Tutorial for the Understatement Necklace

This is a tutorial for the understatement necklace that was featured in the previous post. Go there for pictures of the finished piece and for the supplies list.

This post will cover the steps to make one for yourself. If you want one, but you don't crochet, you can buy one in my Etsy store. If the store is sold out, I'd be happy to custom make one for you. Just let me know.

Crocheters, to start you need to pre-string your beads in the following order: a small 11/0 seed bead, a drop bead ( or a size 6/0 seed bead), and then another 11/0 seed bead. Do this 120 times.

You will be crocheting the beads into 120 clusters.


After you have them all strung, it's helpful to have a little cup in which to put your thread and its supply of beads in waiting.



We are going to start by making the button loop. You may remember that I did not include a button on the supplies list. That was intentional. Some of you crochet a little tighter or a little looser no matter how closely you try to match the gauge. You will want to crochet the button loop before choosing the button because you want to have a snug fit.



The button loop:

• Leaving a 12" tail, make a slip knot with your thread and insert your hook into it. Ch 12.

• Join with a sl st to form a ring, being careful not to twist the chain. Ch 1. Do not turn.

• Work 24 sc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first sc of the round.

• Pick up the tail and ch 3 using both the tail and the working thread together as one.

• Drop the tail. Ch 3 with just the working thread. Do not cut off the tail. At the end you will come back and bury the tail by weaving it into the back of the sc sts of the button loop.
  

Gauge and Finished Length:

For this project, the gauge is not critical, but I recommend that you aim to get it as close as possible. Your gauge will probably vary over the length of the necklace anyway. Don't worry about it. You can add more beads at the end if you crochet too tightly and want a longer necklace. Conversely, if you crochet more loosely, you can finish the necklace without using all of the beads that were pre-strung.

Aim to have 10-11 bead clusters per 4 inches. You will want to have a finished piece that is 46-48 inches in length.

The Strand of Beads:

• Work a bead cluster chain stitch (see the following explanation). Ch 3.

• Repeat the above until you have used all the beads or have achieved your desired necklace length.

The Bead Cluster Chain Stitch:

Step 1: Move three beads close to your hook as in the photo above.



Step 2: Yarn over.

Step 3: Pull the thread through the loop on your hook, locking the beads into place.




After you have made all the bead clusters, find a button that fits your loop snuggly and sew it on the other end. Weave in the tails at both ends of the necklace.

Finishing:

To give your necklace a professional look, you will want to block it before wearing it.

Put your necklace in a bowl of warm water and let it soak for 20 minutes or so. Then blot it with a hand towel. Next lay the necklace on a blocking board (or your ironing board) so that all the bead clusters are on the same side and the necklace is not twisted. Stretch it ever so slightly and pin it into place. Let it dry for a day before you wear it.

If you make one let me know. I'd love to see photos.