CrochetedINSPIRED BY SOUTH CAROLINA

Seashells are tied to Myrtle Beach memories

by Kim St. Jean

“ I can’t walk down the

beach without picking up shells.”

String pearls, crystals, and shells

Trim the thread and cord, leaving 4-in. (10 cm) tails. String a shell, to act as a toggle, and pull the ends through the last stitch. Tie a surgeon’s knot (How-Tos).

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necklace

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©2010 Kalmbach Publishing Co. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher.

Nothing says Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, like seashells and nothing says Kim St. Jean like tools. If I’m not hammering or sawing in my workshop, I’m on vacation, searching the beach for something to take back home to drill. My son, Chase, and I collected these shells at the Apache Family Campground in Myrtle Beach. After drilling them, I used bead crochet to display my handiwork.

Chain stitch one end of the thread and cord (Insets).

Continue to chain stitch, sliding down pearls and crystals every other stitch, to cover about 2 in. (5 cm).

Continue to chain stitch, sliding down shells, pearls, and crystals every other stitch until the beaded segment is about 15 in. (38 cm) long.

Make the loop half of the finishing (Insets).

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Techniques

Insets

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Kim St. Jean

Mixed Metal ManiaSolder, rivet, hammer, and wire exceptional jewelry

• Use a drill that will turn in slow revolutions. I use my drill press set at 1100 rpms. In most cases, a Dremel-style tool will go too fast even on the lowest speed. • Use a titanium nitride coated drill bit from the hardware store. The ones I use cost about $2 for 10 bits.

• Drill shells underwater. Submerge the item to be drilled on a small piece of wood and lower the drill bit to the spot you wish to drill.• Start the drill moving very slowly and apply light pressure. Let the drill bit do the work.

Tips for drilling shells Kim St. JeanKim left teaching in the North Carolina school system to explore jewelry making. Today she combines her creativity with her love of teaching by instructing others how to make jewelry. She is currently working on her upcoming book, Mixed Metal Mania, to be published by Kalmbach Books. Contact Kim at kim@kimstjean.com or visit kimstjean.com.

Suppliesnecklace 18 in. (46 cm)◆ 28–34 seashells, top drilled◆ 8–10 6–8 mm crystals◆ 36 – 46 4–6 mm pearls,

top drilled◆ C-Lon knotting cord ◆ silk knotting thread◆ diagonal wire cutters ◆ crochet hook (Boye size

E/4-3.50MM)

Supplies from Expressive Impressions, Inc., kimstjean.com. Check your local bead store for supplies.

chain stitch • Make a loop in the cords, crossing the ends over the tails. Insert a crochet hook in the loop. Bring the cords over the hook, and pull them through the loop. Repeat for the desired number of stitches.

bead chain stitch • Slide the first bead to the crochet hook and chain stitch into the next stitch. Make sure the bead hangs freely. Repeat for the desired number of stitches.

String 8 in. (20 cm) of pearls and crystals on silk knotting thread. String 8 in. (20 cm) of shells on C-Lon knotting cord. You can string more as you go.

Leave a 4-in. (10 cm) tail. Chain enough stitches (Techniques) to cover about 2 in. (5 cm) of thread and cord.

Use roundnose pliers or a crochet hook to pull the ends through the stitch adjacent to the first bead to form a loop. Tie a surgeon’s knot (How-Tos).