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Project - Body Jewellery

 

 

 

One trend that we've definitely been loving this summer is body jewellery - both head chains and body chains. Perfect for holidays,

festivals, and even boho wedding styles! So we thought we'd have a go at making some here in the office.

 

 

 

 

These designs were made by Damaris Ramenaden and could be adapted to suit your own style or colour choice! 

 

Summer Boho Body Jewellery 


Designed by: 

Damaris Ramenaden 

 

Suitable for Beginner to Intermediate level 

 

Whether you are off to a festival in the sunshine, a chic boho wedding or just a lazy, hazy summer barbecue; these feminine and on-trend beaded body jewellery pieces are sure to keep you in the summer spirit. 

 

Use these two patterns to make the two adornments, or as inspiration for your own – use any focals, beads and colours that you like; and make it as simple or ornate as you want.    

 

Swarovski Rivoli and Pearl Hair Jewellery 

 

This hair jewellery is made up of a bezelled Swarovski rivoli, a daisy chain pearl and gold centre-piece section, with plain and embellished side sections. 

 The sections are joined using a jump-ring at the front and a jump-ring at the back of the piece. If your hair jewellery doesn’t lie securely enough (this will be different for everyone so don’t worry if it feels a little loose on you), use a Bobby Pin hooked through these jump-rings to hold it in place. 

 The dimensions included in these instructions are as a guide only. Feel free to make each section as long or short as you like, with whatever embellishments you prefer. 

 

The dimensions for the example are as follows: 

 

  • Centre section is 22cm long, with 11 pearl daisies 
  • First side sections are 27cm long each 
  • Second side sections are 33.5cm long each, with 6 single pearls and 5 sets of pearl and patterned spacers 

 

To make the hair jewellery you will need: 

 

 

