My DIY J. Crew Flower Lattice necklace

Get your spring florals going early with this DIY version of J. Crew's Flower Lattice necklace.

This project is a great way to repurpose old brooches and does not damage or permanently alter them. You can easily disassemble or rearrange this necklace later if you want your pins back.

Here's the inspiration necklace, which is no longer available in the multi-colored version. (You can still get the crystal one for $228. )

 Here's the real one again captured by Tommy Ton for Style.com.

I spent zero dollars to make mine since I used vintage brooches I already had, along with some Tori Spelling pendants and chains I had on hand.

To make the Flower Lattice Necklace, you will need:

• necklace template, available for free at examiner.com
• 9 brooches - 3 small, 3 medium and 3 large. You can also use large round earrings or rhinestone buttons or Styled by Tori Spelling pendants.
• elastic metallic thread
• 2-6 jump rings
• 1 chain with clasp - I used a Styled by Tori Spelling necklace top since it gives you a chain and lobster clasp for only a few bucks.

First, print out my necklace template and use it to arrange your pins as shown above, otherwise it gets very confusing as you assemble the necklace.

Start with the bottom of the necklace. Flip two of the pins over and tie them together with elastic metallic thread as shown above. Pull tight and knot.

Tie a third pin or button to the first two. Flip the necklace over from time to time to make sure the pieces are laying the way you like. If you don't like it, just cut the thread and try again.

Continue tying pins together. Eventually the bottom seven pins will be lashed together like this on the back. Trim the extra thread.

The front will look like the photo above.

Next, use a jump ring or two to attach the last two pins, one on each side of the necklace.

Then attach the chain to the top two pins.

Have a spring moment.