Anthropologie is such a great source to steal ideas from for inspiration. One of my favorite things to do late at night is browse through the Anthro site with a cup of hot tea. Gets my brain going.
Much to my delight Anthro just added a darling little fabric and bead necklace that I just had to knockoff!
Here’s the Anthro version:
I love the style of this necklace but the color, not so much. I don’t want anything named “Guacamole” for the color hanging around my neck. I don’t have the style to pull that off.
Second, according to the description, this little baby is 72″ long. That would go down to my knees. No thanks. Never fear. Anthro Knockoff Girl is here!
Ok, that was weird. But the necklace that resulted is pretty darn cute, and a much better fit for me in size and color. The beauty of creating things ourselves – we get it the way WE want it.
One of the other things I like about this necklace is that you don’t need any jewelry hardware or tools. Just a sewing machine. Ready to get started? This one won’t take long, I promise!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Fabric for necklace and ruffles – I used a sort of sheer fabric I had on hand
- Beads – 3 sizes. Buy the cheapies – they don’t show. The largest bead I used was 1/2″ diameter, then two smaller sizes.
- Thread to match
Cut your fabric into long pieces – measuring total of around 90″ long by 2″. Mine were 2 pieces that I sewed together in the middle. That’s no big deal, we’ll just hide the seam in a knot.
Cut out your circles – 2 1/2″ diameter. I used 22 but you would want to cut out a few more in case you want it a little rufflier.
Do any piecing of your long strip first. Fold the strip in half, longways, and sew together using a 1/4″ seam. You might need to adjust this if you are using different sized beads. You want your casing to be just a little wider than your largest bead.
Get ready to turn your casing inside out. You can either sew a ribbon in one end, then as you sew your casing, keep the ribbon running through the center so that you can just pull the ribbon to turn it inside out.
Or you can pin a safety pin in one end and feed that through the casing. That is what I did.
Place a large bead inside the casing. Fold your tube in half and move the bead to the bottom center. Make a tight knot on either side of the bead. If you have a seam in the middle, try and put your seam inside the knot so it doesn’t show. You might need to twist the fabric a bit as you knot it to keep the knot as small as possible.
Add a couple large beads on either side of this bead, knotting after them.
Continue adding beads on each side of your center bead, keeping the number of beads on each side even. Here is the pattern I used – feel free to do your own thing. ;)
Center Bead: 3 Large Beads on either side of this: 6 Medium Beads on either side: 3 Small Beads on either side. So 7 Large Beads, 12 Medium Beads & 6 Small Beads for a total of 25.
Turn the ends of your fabric tube to the inside of the tube – sew the ends closed.
Time to sew on your circles! Start by folding a circle in half, then in half again.
(In a weird optical illusion I actually look tan here. Must be the flash.)
Sew the corner of the fold to one of the knots on the right side of the necklace. Mine is started on the knot below the 5th bead on the right side.
Keep sewing folded circles to the fabric over the beads and the knots, keeping them to the front of the necklace so it lays flat. Sew about 12 circles over a space of three beads. Change directions that the ends of the circle point to fill in the area.
Repeat this process on the lower left side of the necklace – start sewing below the 8th bead down on the left side, covering 3 beads of space again.
To finish off the necklace and give it a little more of “store-bought” look, I pressed the ends of the necklace that didn’t have beads into folds, like the Anthro version. I also kind of “smooshed” up the ruffles, so they weren’t so puffy.
Try the necklace on and tie it to the length you’d like. Show off to everyone else so they can see how cool you are.
I made the necklace with what I had on hand – but the bead package I used was originally about 3 dollars and if you bought the fabric you’d need less than a 1/4 of a yard.
A little better than $38 huh??? ;)
Cute and great tutorial! GJ!
Frenchy
Just gorgeous! Fantastic tute. I love the lightness of the necklace!
This necklace is pure genius–thanks so much for sharing!!
Oh I love this necklace! and totally sewn – so I can have a go too!
I’d love if you linked this project up to my new party – A Round Tuit, at:
http://jembellish.blogspot.com/2010/08/round-tuit-9.html
Have a great week!
LOVE!! That’s gorgeous!
I loooove this!!! You did an amazing job! I’m having my first link party and would love it if you posted this! It’s just fabulous!!
