Knots Be Gone - How to Untangle a Necklace Chain

I'm sure you know the feeling - you're getting ready to head out the door and are just putting on the final touches to your outfit. You reach into your jewellery box for your favourite necklace and pull out... a horrible tangled mess.

Luckily with a little time, patience and a few household items, it's easy to untangle even the most delicate knotted chain so that it's ready to wear once more.

You will need:

• Two thin sewing needles (or other pointed tools such as pins or toothpicks)
• A lubricant like baby oil or olive oil
• A flat, smooth surface

Step 1: Identify the knot

Undo the necklace clasp if possible and lay the chain on your flat surface. Spread it out gently and identify where it is tangled.

Step 2: Lubricate

Apply a drop of baby oil or olive oil to the knot and carefully rub it between your thumb and forefinger, trying to loosen the knot. Let the oil sit for a few minutes.

Step 3: Use needles

Working slowly and with a light touch, insert the point of your needles (or similar tools) into the centre of the knot. Using one needle to hold the chain steady, gently wiggle the other needle to loosen the twisted section.

Step 4: Expand the knot

Continue working slowly to expand the knot. Use the needles to work outwards from the centre of the knot to separate the tangled strands. Take care so that you don't scratch the chain with the needles. Avoid pulling on the chain as this may make the knot tighter or cause excess stress on the chain, resulting in breaking the links. Once the knot has loosened slightly, you may prefer using your fingers instead of the needles. Continue until the chain is untangled.

If there are numerous knots in the chain, work on one knot at a time beginning with the one furthest from the clasp.

Step 5: Clean

Once your chain is tangle-free, clean with mild soap or dishwashing liquid and warm water. Pat completely dry with a microfibre cloth before wearing it or putting it away.

 [Pictured: One-of-a-kind molten necklaces in sterling silver]

And there you have it, your beautiful necklace is ready to wear once again! Although these simple steps will restore your necklace to its original condition, prevention is of course better than cure! To avoid getting your chain tangled again in the future, it's best to take care when storing your jewellery. For my top 4 ways to store your jewellery, see my other blog post HERE.

I hope that you find this helpful! I'd love to hear how you got on using this method to untangle your knotted necklace chains so please share your comments below.

 Aurelium jewellery is designed and handmade by Laura Naik in her Christchurch studio. Read more about her work and the ethos behind her minimalist everyday jewellery HERE.