How to Make a Fish Pendant Necklace Using Fishing Tackle

Apr 22, 2010
Melissa Howard

Fish Pendant Necklace - Melissa Howard

Use fishing tackle to make a whimsical and yet surprisingly delicate looking necklace.

Not all necklaces need to be made from standard jewelry hardware. In fact, inexpensive, fun, and even pretty supplies can be found in the isles of your local hardware or sporting supply store. For instance this necklace is made from inexpensive items that you can find in the fishing supply isle of the sports store or department store.

Supplies

Twelve: size 10, gold-colored barrel swivels with interlock snaps
One: 4 to 6-inch length gold chain
One: size 1, 3-way swivel in gold
Twelve E beads in blue
Pliers
Gold jump rings
Fish pendant
Gold lobster clasp

Instructions

Use a gold jump ring to attach the fish pendant to one head of the 3-way swivel
Open a barrel swivel by depressing the hooked side and releasing it from the clasp.
Slide one blue bead onto the bar. You will find that not every bead will work on the hook so make sure you have extras and be patient.
Slip the hook over one of the remaining heads of the 3-way swivel and snap closed.
Repeat for the remaining 3-way swivel head.
Begin linking additional beaded barrel swivels to the first two so that you make a linked chain of barrel swivels that are joined head-to-end (remember to add a blue bead to each swivel as you link it to the chain). Make sure that both sides have an even number of barrel swivels.
Continue linking barrel swivels until you have as much length as you want for the front of you necklace.
Open a joint of the chain and hook it to one of the head pieces of one end of your barrel swivel chain.
Use a jump ring to attach the lobster clasp to the other head piece.

Ideas and Suggestions

The wire ends of the hooks on some barrel swivels aren’t completely encased; it is important to realize these necklaces could be a bit irritating for those with extra sensitive skin. On the other hand, you could just make sure that the wire hooks are encased when the barrel swivel is hooked closed.
Experiment with a variety of bead colors for more fun designs.
Make a bracelet or dangle earrings to go with your necklace.
The necklace pictured uses 12 barrel swivels linked together (six on each side of the pendant).
The size and the look of this necklace can be easily modified by using different size barrel swivels, different colored beads, and a different pendant.
If you don't have a fish pendant, check out the lures at the hardware store for something truly unique.