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How to Make a DIY Free People-Inspired Vintage Flower Necklace

comments (0) September 18th, 2010

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ShyShirley, member

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DIY Vintage Flower Necklace

Photo: Yours Truly

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Visit my blog ShyShirley for more information and pictures of this project!

Free People writes about these gorgeous pieces, “A cluster of flowers, gems, and charms made of vintage pieces hanging between leather straps make these one of a kind necklaces.” I adore them, but since the $168 price tag is a little out of my range, I thought I'd make a DIY attempt.

I used:

Vintage enamel flower pins. They're easy to pick up for one or two dollars each at flea markets, thrift stores, or your grandmother's jewelry stash
Heavy gauge wire
Pliers
A few inches of chain
Two small rings- I used the round parts of toggle clasps
Two eye pins
Ribbon
A split binder ring- or a real clasp, if you're “that kind” of person

My methods for this one are a bit unorthodox, partially because I didn't want to permanently ruin my pins in case I wanted to wear them later, and partially because I only used materials that I already had.

First, arrange your pins in a slightly curved line. You'll probably want your biggest pin in the center. Then, flip your pins over, keeping them in the correct positions. Use your heavy gauge wire and pliers to connect the pins together. I twisted the wire around the open pin backs, then closed the pins. There are probably a couple different ways to connect them.

Find two places on the back of your pins to which to connect your chain. Use more wires (or jump rings, if it's easier) to attach the chain. It should be placed at the same position on both sides of your necklace, so that it hangs straight. Attach the ends of your eye pins to the last link in each of the chains.

Cut the ends off of the eye pins, leaving about 1-2cm or so. Use pliers to make loops in the remaining ends of the eye pins, and attach the small rings to those loops. Cut two lengths of ribbon. Mine were about 10” long. Slip a length of ribbon through one of the metal rings, overlap the ends of the ribbon a bit, and sew the ribbon into a loop. Repeat for the other side. Finally, slip both ribbon loops into the split ring, and close. You're done!