DIY Fabric Chandelier

This morning I’m excited to welcome lovely Emilia of Sweet Emilia Jane (and part of the genius behind this gorgeous Inspired Creations Contest entry you all loved so much) to The Sweetest Occasion! Emilia is sharing a beautiful little DIY project from her recent wedding. Thanks for sharing, Emilia, and congratulations!

Fabric is playing a big part in our big day. Jamie of A Desert Fete designed an incredible, elaborate invitation suite for us that combined beige linen and blue and white striped (for a bit of a nautical touch) fabric. I bought a few extra yards and plan to incorporate it throughout the wedding decor as tablecloths, backdrops, etc. After seeing this baby shower from Lollipop Events and Design I knew I wanted to try my hand at a couple fabric chandeliers as well. I took a little bit of a different approach with mine as I wanted to create a more classic chandelier shape.

Materials:
– One (1) Small and One (1) Large Embroidery Loop
– A variety of fabrics cut into strips of different size widths and a little longer than the preferred length of the chandelier {I used six (6) 1″ strips of the blue and white, ten (10) 1/2″ strips of the linen and five (5) pieces of sparkly lace}
– Ribbon
– String, twine or ribbon for hanging
– Fishing Wire
– Crimping bead (can be found in the jewelry supply section of a craft store)
– Pliers
– Hot glue gun and glue
– Scissors

I think this project would be easier with a buddy – maybe your fiance or someone in the wedding party. I definitely could have used some help making sure everything was even and holding things in place.

1. To begin, heat up your hot glue gun. Unscrew the embroidery loops and carefully bend the metal pieces back flat against the wood loop to keep them out of the way. Glue the wood of the loop together so it stays in place.

2. Decide on the pattern in which you would like your fabric to be around the loops. Glue the ends of the fabric pieces to the inside of the small loop (remember…the glue is HOT!)

3. Glue your ribbon or twine to the small loop in order to hang it making sure to keep each piece evenly spaced. I used six (6) pieces of 3′ pieces of twine.

4. I found it easiest to hang the chandelier from a hook in my kitchen in order to complete the next steps. Tie a knot in your twine or ribbon leaving about 6-8″ of length from the small loop to the knot.

5. Have your project buddy hold the loop so you can decide how low you would like your middle portion to be. With your friend still holding the loop, hold the fabric strips straight down from the small loop and glue to the outside of the large loop. Continue all the way around until each fabric strip is firmly attached.

6. Next carefully glue your ribbon around the outside of both loops. Once you complete the loop, fold the end piece over and glue in place so that there is not a fraying or messy cut.

7. Cut a generous length of fishing line. Tie the line securely around the hanging fabric pieces a little lower than where you want your bottom portion to hang. You may have to untwist the fabric pieces so they hang straight and evenly. Carefully thread the line through the center of the knot you just made and then up through the top of the chandelier. Pull the line until the bottom of your chandelier makes a little bubble shape.

8. This part is a little tricky. Thread the fishing line through the crimping bead. Holding onto the bead, wrap the line around the twine below your knot. Re-thread the end of the line through the crimping bead and pull the bead tight next to the twine. Make sure your bubble is still the shape you want it to be. Using your pliers, squeeze the bead so that it “crimps” around the line to keep it secure. Cut any extra line being careful not to cut the line that is holding your chandelier shape in place.

9. Carefully pull the fabric pieces on the bottom so that your bubble shape looks even all the way around.

10. Cut any extra fishing line at your bottom knot and tie some ribbon around the line to hide it.

11. Cut the bottoms of the ribbon and fabric pieces so they all hang at the same length.

12. To hang my chandelier, I just took some more fishing line and, using my crimping beads and pliers again, tightly secured a line from the house to the fence. You may have to tie the chandelier to the line first (I just tied my twine in a bow) so that you can tell how heavy it will be on the fishing line.

Notes: Though I like the shape very much, my chandelier came out a little on the long side. Again, having a project partner might have helped me see the length better while I was working but I think it will still look awesome hanging in the tent over the head tables. Now I just have to get to work on a 2nd one!