TUTORIAL: Necklace made from Metal Washers

[The Small Object]

I went to see the Josef + Anni Albers exhibit at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and it was awesome. But the item I remember being most excited about was Anni Albers' necklace made with washers and grosgrain ribbon, here it is:



I wanted one so here's how to make your very own!  You need:
- 35 to 50 3/8" washers (10 washers makes 4.5" of necklace)
- Grosgrain ribbon 1/2" wide (3/4 yard or so)

Step one: Thread ribbon up from behind washer #1. You should leave about 6" inches of ribbon on the left end to tie around your neck.



Step Two: Thread ribbon up along the side of washer #2 and back down through the middle. The end should be threaded back through the middle of washer #1. (Still with me??)



Step Three: Pull ribbon tight so washer #2 lies flat against washer #1.



Step Four: Thread ribbon back up through washer #2 so it weaves underneath washer #1.



Step Five: Repeat process. Thread ribbon up alongside edge and back down through the middle of washer #3.



Step Six: Thread end of ribbon back through the middle of washer #2.



Step Seven: Pull ribbon tight to the right so you have all three washers laying flat. Repeat above steps.



Then you're done!!



Then me wearing it!

[flrtingwdisaster]

i love that necklace! you know, it would probably make a good belt too... thanks for the tutorial, i have to go find some washers now

[The Small Object]

It's my pleasure!  And you're right actually, my sister does have a belt made with round rings with a scarf type material weaved through it.  I'm pretty sure it's the exact same weave. 

[JazzyBee]

maybe i'am just not that bright...but where doyou get these washers from...what are they actually used for?

btw that necklace is absolutely gorgeous.

[spillyjane]

very nice!  thanks for the tutorial!  i'll be making one of my own.   

[The Small Object]

Jas.ns I bought the washers at Lowe's.  They have them in the specialty bolts/fasteners section (in the big plactic drawers).  Really any washer will work but you don't want one too big.  Something like this is what you want, http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/productaddonsdetails.asp?id=56737&source=froogle

They are used with nuts + bolts.  They also come in zinc (silver color) or this copper color.  I bought a pack of 20 for $2 I think.  But I'm sure you can find them cheaper, but I only needed to packs of 20--so $4 was no big ticket!

+ spillyjane, can't wait to see yours!!

[Honeybee74]

Thanks for the tutorial, that is amazing! i love this necklace!

[spillyjane]

ok, here's my necklace:

for added interest, i used washers of various sizes and in varying states of oxidization.  also, a piece of red bias tape did the trick pretty much as well as a peice of grosgrain ribbon.

here's a close up to show detail:

[The Small Object]

Oh I love it!!  The red bias tape + silver washers looks so much better than what I had.  I'm going to have to make another! 

[quarkiegirl]

What a great idea! I need to get myself to the hardware store.

[spillyjane]

Oh I love it!!  The red bias tape + silver washers looks so much better than what I had.  I'm going to have to make another! 

thanks!  i like the look of yours too, with the brown-ish grosgrain.  the red seems to give it a more lush feel.

[lady_vampiresa]

that's an awesome technique!!!
i¡ll be doing that with leather stripes and silver rings, to make a choker or sth like that.
I'll be posting a pic if i can get a cam

(lol, by the way, thi's my first post, everyone say hello!!) xD

[The Small Object]

Hey lady_vampiresa!! Using leather is a very cool idea!  I can't wait to see it!

[GoTo]

Looks great!  You know, I've been working out some jewelry-from-hardware ideas to go with my hardware tiara... (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=38354.0)

I may just have to incorporate some of this pattern into it!

[Sweet_Enemy]

Annie Albers also did a necklace of eyehooks and pearls.  I saw this in an article years ago, and had been saving up old eyehooks ever since.  Now to just find the non-craft store pearls...

[spillyjane]

Annie Albers also did a necklace of eyehooks and pearls.  I saw this in an article years ago, and had been saving up old eyehooks ever since.  Now to just find the non-craft store pearls...

that sounds amazing...i'm going to have to look that one up.  you wouldn't happen  to be able to direct me to a picture, would you??

[xcaret]

the necklace is awsome, i definetly will make mine, and  a belt and maybe a bracelet too, i just will have to be carefull not using them at the airport  !!

[CatyX]

Do you think velvet ribbon would work.

and great necklace- looks so much like the origional... except alot cheaper i'm presuming...

[Sweet_Enemy]

that sounds amazing...i'm going to have to look that one up.  you wouldn't happen  to be able to direct me to a picture, would you??

Spillyjane, I'll try and dig up the picture.  I think I've seen it within the last year, somewhere in my filing cabinet.

[spillyjane]

that sounds amazing...i'm going to have to look that one up.  you wouldn't happen  to be able to direct me to a picture, would you??

Spillyjane, I'll try and dig up the picture.  I think I've seen it within the last year, somewhere in my filing cabinet.

ok, thanks so much!

[alicein518]

Lucky for me, my craft store and hardware store are in the same strip mall (also my favorite coffee shop so I don't even have to wait until I get home), but I was wondering about the first and last washers.  Do they slip at all?  Should I try gluing them to the ribbon, or does the method of stringing them keep them in place? 