~Terrell @ FrouFrouDecor~
Luv IT!! The great thing is that this is a fairly simple project with endless variations depending on fabric and bead choices!! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!
Have a blessed week:)
LOEV LOVE LOVE this! I’m going to make this as soon as I can!
This is eactly what I wanted!
I’m visting from It’s SO Very Cheri…but I’m now your newest follower!!!
I love this necklace. I was just shopping in Vegas a few weeks ago and kept seeing these type necklaces and loved them (just not the price). I will definitely be making one soon!
Awesome job. That is just SO cool. You did a wonderful job. Guacamole? I noticed on their site they have that same color on a few other pieces they have on site. I just have to say one thing ~ when my guacamole looks like that it is headed for the trash.LOL The color of Guacamole in my mind should be more greenish of a color, not brownish.
Thank you for this awesome tutorial.
This is AWESOME!!! I love how this necklace looks on you! It’s a brilliant idea too :D
Your instructions are easy to follow and really clear. THanks so much!
I will SO be doing this! My latest obsession with ruffle t-shirts were also inspired by Anthopologie. Love the stuff but just.can’t.afford.it. Nice to “meet” you!
So cute! Great tutorial too! Thanks for sharing! :)
O my dear. Seriously. gorgeous!! I want one!!
It looks great and your turorial was great too1 thaks!
It looks great and your turorial was great too1 thanks!
So so so cute!!! Keep surfing the web late at night because it’s paying off! :)
I love this! It’s beautiful and seems simple to make!
Beverly, this came out so nicely, I really love it. It’s fantastic that you did it yourself too-love that!
Your necklace is awesome! I’m going to try this and the lace and pearls necklace. Thank you so much for sharing!
You are coordinated and really gifted. It’s beautiful! My daughter would pay $38 for it!
Joey
I love all things Anthro! Great job! I knocked off their Three Little Roses Headband a while back and yes it’s WAY better than paying their crazy prices!
Love the necklace you did a great job! I featured it check it out!
http://www.flamingotoes.com/2010/08/anthro-knockoff-akela-necklace/
Oops wrong link here ya go.
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/2010/08/anthro-knockoff-akela-necklace.html
its really nice effort,looking good
i like so much flowers and the necklass is pretty!
Tres chic Anthro Knock Girl! I am glad you are here! This is super cute – I adore your necklace tutorials.
Beverly this is fantastic! Thanks for linking! I’ll be featuring your tutorial on BCD on Aug. 20th! It will be a hit! I added your button and invite to come see more on your own site!
Becca
Love, love, love this! I’ve bookmarked the page so that we can make one for our make and take group! Thanks for the tut!!
Super adorable!
This is fantastic. So feminine and delicate. Thanks for linking with FFT :).
That is so cute and thanks for the tutorial. ~~Sherry~~
Oooo I want to make this! Love the fabric you chose!
Why don’t you want a necklace the color of guac? Would you be hungry every time you wear it? I thought you liked mexican food? ;) j/k Your necklace is great, finally a project that I think I could manage. :) thanks for the tutorial.
Stopping by from Favorite things. Great post. I really love what you have made. I am hosting an event today if you want to show off your amazing work. Have a great day..
That is precious!
Another friday’s favorite~ come join the linky party!
If I didn’t have paint all over my hands and clothes I would start this now – love it!!
I’m convinced of it… you are a crafter extraordinaire. Seriously, how cute is that necklace and amazing is your talent?
I love Anthro-inspired projects. Yours turned out great!
Visiting from Tatertots and Jello.
lovely arts,
the color is divine!
:)
Love the tutorial. Looks like my daughter and I will be giving this a try this weekend. We have done the bead necklaces before, now we will add the flowers. Thanks.
amazing! Will def. try!
Wow you make it look so easy to do..thanks for the tutorial, i will have to try making one!
Thanks for sharing this fun project. I made one the other day and I love it. You can see my version on my blog. I linked back to your blog in my post.
http://finallyfinishedcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/08/fabulous-fabric-necklace.html
Oooh how lovely…I can’t wait to try this one out!
Thanks for sharing this with us hunny
((Hugs))
Karen x x x
o h my gosh LOVE THIS!!!! i dont have a fabric but looking at this…YUM :) I love DIY-and how we can get anything we want and any way we want it like you said-by making.
