Autumn Tassel Pendant Necklace

Cindi Bisson created this unique dyed autumn necklace for an episode of When Creativity Knocks at the Southern Women’s Show in Charlotte, NC. Looks like fun, right?

Believe it or not, a white cotton bed sheet was torn into strips and custom dyed using Rit recipes that match the top 10 colors in the Pantone Fall 2011 Color Palette.  For embellishments, Cindi added Rit hand-dyed buttons and a wooden leaf pendant that was dyed with Rit and then ink-stamped for added interest. 

Here's the full tutorial...

SUPPLIES:

• Rit Liquid Dyes - See colors used to custom match Pantone Fall 2011 collection

• White 100% Cotton Bed Sheet or Cotton Broadcloth

• Blumenthal Lansing 10 White Buttons, assorted sizes 

• DIY Bangles Wooden Leaf Pendant 
•  
• Judikins 2672 J • Architecture Rubber Stamp

• Black Inkpad

• Dyeing Supplies:  Craft gloves, 10 small disposable cups or bowls, measuring spoons, microwave,  paper towels, foam brush, paper clip

• Clear Polyurethane, optional

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Select desired colors for your tassel pendant necklace.  Project shown has 1 strip of dyed fabric and 1 dyed button in each of the Pantone Fall 2011 shades.  

2.  Tear white sheet or fabric into 10 strips, 1/4” wide and approximately 36” long.  

3.  Wearing craft gloves, follow recipes to mix each color of dye in a separate bowl.  Microwave approximately 1 minute until hot.  Add one strip of fabric and white buttons to each bowl of dye.   Let sit approximately 1 minute, then remove strip of dyed cotton fabric.  (Let buttons remain in dye solution.)  Place fabric strips on paper towels and microwave on high for approximately 1 1/2 minutes. Rinse under cool running water and air dry.   

4.  Let buttons sit in the dye solution for 10 – 20 minutes, until desired shade is achieved.  Remove buttons, rinse in cool water and air dry on paper towels.

5.  Use foam brush to dye-stain wooden leaf pendant with Emberglow and Cedar dye. Option:  Dip wooden leaf into dye to color instead of painting with foam brush.  Blot with paper towel.  Let dry.

6.  Ink stamp with black ink.  Stamp front of dyed wooden leaf.  Let dry.  Optional:  Seal  wooden leaf by brushing with a coat of clear polyurethane.  

7.  Arrange 10 strips of dyed cotton around your neck.  Bring together where you would like the tassel to begin.  Tear a small strip from one color of dyed sheet and tie to create a tassel effect.  Remove from neck. 

8.  Roll ends of random fabric strips into a point.  Use large open paper clip to push fabric through holes in dyed buttons.  Randomly add buttons to strips of fabric as desired. 

9.  Mount stamped, dyed wooden leaf pendant to tassel by rolling end of one strip and pushing through hole in leaf.  Tie to knot.    

10.  Wear as a pendant necklace or arrange off to one side for a unique twist on an autumn scarf.