[spillyjane]

Lucky for me, my craft store and hardware store are in the same strip mall (also my favorite coffee shop so I don't even have to wait until I get home), but I was wondering about the first and last washers.  Do they slip at all?  Should I try gluing them to the ribbon, or does the method of stringing them keep them in place? 

since they're woven tightly with the ribbon they don't move at all, so you wont have to worry about gluing them.

[Sweet_Enemy]

Don't you hate it when you could swear you had a picture somewhere, and it's nowhere to be found?
 
Well, here's what the internet turned up:

http://albersfoundation.org/Albers.php?inc=Galleries&i=A_2

Sadly, no eyehook/pearl necklace pictured, but some other cool stuff may be found if you dig around the site a bit. 
Me, I've got to figure out a way to antique the rest of my eyehooks and scrounge more antique 'pearl' beads.

[theoffkeybandit]

*steals idea immediately* oh wait....I don't have that many washers or any ribbon! not like it could turn out as beautiful as all of yours are, though....*sigh*

[scuffmark21]

i made mineee. i didnt have to go to the hardware store although i intend to because these washers are rusting on my neck. i look like i've got several round hickies. gross.

[theoffkeybandit]

ok, my cameras being gay, so I'll just use my wonderous wordsmithing to tell you what it is:

exactly the same as the first necklace. same color ribbon. same washers.

oh, wait, I lied. my washers are shiny silver.

and I've just made my boyfriend an anklet of them....like he'll wear it. hehe.

[scuffmark21]

i'm going to japan in about a month. their coins have holes in the center...hmmm i feel an idea coming on.

[reneegf]

What a great necklace.  When I was a the hardware store a few weeks ago I bought some washers, thinking they would be great for jewelry but I couldn't figure out what to do with them.  But now I know what I'll be doing when I get home tonight 

[minouette]

Oh wonderful! I have more washers than I care to think about. And a bunch of old coins from various places with holes in the centre.
BTW you can get stainless steel washers, which will not rust, but they are more expensive (though certainly not prohibitively so).

Thanks for the idea and tute!

[Giggles]

VERY cute ill have to make a bracelet like that...its the same weave i use for pop tab bracelets/belts thanx 4 posting!

[imogen1.8]

stunning! it looks like it would be pretty heavy. does the weight cause any problems in tying it?

[her_own_invention]

Beauty-full!!
I'm off to the hardware store!!!!

[spillyjane]

stunning! it looks like it would be pretty heavy. does the weight cause any problems in tying it?

it's not that heavy once you get it on...eventually you forget you're wearing it.  i've never had any trouble tying mine due to its heaviness.

[McJulie-O]

A simple coat of clear nail polish on the metal washers should keep them from oxidizing and leaving a mark on your skin.

[ClassyLassy]

wow! i'm so in love with that i think i've gone into shock!! definitely making a trip to Lowe's tomorrow, i love that store so much..so many unexpected finds in every aisle!

[reneegf]

I made a belt using this tutorial and get a ton of compliments on it.  The not as heavy as you would think, I've worn it over skirts and with jeans with no problems.

Thanks so much for posting the tutorial

[poto_fan]

thats really cute! I'll go find some washers today! there's a place down the street..now all I need is some money.....$$$

[McJulie-O]

Do you think it would be possible to enamel a color onto these washers? Not just paint, but real enamel that has to be heated/melted in a kiln? Has anyone on here done anything like this before? I've seen enamel on copper, but will it work on brass or whatever other metals they make washers out of?

[GoTo]

I've seen enamel on copper, but will it work on brass or whatever other metals they make washers out of?

I like your thinking!  They do make copper washers--auto mechanics use them.

If only I had access to a kiln...

[incurvate]

My god, you are so cool...

Don't you love stumbling upon such high-class things and thinking "Hey, I could make that."

[punkchick88]

Great tutorial and great necklace!! I love it!!

[zzdia]

this is cute. and i think a belt version would be even cuter :p and i love the fact that it's made from washers. i absolutely love hardware stores, i'm one of those girls who can't help wishing for another pair of pliers or screwdrivers, but i've never thought of using washers for jewelry. (i might have plotted something with resistors, though...)

[bizooey]

Perfect for my sister. I have a feeling lots of people will be getting washer jewelry this year...

[MarylandMonroe]

If you have any alcohol inks, you can use them to color the metal any shade you like.   
Thanks for the tutorial - I think I'll go dye some washers purple and make a bracelet.

[Loriloo]

What a great project. The close ups look like there is a textured patina on the washers. Is that they way they came or did you put a finish on them?  Thanks for sharing the tutorial!! Looking forward to trying it!  Maybe a bracelet too!! 

[Go Green Sol]

done at the office

[Go Green Sol]

taken somewhere else with new flower

[RSjewelrydesigns]

Absolutely LOVE this necklace.

[catdaddytn]

great work with washers.  I can't believe how expensive washers are!  I'd like to locate copper washers.