DIY Proenza Schouler Rope Necklace

Lauren and I have been waiting for an excuse to use colorful bungee cords for some time now. And after seeing this Proenza Schouler necklace from their Resort 2011 collection, we jumped at the opportunity to recreate our own version of this amazing piece of jewelry!

You’ll need:
– 25 inches of bungee cord or climbing rope
– a yard of thick twisted cord
– some thin rope such as mason line
– some twine
– a pair of scissors
– a lighter
– a hot glue gun

Start by cutting a 10″ and a 15″ piece of bungee (or climbing rope). Burn the ends with a lighter to prevent fraying. Then, wrap the middle sections with either twine or mason line using the friendship knot technique and use the hot glue gun to secure the ends to your bungee cord. (Click images to enlarge)

Lay the center of the twisted cord in between the two pieces of covered bungee, twist twice at the top of the necklace and bring both sides down to create a small loop. You can adjust the necklace to whichever length you prefer. Generously glue each connecting section at the ‘x’ marks seen in the image below.

Wrap each glued section with mason line or twine and trim any excess twisted cord. Continue to wrap more sections with different colors, making it bright and colorful. Have fun with this!!

Your Proenza Schouler inspired necklace is ready to wear!

(top image from here, rest of images from Honestly…WTF)

Leave a Comment

122 Comments

  1. AND THIS IS WHY YOU GUYS ARE ONE OF MY FAVOURITES! 😀
    I LOVE THIS, AND WILL HAVE TO SCROUNGE AROUND FOR SOME ROPE.
    THANKS GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!
    AS ALWAYS.

    x, kasturi.

    11.16.10
    Reply
  2. WOW! This is awesome. I’m definitely going to be making this. Great for Christmas presents…and me!

    You guys are so creative!

    xx,
    Sonia

    http://RunwayHippie.com

    11.16.10
    Reply
  3. Lindsay wrote:

    This is wonderful! I can’t wait to try it out!!

    11.16.10
    Reply
  4. Marisa wrote:

    That came out awesome! Great DIY

    11.16.10
    Reply
  5. Rae wrote:

    Wow! That’s awesome, just like the original. I want to try this one so badly!

    11.16.10
    Reply
  6. miss crowland wrote:

    So cool!

    11.16.10
    Reply
  7. Wow, these turned out really cute!! Great job!

    11.16.10
    Reply
  8. your blog is amazing and this idea blows my mind! i can’t wait to try it out 🙂
    thank you for sharing with us all <3 😀

    11.16.10
    Reply
  9. Amazing!!!!

    11.16.10
    Reply
  10. Another really cool DIY! Great job

    11.16.10
    Reply
  11. This is amazing! I would have never thought to make this- you guys blow my mind! Making this tomorrow and hope it turns out as nice as yours!

    xx

    Lex

    11.16.10
    Reply
  12. Tammy wrote:

    I can’t believe you even knew about colorful bungee cords!! Your minds and eyes must be working all the time. These are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

    11.16.10
    Reply
  13. Aminah wrote:

    A <3 wsome!!!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  14. STUNNING! I like your creation much more that the original one! So colorful and creative.
    I’ll definately give it a try !

    xx
    ZR

    11.17.10
    Reply
  15. Geneva wrote:

    love love love as usual

    x

    11.17.10
    Reply
  16. Larissa wrote:

    gonna be making this and wearing this everywhere

    11.17.10
    Reply
  17. Maria wrote:

    LOVE IT!!! I want to make it NOW.

    Where can I find bungee cord in those bright FABULOUS colors?? Is there a website I can go to?

    Thank you guys!!!!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  18. erica wrote:

    Thanks everyone! We like to call this the “friendship necklace on crack”.

    You can buy bungee cords at Home Depot or colorful climbing/accessory rope at REI by the foot (link in post).

