You Heart Me! Pendant

Needlepunch is fast and easy and a great way to relax. This simple design from Maria Nerius makes a pretty pendant. Jewelry making is always fun when you have some great ideas like this one.

Materials:

DCM threads: lime green, violet, light blue, variegated green
Clover embroidery tool
Needlepunch needle threader
Clover hoop and stand
Fabric
Metal frame pendant
Metal butterfly bead
Crewel needle
Needle nose pliers
June Tailor Fray Block
Sewing scissors
Pencil or disappearing ink pen
Thin, light bodied cardboard
Darice Bead Ready necklace
4 Head pins
4 Jump rings
Pattern

*This versatile needle tool is used for embroidery stitches and needlepunch.

Instructions:

If you can’t find needlepunch fabric, you can use any tight weave, medium weight fabric. Trace an outline of the inside of the frame onto your fabric. Then trace heart pattern to the center of the inside frame outline. Place fabric tightly into hoop with the pattern facing up. You need to see the outlines as you punch.
Cut floss into 36” sections (or longer if you can manage the threads). You’ll need to separate the 6 strands that make up the floss. You use only 1 strand at a time. You’ll do this one color at a time. Work the heart, and then fill in the background.
Thread the embroidery tool as instructed on packaging. You’ll need a threader designed just for a needlepunch needle/tool since it’s a long tube you must thread the floss through.
To needlepunch you will punch the needle tip into the fabric, lift up needle, and then punch needle down again. You should punch the outline of each color then begin to fill in the area until solid. Once done with a thread color, apply a small amount of Fray-Chek. This liquid stops the thread from unraveling. After fray block is dry, trim loose threads.
Once pattern is complete remove design from hoop. Trim excess fabric leaving only 1/4” around the needlepunch design.
Mount design onto lightweight cardboard and trim. This mounted needlepunch design should slide smoothly into the metal frame.
Thread crewel needle with 2 strands of coordinating floss (you may have some left over floss that you can use). Attach butterfly bead to design. Start at back and knot off at back.
Slide design into frame. Attach pendant to pre-made necklace with a jump ring. I added a butterfly bead to the end of the metal chain on the pre-made necklace as a finishing touch.