A large, bold cross, reminiscent of jeweled crosses worn in the middle ages. While beaded crosses such as this didn’t actually exist in the middle ages, this cross has been made using a medieval embroidery technique, and the deep blue glass beads were popular in other forms of medieval bead embroidery.
This cross is a bold piece of art for a woman’s wardrobe, but it is also appropriate for men of the church. I gave a similar cross to my stepbrother (a Methodist minister) and the headmaster of my high school (an Episcopal priest) to wear with their church vestments. It would also be beautiful hanging on a wall as an ornament.
This cross was made by hand-sewing beads onto two layers of cloth, then couching them down (stitching across the rows, between the beads). Beadwork of this nature is surprisingly firm and highly durable. I have been doing bead embroidery for 5 years and have yet to have a piece of embroidery or even a bead in a piece break. And my husband wears a piece of bead embroidery that I made for him from his belt when he does medieval combat.
This necklace is approximately 32” long, with the chain being 28” and the cross itself being 3.5”. It is 2” wide. The chain and connector loops are sterling silver (the silver-colored beads in the cross are actually glass, the same as the blue beads). The pearls are genuine freshwater pearls. The clear beads are genuine Swarovski crystals. The cross is backed in black leather, hand-stitched to the fabric after beading is completed. The fabric is actually stiffened with glue prior to having the backing added; this allows the cross to hold its shape, although it is not completely rigid.
