Make It Yourself: Harness Your Chakras With A DIY Pendant Necklace

The chakras can be represented by a variety of coloured gemstones or crystals. Often they are chosen because of their colour, but sometimes they are picked in accordance with their metaphysical properties. For example, the heart chakra is depicted as green, however rose quartz can be attributed to it because of its healing properties in matters of the heart. Enhance your chakras with this DIY tutorial from Gemma Crow…

 

You will need:

• Gemstone beads: amethyst x 1, sodalite x 1, malachite x 1, green quartz x 1, citrine x 1, carnelian x 1, haematite x 1
• Copper spacer beads, 4mm x 2
• Bare copper wire, 0.6mm, 0.8mm, 2mm
• Ball head pin
• Jump ring
• Mandrel
• Wire cutters
• Hammer and block (optional)

 

Step 1

The frame for the chakra stones depicts the human form sitting in a meditative lotus position. You will first need to choose your gemstones, as this will determine the size of the frame. The throat, heart, solar plexus and sacral chakra stones will be housed in the main body, the head will contain the brow chakra and the crown chakra will be on top of the head while the base/root chakra will be suspended below.

 

Step 2

Cut a length of 2mm bare copper wire that is roughly four times the length of the row of gemstones, allowing a 2mm gap between each of the four torso beads. Use a mandrel to make a complete loop in the centre of the wire; this will be the head. Create the gentle curve of the shoulders with your fingers, forming a bell-like shape. At this point you may need to trim the wires down, allowing 2cm to create a loop on each arm to form the hands (Fig.1).

 

Step 3

Cut another length of 2mm wire to form the shape that depicts the crossed legs. This needs to be approximately three times the length of the space between the hands. Create a bend by doubling the wire back on itself, using a mandrel a third of the way along the wire on either side. Bend one end upwards and the other downwards to create an elongated ‘S’ shape. The wire may need to be trimmed down to leave 2cm on each wire to form the loops. Temporarily bind the hands to the knees with scrap wire to represent the feet (Fig.2).

 

Step 4

Texture the frame with a hammer and block if desired. This will prevent the form from becoming misshapen during the texturing process. Once complete you can remove the temporary binding (Fig.3) and re-bind the body to the legs with 0.6mm wire.

 

Step 5

Cut a length of 0.6mm wire to attach your chosen gemstones to the frame. Create a wrapped loop at one end, then add on the crown chakra (amethyst) gemstone, positioning this above the head and wrap twice around the top. Then position the brow chakra (sodalite) gemstone within the head and wrap the wire twice across the the neck area. Thread on the throat (malachite), heart (green quartz), solar (citrine) and sacral (carnelian) chakra stones and secure by wrapping twice around the upper foot. Use the wire to add in two 4mm copper spacer beads on each foot (Fig.4) then create a wrapped loop at the bottom of the pendant.

 

Step 6

Cut 1m of 0.8mm wire and wrap this around each gemstone, creating a nested bezel look (Fig.5). Remember to pass the wire behind the beads as well as in front to secure it in place. Work down the gemstone row, winding the wire around once, then back up along the beads to wrap each one for a second time. Trim the wire when complete, create a spiral at the end and position at the top of the head, between the crown and brow chakra stones.

 

Step 7

Thread the base/root (haematite) chakra stone onto a head pin, trim and form a plain loop above the bead. Secure the drop to the foot loop at the bottom of the figure (Fig.6). Attach a jump ring to the top wrapped loop. Cut 53cm of 2mm wire and create a sharp bend in the centre. Curve the two sides outwards and around to form the shape of the choker. Hammer the middle and the ends to add texture, then thread on the pendant to finish.

 

About the author

Gemma Crow is a designer and guest presenter at JewelleryMaker, specialising in wirework. To see more of her bespoke designs and find out about her upcoming workshops, visit www.gemmacrow.com