    If you want to add agate slices as it is in the original necklace, you can find them here: http://www.amazon.com/Sliced-Pendants-Drilled-Assorted-Colors/dp/B000YPVONI.

    xx

    11.17.10
    Reply
  19. Fantastic!!!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  20. This is brilliant…indeed great for xmas presents and I know exactly were to buy the colorful cords can’t wait!

    xx

    11.17.10
    Reply
  21. ladivasosa wrote:

    I LOVE THIS!!! Gonna knock one out this weekend!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  22. I just stumbled accross you girls from A Pair and a Square, I am honestly so impressed, your DIY is so professional and inspired. I cannot wait to attempt one of these necklaces on the weekend and I am in love with the coloured moccasins! I will definitely have to do a blog post about you ladies!

    xx
    http://www.Girlfridaymusings.com

    11.17.10
    Reply
  23. viva la sk wrote:

    this is really creative and resourceful!! i think i like your version more than the original! xox

    11.17.10
    Reply
  24. JWK wrote:

    Love this! I can’t wait to try it!!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  25. Anna wrote:

    Wow, what a great idea!!!! I’m definetly going to try it!

    11.17.10
    Reply
  26. I have been trying to make this for a couple months now and never finished any of the ones I started. This has inspired me to finish them… Thanks!!

    http://www.blu-magazine.com

    11.18.10
    Reply
  27. ryan wrote:

    This looks amazing, but I’m confused, based on the (very nostalgia inducing) friendship bracelet technique, as to how to begin and end the wraps on this necklace? Any insight would be great.

    11.18.10
    Reply
  28. erica wrote:

    Ryan, after you finish friendship knotting, go back and hot glue gun the ends to the climbing/bungee cord. Hope that helps!

    11.21.10
    Reply
  29. Tom wrote:

    Well, I agree with Sonia (Runway Hippie). This is great idea for Christmas gift.

    11.23.10
    Reply
  30. Bromeliad wrote:

    I just posted about that Proenza Schouler necklace, which was in last month’s Elle. So glad somebody DIY’d it.

    11.29.10
    Reply
  31. felicity wrote:

    Can you Please post a photo of you wearing it???

    11.29.10
    Reply
  32. whitneymichele wrote:

    thank you, God, for leading me to this blog.

    12.3.10
    Reply
  33. Keep an eye out for some exciting Tweets from @danielaferrari !do you know the blog http://danielaferraricouture.wordpress.com/ love the blog!! thank you for your hard work

    12.23.10
    Reply
  34. You’ve transformed a plain rope into something beautiful. I can’t wait to try this.

    12.27.10
    Reply
  35. Kites and Metal wrote:

    This is so cool! Look for other inspiration at
    kitesandmetal.blogspot.com

    12.27.10
    Reply
  36. Alex wrote:

    Just made one of my own! Looks great, thanks for the amazing idea!

    12.27.10
    Reply
  37. Irene wrote:

    How did you make the yellow thread spiral? I love that detail and don’t want to just simply wrap the thread around the cords.

    1.26.11
    Reply
    • erica wrote:

      Irene, it’s done by making knots around the cord. Here is the tutorial: https://honestlywtf.com/diy/friendship-necklace-diy. You’ll notice that the knots will automatically form a spiral. You can also manipulate it easily by twisting the knots around the cord once you’re done.

      1.26.11
  38. K wrote:

    This is awesome! But also, just wondering if anyone knows – who makes the shirt in that picture, or does anyone know the source of the advertisement? Thanks!

    2.25.11
    Reply
    • erica wrote:

      Hi K, the top is Versace Resort 2011. And the editorial is from Elle November 2010. Hope that helps! xx

      2.25.11
  39. K wrote:

    Thanks!

    2.25.11
    Reply
  40. erica g wrote:

    i did this and it turned out amazing but i think more than one yard of cord is needed to style it the way you did – unless my measurements were off (but i don’t think they were). regardless – LOVE this. thanks for the how-to and inspiration!