  1. Using a wingspan of conditioned thread (or a length that is comfortable for you) pick up 36 B, then pass through the first B again to create a ring, leaving a 6” tail. 
  1. Pick up 1 A, miss one B bead, then pass through the next B in the ring.  
  1. Repeat step 2 all the way around, so you create a ring of peyote stitched B and A beads. Step up by passing through the first A added in step 2. Try not to keep your tension too tight, or your bezels may not fit the rivoli. 
  1. Pick up 1 C, miss one A bead, then pass through the next A in the ring. 
  1. Repeat step 4 all the way around, so you create another ring of peyote stitched beads. Step up by passing through the first C added in step 4. 
  1. Weave through a few beads, tie a secure knot and weave through a few more beads. Trim the working thread. 
  1. Add a needle to the tail thread, pass through a few beads until you are happy it is secured. If you wish, you can also tie a discreet knot and weave through a few more beads before trimming the tail thread. 
  1. Using the remaining thread (if enough), repeat steps 1-3 to create the second side of the bezel for the rivoli. Once you have stepped up through the A bead you are ready to zip the first side of the bezel to this side. 
  1. Put the two bezel sides together, then pass through the C bead on the first bezel, then through the next A bead on the second bezel. 
  1. Repeat step 9 to zip the two sides of the bezel together, approximately two thirds of the way around. Insert the rivoli into its bezel, then continue to zip the rest of the bezel together.  
  1. Once the bezel has been zipped up, pass through a couple more beads and ensure you are exiting from a C bead, as you will now create the centre section of your hair jewellery. 
  1. Using your tape measure, measure how long you want your centre section to be (i.e. where you want the rivoli to lie on your head/hair, and where you want the other end to lie). 
  1. Pick up 8 A, then pass back through the C bead, to create a small loop. Pass back through the first 4 x A beads again, then pick up 10 A.  
  1. You will now create your first daisy. Pick up 16 A, then pass back through the first of these beads again, to create a small circle. Pick up 1 D, then pass though the 8th A. Your pearl should sit in the centre of your flower. 
  1. Pick up 12 A, then you are ready to continue making your daisies. 
  1. Repeat step 14 and 15 for as long as you want your centre section to be.  
  1. Once you have created your centre section, pick up 6 A, then pass through these beads again to reinforce the tiny circle. Pass back along the centre section of the beads.  
  1. When you get to a daisy, reinforce the daisy structure by repeating the thread path in step 14. Make sure the thread path goes the opposite way this time, so it doesn’t pull the daisy or its centre pearl out of line (so the 1st and 8th A bead should have thread coming out of both sides, helping to keep it anchored centrally). 
  1. Once you have reinforced the centre section, and are back near the rivoli, make sure you pass down the second set of 4 x A in the loop you created in step 13, then through the C bead. This will make sure the centre section is anchored in the middle of the loop. 
  1. You should now be working with the bezel beads now, so weave through until you exit the third C bead from the centre section gold seed bead.  
  1. Use your measuring tape to decide how long you want your first side section to be. This section is a simple strung length of 15° A beads, with a tiny circle of 6 A beads at the end. Make sure you reinforce the circle and passed back down through all the A beads in this section. 
  1. Once you have completed this side section, pass back up through the C bead, then weave down to the next C bead in the bezel. You will now create your second side section, with embellishments, so use your measuring tape to decide how long you want your second side section to be 
  1. Exiting from the C bead, pick up 20 A, then 1 x D.  
  1. Now pick up another 20 A, followed by 1 D, 1 E, 1D. Continue adding 20 A, with alternating single pearls and pearl spacer sets for the length of your section.  
  1. Again, at the end of the section, create your beaded ring of 6 A, reinforced once then pass back down the length of the second section. 
  1. Pass back through the C bead in the bezel, then weave through the beads in the bezel so you are ready to add the side sections on the other side of the bezel. 
  1. Repeat steps 20 – 25, then pass back through the C bead, and weave through a few more beads. Tie a discreet knot, weave through a few more beads, then trim the thread. 
  1. Making sure the sections are arranged in the right order, open one of your jump-rings and thread it through each of the tiny beaded circles at one end of each section. Close the jump-ring, then repeat at the other end, making sure the sections are still arranged in the right order. 
  1. Your hair jewellery is finished and waiting to be worn in the sun! 

 

Swarovski Rivoli and Flower Bead Body Chain 

 

This lightweight, flowing chain can be worn to add a touch of glamour to an everyday outfit, or for when a necklace just isn’t enough! 

 A simple necklace of beads and a bezelled rivoli creates a perfect place for an embellished drop of flower beads and fire-polished faceted beads to hang, with additional loops of gold beads that will pretty up any waistline.  

 The dimensions included in these instructions are as a guide only. Feel free to make each section as long or short as you like; with whatever embellishmecnts you prefer. 

 The dimensions for this piece are as follows: 

 

  • Necklace length (including clasp) is 43cm 
  • Body drop from rivoli is 23cm 
  • First side sections are 47cm on each side 
  • Second side sections are 50cm on each side  

 

To make the body chain, you will need: 

 

  • Scissors 
  • Flat nose pliers to open and close the jump-rings 
  • Tape measure 

 

