Make a statement

Combine bright zips with pearls to make Lisa Steed Davey's funky jewellery

Download the templates by clicking the following link: Make a statement with... zips

Necklace

1. Open all the zips and cut off the ends to separate the two sides. Cut seven 10cm lengths of purple zip, seven 8cm sections of bright pink and finally seven 6cm pieces of pale pink. Carefully singe the ends of all of them with a lighter to prevent fraying.
2. To make the teardrop shapes, fold a purple piece of zip in on itself and sew to secure as shown on p84. Add a bright pink zip to sit nicely inside the purple, again sewing in the marked areas. Stitch a pale pink zip in the middle, keeping the stitches really small so they cannot be seen from the front. Repeat to make up seven teardrops in total.
3. Sew each teardrop together, 2cm down from the points, close to the teeth and make another stitch on the other side to secure (Fig.3). Cut two 60cm lengths of purple beading wire. On the last teardrop of each side of the necklace, thread through a length of the wire so it is half its length.
4. String three 12mm purple pearls onto one side of the necklace, followed by ten 8mm purple pearls. Thread on a calotte followed by a crimp. Squeeze the crimp, then knot the wire next to it to make it really secure and close the calotte on top. Attach a 10mm jump ring and one half of a magnetic clasp, then repeat for the other side of the necklace. Sew three 12mm purple pearls within the middle three teardrops, then on either side add two 8mm pearls to complete.