Embrace one of this season’s hottest trends with Helen Cant’s Eastern-inspired set

What you need...

• BEADS Glass:round, 6mm, red x 25, black x 18, 8mm, black x 12; lentil, 15mm, red x 12; rectangular, 15mm x 10mm, black x 12, Filigree, metal, round, gold: 6mm x 18; 8mm x 8, Seed beads, size 11: red; brown; gold
  
  FINDINGS Fabrics: Japanese Paper Bird and Flower in Red; Japanese Asian Fan and Flower on Red; Japanese Bamboo Orchid Flower Butterfly Paper Bird; Oriental Art of Fan and Flower; Japanese Oriental Flower Fan, Self-cover buttons, metal: 19mm x 2; 23mm x 3; 29mm x 5; 38mm x 1, Connectors: filigree, antique brass, 35mm x 5, 42mm x 1; earring, round, antique brass, 20mm, Chain, curb, antique brass, medium link, Ring blanks, filigree, antique brass, Bead cap, ornate, 19mm, gold, Jump rings, antique brass: 5mm; 6mm; 8mm, Clasps, antique brass: toggle; lobster, Head pins, antique brass, Eye pins, antique brass, Earwires, antique brass, Thread, beading, strong
  
  TOOLS Tracing paper, Compass, Pencil, Scissors, sharp, Cutters, wire, Needle, beading, Tape measure, Glue, epoxy resin, Lolly sticks, Blu Tack, Pliers: round-nosed; flat-nosed
  

instructions

1. Tassel Necklace - 1. Using a compass and pencil, draw a 62mm circle onto tracing paper, then add a 38mm disc centrally inside the first one. Cut out around the outer circle, then place over a section of Oriental style fabric. The inner circle represents the area that will be visible once the fabric is fixed to a cover button, so ensure it is positioned exactly over the desired section. Draw round the outer edge of the tracing paper onto the fabric, then cut out.
   
   2. Remove the metal shank from a 38mm cover button with pliers, then fix the fabric circle to it. Prepare a small amount of epoxy resin glue and adhere the button to the centre of a 42mm filigree connector. Keep an eye on the button until the glue starts to set and if any movement occurs, gently nudge it back to the centre before leaving to fully cure.
   
   3. Secure a beading needle to a spool of strong thread. Pick up a selection of red, gold and brown seed beads and slide onto the thread until they reach a length of 7.5cm. Push the beads up the thread, 20cm away from the needle, then take it back up through all of the seeds apart from the last one added (the one closest to the needle). This will prevent the beads from sliding off. As you take the thread back through them, push the seeds down so they meet with the last one, then cut both strands, leaving at least 8cm to form the tassel later on. Repeat seven times, creating equal lengths of beaded thread.
   
   4. Tie the lengths onto the bottom of a closed 8mm jump ring one at a time, using seven or eight knots for each. Cut the excess thread from the ends of each. Attach an eye pin to the top of the jump ring, then pull upwards through a 19mm ornate gold bead cap. Slip a 6mm red round onto the pin then form a tight wrapped loop to secure the tassel.
   
   5. Thread a 6mm red round, black rectangle and 6mm red round onto an eye pin, trim the excess then form a loop. Repeat five times. Thread a 6mm black round, 6mm filigree bead, red lentil, 6mm filigree bead and 6mm black round onto an eye pin, trim and loop, then repeat seven times.
   
   6. Link the beaded eye pins together to create two matching lengths, alternating the styles. Secure one to each side of the filigree connector with 6mm jump rings. Attach the tassel to the bottom with a 6mm jump ring. Cut 5cm of curb chain and secure a 6mm red bead drop to one end with a 5mm jump ring. Attach the extension chain, along with an 8mm jump ring and a lobster clasp, to the necklace.
   
   Designer Tip
   To prevent the filigree connectors sticking to your work surface, remove any excess glue with a lolly stick, then raise them up by resting the edges between two pieces of Blu Tack.
   

2. Make it yours - Create co-ordinating hair accessories by covering additional 23mm buttons with Oriental style fabrics and adhering to hair pin blanks.