gently hand wash it in the sink.  I use a little warm water, along with some hand soap.  I wet the fabric, rub in some soap for a bit and rinse, rinse, rinse.  Allow it to air dry, and its all clean! 

I hope this little post will help to ease your concerns as we move forward and find new ways to use fiber in jewelry.  

There really are times when I tear a piece apart, and replace beading or chain with silks, because it either needed that pop of color they can offer, or it needed something soft for contrast.  Once I started using it, I have not looked back!  

If you have any other concerns or questions about using fabric in jewelry before we start up the boot camp, please feel free to ask!