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DIY Utility Rope Necklace

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A couple summers ago, we stocked up on brass washers to make friendship necklaces. A year later, hex nuts became short in supply thanks to the hex nut bracelet. Today we’re all about compression sleeves, which are conventionally used in plumbing but also make for the perfect component for these statement necklaces. Striking, colorful, and fun, this tutorial won’t be able to keep you too far away from your local hardware store!

You’ll need:

Start by cutting the utility rope into 8 32 inch pieces. Gather them together and slide the compression sleeves on, one at a time.

Keeping the compression sleeves together keep the ropes evenly bound and make sliding them on easier. After 12-14 sleeves are on the ropes, spread them out accordingly.

Decide which sections to wrap and start at the center of the necklace. Run the end of the knotting cord upwards along one section and towards the edge of a brass sleeve. Then wrap around the ropes, working downwards in the opposite direction. This helps secures the cord.

Continue to wrap the entire section. Before reaching the end of the section, place a bead of glue along the starter cord and finish wrapping.

Allow to dry before trimming any excess cord. Continue wrapping different sections of the necklace.

When all the sections have been wrapped, trim end ends. Squeeze a generous amount of glue into the cap and insert the end of the necklace into it. It may require some rotating to get the end of the necklace into the cap. Repeat the step on the other end.

Using pliers, attach a larger jump ring to one end and a clasp to the other.

And that’s it, your necklace is finished!

Make a couple more and layer them on top of each other. And most importantly, have fun! PS If you’re in San Francisco on July 26th, come DIY with me to celebrate Madewell‘s one year anniversary!! 

(all images by HonestlyWTF)

127 Comments

  49. Jasmine    July 24, 2012

    awesome idea! love the colors all together!

    check my fashion blog out? :)

    xo

    turquoiseinlove.blogspot.com

  50. steph    July 24, 2012

    amazing! what i really love about your DIYs are that they are always finished off so well! ;)

  54. fly    July 25, 2012

    Cosmic. Do Great idea! Easy to do and the effect wonderful <3

  61. Michelle    July 25, 2012

    This is so pretty. I already ran out and got everything I need to make these necklaces! Now I just need to find the time to assemble…

  63. Preppyip    July 25, 2012

    Love it and all your DIY’s! Do you have another resource for the Chinese knotting thread? The one given doesn’t have many colors. Thanks!

  64. Beh1nd handicrafts by mk    July 25, 2012

    Thumbs up for another excellent handmade jewelry post!

  66. Kasia    July 26, 2012

    anyone know where else to buy the chinese knotting cord? that site is sold out of the fun colors used in this necklace!

  71. zee    July 28, 2012

    the compression sleeves look surprisingly awesome! where do you guys get these great ideas

  75. Mandy    August 1, 2012

    Just finished mine and love it! But I can’t find end caps anywhere, where did you get them???
    -Mandy

  80. Eva    August 9, 2012

    In what kind of store do you buy your stuff? I’m from Holland so… :D

  87. Angela    September 2, 2012

    Ok so.. lets just say you are extremely talented. I love the necklace and great demo. I’ve learned a lot from you already.. Keep them coming.. I’ll be back to see more.. :)

  88. Tina @ More Please Recipes    September 15, 2012

    This necklace is just gorgeous! I absolutely love it! I’m at a wedding this weekend and am wearing a 70′s mod white and black color block dress. I wish I had that necklace to wear as a statement piece!

  89. Isabele    September 17, 2012

    Hey! First of all, i LOVE your blog! I love to do things by myself and you allready helped my for a lor of things…thank you for that! There is just one think…could you do a video showing how you put the cord end caps please? i just dont know how to use it…

    Beijo from Portugal =)*

  92. rms    September 28, 2012

    Absolutely stunning, but cannot find the indicated size end caps either can you direct me

  96. Marci    October 20, 2012

    found all items EXCEPT the end caps.. where can I find.. hard to complete project…and these are awesome. I have tried hardware stores, on line, marine shops, jewelry making store.. even went to jewelry design store… largest I found were 6MM HELP…

  98. Meghan    October 24, 2012

    The 16mm end caps are “currently unavailable”
    Can you recommend any where else?

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