Jewelry Making

DIY Jewelry, Beads And Patterns

Elements of Style Knit + Crochet Jewelry Book Review

by

Elements of Style: Knit + Crochet Jewelry with Wire, Felt & Beads by Rosemary Hill

  • Paperback: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Interweave Press (November 28, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1596680792
  • ISBN-13: 978-1596680791

I was intrigued by the title of this book and couldn’t wait to get it. Fiber jewelry is getting more popular but there aren’t alot of books out.   I wanted to see what projects this book offered and I was not disappointed.

With simple materials you’ll be making modern wearable art pieces of fiber art.  The book contains seventeen  projects that combine the writers 3 passions – beading, knitting and crocheting.  Elements of Style will appeal to jewelry makers of all levels as well as knitters/crocheters who never thought about using those skills to make jewelry.

No matter what your experience with knitting or crochet, this book will get you familiar with the materials, tools, and techniques.  This book is so well written with great illustrations and instructions that someone like me who can’t knit, feels confident enough to make the jewelry projects.  I think this is one of the strongest elements of this book.  Most of these are basic wireworking, beading, knitting and crochet so a beginner won’t feel overwhelmed. There are special technique sidebars and tip boxes throughout the book which will make sure you are successful with every project.

The book is in three sections:  wire projects, fiber projects, then felting projects. There are so many pieces in here that I like its hard to narrow down a few.  For the Wire section, my fave is the “Trio of Wire Earrings”.  It has instructions for beaded rectangles, beaded triangles or wire rounds. I really like the triangles the best.  In the fiber section, the very first project is my favorite – a scarf cocktail necklace made with stainless steel/silk blend yarn. GORGEOUS!!!! In the felting section I am ga-ga over the “Circles Cuff”

Another great thing I really like about this book: Because the projects are small its a great way to use up all those little bits of fiber, beads, and wire from we all hoard!

If you are looking for something a little different in your jewelry making or are curious about knit/crochet jewelry this is definately a book you will want to pick up.  You can preview the book on the Interweave website and see a few of the projects.

Have you read?

Beaded Halloween Skeleton Craft – A Spooky-Cute Bead Project For Halloween Decorating

If you like your Halloween crafts with a little bit of spooky charm and a whole lot of handmade personality, this Beaded Halloween Skeleton from CraftBits is a fun little project to add to your October crafting list.

This project uses simple supplies — white seed beads, black seed beads, 24-gauge wire or beading thread, scissors, and wire cutters — to create a small beaded skeleton that can be used for Halloween decorations, charms, party favors, or even spooky handmade jewelry. The original tutorial walks you through building the skeleton row by row, starting with a black bead at the top and working through the skull, body, arms, hands, legs, and feet.

What I like about this project is that it has that lovely “old-school craft book” feel. It is not overly complicated, but it does ask you to slow down and follow the bead pattern carefully. This is the sort of Halloween bead craft that is perfect for a quiet afternoon when you want something seasonal but not messy. No glue gun strings across the table, no glitter stuck to the dog, just beads, wire, and a little bit of patience.

The finished skeleton would be cute added to a Halloween keyring, made into a zipper pull, tied onto a treat bag, or hung from a mini Halloween tree. You could also make a batch of them for party decorations or classroom craft swaps. If you enjoy tiny seasonal makes, you might also like browsing the Halloween Crafts section on CraftBits for more spooky little projects to pair with it.

This is a good project for confident beginners who have used seed beads before. Younger crafters may need help with the wire ends and keeping the rows tight, but older kids, teens, and adults who enjoy bead crafts should find it very satisfying. I would suggest using a bead mat or a shallow tray, because seed beads have a special talent for rolling into the one place you cannot reach. Ask me how I know.

For supplies, small packs of black and white seed beads are easy to find, and Amazon is handy for basic beading wire, bead mats, and small jewelry pliers if you are building up a Halloween craft kit. If you prefer more unusual beads or want tiny skull charms to add alongside your skeleton, Etsy can also be a fun place to look for Halloween beading supplies.

This little skeleton is proof that Halloween crafting does not need to be huge or expensive to be fun. Sometimes the best seasonal projects are the small ones you can make in multiples, tuck into gift bags, or hang around the house for a bit of handmade Halloween mischief.

Best for: Halloween bead crafts, spooky handmade charms, beginner-friendly wire bead projects, Halloween party favors, and small seasonal decorations.