From Thread to Crochet Jewelry

If you had told me a few months ago that I would be working with embroidery thread and a 1.0 mm crochet hook to make crochet jewelry, I probably would have laughed.

But creativity has a funny way of taking you places you never planned to go.

One evening while scrolling on Instagram, I came across the work of Steffi Glaves. Her micro crochet jewelry stopped me in my tracks. The detail, the precision, the creativity — I was honestly in disbelief that something so tiny could be crocheted.

Then I remembered something sitting in my craft supplies: a small kit with embroidery thread.

Before I knew it, I had purchased her book of patterns and gave myself a personal challenge.

At the time, I had absolutely no intention of turning this into a full collection. I thought I would make a pair or two, gift them to someone, and move on to my next crochet project.

But as it turns out… I simply could not move on.

Discovering a New Side of Crochet

After making my first pair of crochet earrings, something about the process really stuck with me.

It wasn’t the “typical” crochet I was used to with yarn. This was something much more intricate and challenging. Working with thread required patience, focus, and a completely different level of precision.

But the part I loved most?

I felt like I was painting with thread.

One strand of embroidery thread was actually too fine for my comfort and skill level, so I started experimenting. I began combining two or three strands together, essentially creating my own custom colors as I crocheted.

This meant managing multiple strands of thread at once — which was not always easy — but the results were completely worth it. Suddenly I had access to a whole new creative playground filled with texture, color, and design possibilities.

Mixing Fiber, Metal, and Beads

Another part of this journey that surprised me was how much I enjoyed incorporating beads and metal components.

Originally, I assumed I would dislike the beading process. Micro crochet is already detailed work, and adding tiny beads felt like it might push my patience a little too far.

But I was wrong.

I became very intentional about the color and placement of each bead, and I quickly saw how much these tiny details elevated the designs. The beads added subtle sparkle and depth while still allowing the crochet work to remain the star.

Once the crochet and beadwork were complete, the final step was assembling the earrings.

Using two tweezers, I carefully worked each ring into place. It took a few attempts to find the right technique because I wanted to make sure each pair was:

Secure enough to handle everyday wear
Balanced so the design hangs straight
Strong enough where the thread meets the hook

When everything finally came together, the pieces transformed from tiny crochet designs into handmade jewelry.

And honestly, that moment made me fall in love with the process even more.

Testing Before Launching

After making several pairs, I started sharing them with people in my inner circle.

The feedback was incredibly encouraging. People loved the designs and the idea of crochet jewelry.

But just because something is beautiful doesn’t automatically mean it’s ready to sell.

Before even thinking about adding these to my shop, I needed to make sure they were durable enough for real wear.

So I made myself a pair and wore them for several days.

Within the first hour, I noticed something important:
the crochet began to lose its shape and fold.

That moment reminded me why it’s important not to rush into selling something new. Instead of launching immediately, I went back into research mode.

Finding the Right Way to Stiffen Crochet Jewelry

This challenge introduced me to something I hadn’t explored much before: fabric stiffening for crochet.

I had seen videos of people starching crochet projects to hold their shape, but I didn’t want my earrings to feel overly stiff. I wanted them to stay lightweight, delicate, and natural.

After a lot of searching, I came across Aleene's Fabric Stiffener & Draping Liquid.

Through testing and experimentation, I discovered that diluting the liquid slightly gave me exactly the result I was looking for.

The stiffener:

Helped the earrings hold their shape
Left no visible residue
Maintained the delicate appearance of the thread

After another round of wear testing, I finally felt confident that the earrings were both beautiful and durable.

Preparing the Crochet Jewelry Collection

Once I knew the designs were ready, the next step was preparing for launch.

Right now I’ve been sharing some of the pairs of earrings on my social channels as I finish the final logistics.

If you’ve followed my work for a while through my other crochet creations on erikaliesel.com you know I love exploring new textures and designs. This jewelry collection is simply another way to bring fiber art into everyday life.

The full crochet jewelry collection launches on March 30.