  1. Follow steps (1-10) for the hair jewellery, to bezel your rivoli. Once you have zipped up the bezel, make sure you exit from a C bead, as you will now create the necklace straps. 
  1. Pick up enough A beads to make one half of your necklace strap. At the end of the strap, create a tiny circle using 6 A beads, reinforced once, then pass back down the necklace length and back to the rivoli. 
  1. Weave through the beads in the bezel, until you pass through the 4th C on the bezel. 
  1. Pick up the same length of A beads in step 11 to create the second necklace strength. Again, create a tiny circle at the end, using 6 A beads, reinforced once, then pass back down the necklace length and back to the rivoli. 
  1. Weave through the beads in the bezel until you pass through the C in the middle between the 2 Cs used for the necklace strap (this should be 7th one from either of the two C beads). You will now make the body chain drop. 
  1. Pick up enough A beads to make a length of 10cm.  
  1. Pick up 1 C, 1 E, 1 C, followed by 3 A. 
  1. Pick up 1 C, 1 D, 1 C, followed by 3 A. 
  1. Repeat steps 16 and 17 until you have added all the fire-polished and flower beads. 
  1. Pick up enough A beads to make a length of 4 cm. Create another tiny circle at the end using 6 A beads, reinforced once, then pass back up the whole length of the body chain. 
  1. Weave through a few beads in the bezel, tie a discreet knot, weave through a few more beads, then trim the thread neatly. 
  1. Use your measuring tape to measure how long you want the first side sections to be. Work out where the bottom of the body chain drop section will be on your body, then place the tape measure here, and measure to the base of your spine to find the length (adjusting slightly if you want the section to drape more or less). 
  1. With a new piece of thread, use enough A beads to create one of the first side sections, with tiny circles of 6 A beads reinforced once at each end of the section. You must also reinforce the length of your section by passing back through all the A beads. *You may find it easier here to do this step by threading enough A beads to create a third of the section and only using approx. a third of your thread (i.e. leave a really long tail thread), then create your tiny reinforced circle at this end, then pass back through the beads added so far. Then add another needle to the long tail end of the thread and add enough beads for the remaining length of the section. Make the tiny reinforced circle at the end, then pass back down the beads you have just added, until you meet the other end of the thread again. You can then tie the working end and tail thread together to make a knot, then weave each end though some the beads again before trimming neatly. 
  1. Repeat step 13 to create the other first side section. 
  1. You will now create the second side sections, with embellishments. 
  1. Use your measuring tape to measure how long you want the second side sections to be. Work out where the bottom of the body chain drop section will be on your body, then place the tape measure here, and measure to the base of your spine to find the length (adjusting slightly to make the second section drape more). 
  1. With a new piece of thread, and using approx. a third of this thread (i.e. leave a really long tail thread) pick up 50 A, followed by 1 C, 1 E, 1C.  
  1. Pick up 15 A, followed by 1 C, 1 E, 1 C. 
  1. Repeat step 18 until you have threaded 3 flower spacer beads. 
  1. Pick up 30 A. 
  1. Pick up 6 A and use these to create your tiny end circles. Reinforce these once, then pass back though all the beads you have added so far. 
  1. Add a needle onto the tail end of the thread and add enough A beads to complete the length of the second section. 
  1. Make the tiny reinforced circle at the end, then pass back down the beads you have just added, until you meet the other end of the thread again. You can then tie the working end and tail thread together to make a knot, then weave each end though some the beads again before trimming neatly. As the flower spacers are quite heavy, try to pass through these beads a third time and back to the reinforced circle, before trimming the thread.  
  1. Repeat steps 17-23 to make the other second side section. 
  1. Now it’s time to add all the jump-rings and join everything up! 
  1. Add a jump-ring to each of the tiny circles in the necklace, making sure you also add your clasp to one of these jump-rings. Your necklace is ready to go, now just the body sections! 
  1. Arrange the body sections in order (second section at the bottom, first section on top of this, followed by the body chain drop, the first section on the other side, then the second section on the other side). You may find it helpful to lie them all out on a flat surface, and fan the sections out in a circle, so you know that when you add the jump-ring they will stay in order! 
  1. Add the jump-ring to the circles. They should all be hanging from the body chain drop now.  
  1. Sort out the first and second section on one side, then add a jump-ring to other end of these sections. Do the same on the other side, remembering to add the clasp to this jump-ring. 
  1. If all the sections have been added in the right order, when you wear it you should find the body chain drop hangs centrally, with the side sections draping gracefully around to your back.  
  1. Now go show off your boho style with confidence!

 

Ours was made with gold seed beads and a beautiful green Rivoli!

 

 

 

 

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