PS could you linkto the actual anthropologie necklace? I cant find the guacamole you are talking about.
soo pretty looks great on you! thanks for sharing!
I’m lovin’ this! :)
Oh wow, that’s adorable! I can’t wait to try to make one for myself!
Really cute. I will have to Steal this idea :)
OH my goodness. yours is SOOOOO much cuter than anthros. theirs is ugly. yours is SOOOOO cute!!!! :) awesome job & thanks for the idea!!
wow-again u do beautiful work. doing the tutorials for others is awesome. coming to this site and looking at some of the posts is like receiving 2 gifts each time-(1. the project/s are fantastic items that may be within my grasp of “able to do this”! 2). being shown how to create the items in a perfectly clear & concise tutorial. *~*
This is great! I love that you made this a reasonable size to! Thanks. I linked you to my blog: http://aworldofcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/09/beautiful-akela-necklace.html
This is the greatest tutorial ever! I just found the necklace on Anthropologie & mentioned it in a “Tempted to DIY” part of my blog Five Sixteenths here: http://fivesixteenthsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/tempted-tuesdays-beautiful-bracelets.html
hope you’ll pop by!! I can’t wait to try a load of your tutorials!
Hi there,
I just wanted to let you know I followed your tutorial and linked you on my blog.
Thanks so much for your wonderful ideas!
http://vintagelexy.blogspot.com/2010/10/anthro-necklace-knockoff.html
I’m loving the result you got! It looks stunning!
Absolutely stunning!
Loved the necklace for granddaughter but would make a brighter color. Plan to go get my beads and make.
Just made this! I love it, thank you!! :)
I really ADORE your Anthro knock-offs! I have never made jewelry before, but yours make me DROOL!! I must have them! ;) I’ll send you pics when I do. This is one (not the only one) where I like yours better than theirs. Hehe… I love the color you picked because like you said, it will match with more…
I like it. It’s easy to make.
Its fascinating how ideas get recycled and updated. We were doing this with marbles between knots back in the 80s. The marbles were heavy and all the same size,… got old quick. I love this latest version!
I need to make this one! I think this is the first I ever saw here,months ago
Yours is SO much nicer! Thank you for the tutorial & ideas!
Well done, and actually prettier than the original IMHO.
Oh so cute! What fabulous style! Thank You for sharing!
Loved this ncklace and believe this is one of the best tutorials I’ve seen. And yes at 75 this was around with marbles and no flowers AND I never bothered to make it.
I made this today! So easy! I hand sewed mine together bc I don’t have my sewing machine yet (buying on one Monday!) Love your blog!
Hi there! I LOVE your version of the necklace…I do want to ask you something……I want to make this necklace and give some as gifts, would it be ok with you if I sold them? If so, do you have any conditions? THANK a bunch! :)
Such an elegant necklace and so SIMPLE too! Lovely work!
This necklace is great ! Feminine, flower-y, perfect to dress up plain summer tank tops and tank dresses, and so easy to make. Thanks very much.
Hi! Fantastic tutorial, thanks so much! I’ve linked it up to my post here: http://sewgloried.blogspot.com/2011/08/ribbon-jewlery.html
I never knew what “anthro” was, but I love it and also the one you made!!!
I just love this necklace and I plan to make it soon. And I’ve passed the site onto a friend who has just recently started doing some small projects as a relaxing way to keep her hands busy. She loves fashion and I know she’ll love this! Thank you.
REALLY GREAT TUTORIALS!! THANKS FOR SHARING!
Just getting into making jewlrey, so I will making this one today. thanks for the tutorial.
I like your better!
Thank you for the tutorial; your necklace is beautiful. I am thinking of making one without the ruffles.
I remember these in the 80’s made of bandanas (UGLY!) so never made. Yours are lovely.
Hi love your version better.
Do the circles frey?
thanks,
Paula
Thanks Paula! They do just a little bit, but not bad. You could treat the edges with fray check to prevent that though! I hope you give it a try!
Oh wow, Your version is way too cooler and prettier XD..
Gotta try this!! THanksss
Very pretty! Maybe just the project I need to use some of my fabric scraps! Thanks for the great tutorial!