Emerald Collar Necklace

The netted collar necklace is one of those coveted beadwork styles that many beaders are eager to attempt and master. There's something wonderful about the way the beads curve into a perfect circle, and the necklace itself is always a work of art. Perhaps it's because of the ancient feel of netted collars that we are so drawn to them - they are reminiscent of Pharaohs and other fantastic jewelry lovers gone.

The Inspiration:

I recently purchased a copy of Diane Fitzgerald's Netted Beadwork, which is full of amazing netting projects and ideas. I was instantly drawn to the book because of the netted collar pictured on the cover - something I had always wanted to try. Although I probably could have found a pattern anywhere, I wanted some advice from a trusted expert - and the 17 other projects in the book where a great bonus, too.

After reading the directions for a netted collar, and studying the pictures and diagrams, I felt ready to tackle a version of my own. I sketched out a few pattern ideas using some of the beads I had on hand, then went straight to stitching.

The Beads:

As is my habit, I chose a black and green palette for this yet to be discovered beadwork. I started with some basic opaque black 11/o and 6/o's, with gunmetal seed beads for some extra shine. These would make up the base of the necklace.

For embellishment, I chose some gorgeous emerald Swarovski bicones from Artbeads.com, and matched them with emerald Miyuki seed beads. I also added some jet AB crystals, and turquoise Picasso teardrops for the ends of the netting.

The Beadwork:

After working on the necklace for awhile, I started to regret all of the years that I had put off attempting this technique. It's marvelously simple, once a pattern is established. The completed piece is a pretty reminder of why I love beads so much. The simple design really allows the Swarovski crystals to stand out and shine.

My favorite thing about the netted collar technique is how adaptable it is. No matter how you string the first row, the pattern it creates will look amazing, and is so much easier to follow than geometric patterns like flat peyote stitch. I'm really excited about the endless possibilities that the netted collar opens up for future beadwork.

Copyright 2009 Inspirational Beading