Get someone to help you measure yourself, and use whatever patterns you like in the size your measurements suggest.  I like New Look patterns for trendy stuff because they are cheap, and Butterick for more classic styles.   Here's how to measure from the Butterick site:  http://www.butterick.com/tech/charts/measure.html and there's a sizing chart around there somewhere, too.  Your clothing size has nothing to do with pattern size! 

I think it was made using flexible beading wire such as SoftFlex, which is basically tiger tail but better made.  However, there is a stiff monofilament cord made especially for this sort of thing: http://www.macramesuperstore.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=TM  Most "regular" wire wouldn't give you that result, jig or not. 

Hemp can be so hard on the skin!  But you get calluses pretty fast, and then it doesn't hurt anymore.  Until then, try the leather or rubber thimbles over in the needlework section to protect your poor pinkies. 

Cut them up into loops and weave or braid away.  They'd make a good rug, maybe rug hook with the loops?

With double-stick tape, you can put those rhinestones on anything pretty quickly!  Actually, I'm trying to melt the things into shrink plastic for jewelry.  And on wooden beads for a beaded bead-style disco ball thing.

They will melt in the oven, or under a heat gun, so you could make suncatchers or jewelry components.  I recommend that easy-release coated aluminum foil to work on, you can even shape it into molds.