Make Handmade Neck Cords on a Dime

by Judy Ellis

The other day, I had just made a bucketload of pendants and I was getting ready to photograph them, then either list them online or save them for a show. I wanted them all to have the same style of neck cord, but I didn't want to go to the craft store and pick up a few dozen premade neck cords.

First, it wasn't a very economical option, and second, I do like having a bit of handmade-ness in my jewelry, even in the neck cords. I also didn't want to go with a premade metal chain, although I've used them before. So I made a list of my options:

Steel cable memory wire

Silk or organza Ribbon

Satin cord

Leather or suede lace or cord

Wire wrapped collars

I will tell you what I went with and then I'll tell you why I made that decision.

I went with some leather lace. I like that the leather is thick and will stand up to my 40x30mm pendants.

I picked up a large hank of leather lace in Tucson this year, a great deal - although I do have to shave the rough side down with a razor blade to get a smooth finish. Just like Dale outlines in her

Finished Ribbon

I measured the cord length I wanted.

I folded each end over.

I wrapped it snug with wire (half-round and round work well).

I use a big S hook in my necklaces. I hate lobster claw and spring ring clasps (they hurt fingernails!).

Either side works as the clasp side. No right- or left-handed design.

This makes a smooth, light necklace.

Here's the S clasp and wire wrapped leather neck cord I made for my pendants.

I used 18-gauge half hard wire, toughened with a rawhide mallet, for the S clasp.

Judy Ellis's Make Handmade Neck Cords on a Dime - , Wire Jewelry Design, Design, Selling, Leather cord necklace

So why didn't I choose other options?

Steel cable memory wire

This was a popular find in Tucson; although we don't carry it on Wirejewelry.com, you can find it elsewhere online.

It's a piece of neck memory wire, usually 16 or 18″, with a plastic coating, that attaches with a magnetic clasp.

I loved the one I got in Tucson for lightweight pendants, but for big 40x30mm cabochons, the clasp started digging into my neck.

That's a big clasp, about 1″ long, so I took it off! The memory wire neck wire would work well for small pendants, but not mine.

Silk or Organza Ribbon

Ribbons display jewelry beautifully.

Make ribbon neck cords yourself in rainbow colors.

Add hand-dyed silks for special occasions.

For everyday use, this may not work.

Square wire rubs organza edges after hours, especially with heavy cabs. It frays.

Use good-quality ribbon with light pendants for safety.

Satin Cord

Spools of satin or satin-like cord work like ribbon.

Fold them, wire-wrap, and add a clasp.

I skipped satin cord for pendants. My polyester version kinks, even after soaking and drying flat overnight.

Real satin likely behaves better.

How can I flatten mine?

Wire Wrapped collars

I'd sell every pendant on a wire-wrapped collar if I could.

But they take time and materials beyond what a $20 pendant covers.

At a recent gem show, a wire artist stood out.

She offered handmade collars fitted to the collarbone in delicate sterling silver wire. $60 each.

Crowds thronged her table.

Worth every penny.

Handmade leather cords are my top choice.

They cost little: copper or silver-filled wire plus 20 inches of leather. Under 50 cents in materials.

Add an extender chain for adjustability.

My option works for me.

What low-cost, handmade cords do you offer with pendants?

Make Handmade Neck Cords on a Dime

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