Despite my love for the Southwest high desert landscape that is my home, I confess that I have a secret longing for greener places. I fantasize about the deep, dark green of primeval forests, seemingly untouched by human life, but perhaps populated with faeries, elves and other ancient beings. In Greek mythology, dryads are tree nymphs, spirits of the forest attached to individual trees. They are often depicted as beautiful and ethereal, but a bit dangerous as well, as most supernatural inhabitants of the wild are thought to be. Dryads have featured in romantic art and literature, and I can just picture a dreamy nymph in a pre-Raphaelite painting wearing a necklace like this!

This beaded necklace may look intricate, but it’s actually quite easy to knit. It is worked completely in stockinette, with only simple increases and decreases for shaping the pieces. The beads are strung on the yarn beforehand, then slid into place between stitches. The neckband is knitted first, then the individual leaves, then the leaves are sewn on with a few stitches. A simple jewelry clasp and jump ring are sewn on to complete the necklace, with an optional extender chain. More or fewer leaves could be knit as desired. The necklace shown measures 16.5” long, plus a 2” extender chain, but you could knit it any length, and even make a bracelet instead. Any fingering weight yarn can be used, and since only 15 yards are needed it’s a perfect project for sock yarn leftovers. Blends that include nylon or silk work especially well for their strength and durability.

Skills required:
• Knit and purl stitches
• Simple increases and decreases
• Stringing beads (instructions given)

Materials needed:

• Approx. 15 yards fingering weight yarn, sock yarn is ideal
• 450 - 500 size 8 seed beads (450 will make a 16” necklace)

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