    3.13.11
    Reply
  41. beadinggem wrote:

    You know, I love your versions better than the original one! Fantastic tutorial. I will feature and link in a future post so others can come visit. Pearl

    4.18.11
    Reply
  42. Divya N wrote:

    This is one delicious way to use up all that rope…thumbs up 🙂

    5.4.11
    Reply
  43. Sophie wrote:

    This is awesome! I just wanted to ask, how thick were the thickest cords? Around 9mm?

    6.12.11
    Reply
  44. So fantastic, I am making 3 tonight!!

    http://fashionindie.com/

    6.28.11
    Reply
  45. This is SO AWESOME!!!!! Love the bright colors you used for the bungee cords. You always have the BEST pictures to go along with your tutorial..appreciate that

    7.18.11
    Reply
  46. Marie wrote:

    Loving it 🙂

    7.24.11
    Reply
  47. patti car wrote:

    How did you make the bracelets???????

    8.1.11
    Reply
  48. Margas wrote:

    I was looking for DIY jewelry ideas. They tend to be odd or plain ugly. But not on your website!!! I’m so impressed! Keep up the great work!

    10.3.11
    Reply
  49. Veronica wrote:

    I’m not one into large necklaces, but the one you made is gorgeous! I was wondering where you found the purple/pink cord you used to make it and what size it is so I can order something similar online? Thanks so much, I’ve been looking all over!

    10.26.11
    Reply
  50. Gretta wrote:

    The look is super cool, but what about attaching stones to it or embelishments like the original. How would one crafty lady do something like that? I love the idea of making these for Christmas for my more stylish friends but I would maybe want to personalize them with some beads. . .help me do it! I cannot do it on my own!

    10.30.11
    Reply
  51. it looks grate…I will try it…

    11.6.11
    Reply
  52. Martine wrote:

    this is AMAZING!

    1.24.12
    Reply
  53. Vienna wrote:

    Your jewelry DIYs are incredible, I would love to find the time to make them, but do you sell them anywhere too?

    1.31.12
    Reply
  54. Beth wrote:

    Hi;
    Looking for climbing rope pieces….I need it by the yd. for a different project.
    Sources?

    Thanks, Nice Necklaces!!!
    Beth

    2.20.12
    Reply
  55. Christine wrote:

    I saw this on Pinterest (gotta love that site!) months ago and I’ve been wanting to try it. Finally made one!!! Will sue make some more! Thanks for the tutorial! I love your blog!!!

    http://christhingsss.blogspot.com/2012/03/diy-itis.html

    3.29.12
    Reply
  56. Hera Nyx wrote:

    WOW, I love this !!!!

    5.7.12
    Reply
  57. Sara wrote:

    AMAZING !!!!!!!! beautifull ..

    5.9.12
    Reply
  58. vasare wrote:

    This is amazing!

    5.26.12
    Reply
  59. anna wrote:

    wow you are so smart!!
    this is very pretty

    7.21.12
    Reply
  60. ilse wrote:

    This is so great! The perfect necklace to make yourself. Love the colors and can’t wait for a long hot summer…

    5.9.13
    Reply
  61. Joan wrote:

    Where can i get the stones that the original necklace has? I think its agate? Thanks

    5.11.13
    Reply
  62. MK wrote:

    How thick are the thick twisted ropes you used?

    6.25.13
    Reply
  63. Mark wrote:

    I made a few similar ones at Paracord central. These are very very sexy, especially considering the effort needed to make them.

    Mark

    12.7.13
    Reply
  64. Laura wrote:

    Hi! My name is Laura and I am an editor from AllFreeJewelryMaking.com. I love this project and think it would be a great project to be featured on our site. I know we’ve worked with your site before. If you are interested in having this project featured, please contact us here: http://www.allfreejewelrymaking.com/index.php/hct/contact_us_page ?

    2.7.14
    Reply
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    4.26.14
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  66. theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.

    8.17.17
    Reply