I don’t know about you but I have a sizable collection of furniture hardware. I’m mostly a furniture painter so I tend to collect this sort of thing. I also have a tiny and not-so-manageable hardware addiction. I buy pieces of hardware (pulls, backplates, key covers, etc.) at flea markets, rummage sales, thrift and antique stores. Inspired by beautiful necklaces I discovered in New Orleans years ago, I decided to try my hand at making my own unique work-of-art jewelry. This hardware is perfect for creating DIY found object jewelry!
Supplies Needed:
- Old hardware
- Chain
- Jump rings
- Clasp
- Needle Nose pliers
STEP 1: Choose your piece of hardware
You’ll want to choose a piece of hardware that isn’t too heavy. You’ll also want the hardware to be flat on the backside or have no posts. A lot of old and antique hardware was attached to furniture using small nails through holes in the hardware. This makes it really easy to use for jewelry as I don’t have to drill holes. Work smarter and not harder!
STEP 2: Adding the chain
You can buy a chain by the roll at any big box craft supply store. It comes in lots of different metal colors and various sizes and shapes. You could also use thrifted necklaces or any broken or unused chains you may have at home.
You’ll need jump rings to attach the chain to the hardware. The size of the jump ring will depend on where the hole is in your hardware. I mostly use larger jump rings for this.
Open the jump ring using your pliers. I find it helpful to have two pairs of pliers- one to hold the ring and the other to pull it open. Once open, slip the jump ring through the hole in the hardware. Next, attach the end of the chain to the jump ring by sliding the last link onto the ring. Now close the jump ring using your pliers.
STEP 3: Measuring chain length and attach the other side
With the chain attached to the hardware on one side, I leave the rest of the chain on the roll while I measure how long I want the chain to be. It is a very unscientific process for me. I hang the chain around my neck to see where I want the hardware to sit and mark with my finger where I need to open the link to take the chain off the roll. Next, I attach the chain to the hardware hole on the opposite side using a jump ring repeating the process from step 2.
I am left with a continuous chain attached to the hardware.
STEP 4: Adding the clasp
To add the clasp I need two jump rings and a clasp. There are many different types of clasps available at craft stores so you can get as fancy as you want. I am using a lobster clasp. I find the center of the chain by pulling the chain taught. Using my pliers I open a ring on the chain to separate the chain into two parts.
Using a jump ring I attach one half of the chain to the clasp. Using the second jump ring I attach the little piece which comes with the clasp to the other half of the chain. I now have a working clasp and a way to get the necklace on and off.
We are done! And now I have a beautiful and unique statement necklace!
STEP 5: (OPTIONAL)
If you have bobbles, charms or doodads lying around you can add those. There are most often multiple holes on the hardware where you can attach decorative elements using jump rings or additional small pieces of chain. I prefer to keep my necklaces simple to really showcase the beautiful hardware.
You will find a full video tutorial on my YouTube channel for making hardware necklaces.
Jewelry Making- upcycle and repurpose hardware and drawer pulls to make a necklace
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