DIY Folded Fabric Necklace Tutorial

Ever since I learned to make kanzashi petals for my baby headbands, I thought the petals would be darling in a necklace. My first few attempts looked ridiculous, like Austin Power's crooked teeth.  But eventually I found a way to make the petals cooperate, and look all ladylike in a row.  I was so jazzed about this necklace, I whipped up this tutorial.  Thanks so much to my wonderful friend Trista Lerit for photographing the steps!

This would make a super special holiday gift, and you can scrounge up the materials from your own fabric and bauble stash. If you're not the DIY type or just can't be bothered, I recently listed two super cute fabric necklaces in the etsy shop.

Materials: 

• 2 strands of rope, each about 2 feet long
• 10 square fabric scraps around 3 to 4 inches in diameter
• lace or tulle squares of the same size for layering (optional)
• an extra 6" strip of scrap fabric
• dental floss
• needle
• fabric glue

Note on choosing fabric: Thicker fabrics hold the petal shape best. If using thinner, silkier fabric, double it up.  For this necklace, I used squares cut from some soft woolen material and lace I had around the house. 

Instructions:

1. Prepare rope ties by making a simple knot at the end with a small loop.  Prepare your needle and thread- we used waxed dental floss because it's super sturdy.  
2. Fold the first square in half, corner to corner, forming a triangle.
3. Fold the two sides of triangle up to the point.
4. Turn it over, and fold the top point down 1/3 of the way. This step is really important, and makes the petal look a little different than the traditional kanzashi fold. 
   
   
5. Fold in the two side corners to the midline, in paper airplane fashion.
6. Fold the entire triangle in half backward, bringing the two midline folds together, and delight in the super cute petal shape you've created.
7. String dental floss through the petal, being sure to catch all the layers. Attach this first petal to the rope by pulling the needle through looped rope, then string floss back through the petal the other way, and do a lock stitch to hold the petal in place.
8. Now string all 9 other petals in a line. On the last petal, pull the needle through the rope loop and back through the petal, as you did with the first petal, to attach it to the other rope.  Secure with a lock stitch.  
9. Turn the necklace over, and glue some extra fabric as a backing.  Cut away the excess carefully.
10. I layered the wool with lace on some of the petals for a feminine touch, and tied on some lace trim. 

 ****Enjoy this fun and strangely addicting project!  But please, be courteous.  This tutorial is for personal use only. Do not reproduce this design for sale.  Thanks!