Soapstone Necklace: Tips for Easy Carving for Beginners

Carving a simple soapstone necklace can be a creative and enjoyable craft project, even for beginners. Soapstone is a relatively soft and easy-to-carve stone, making it a great choice for beginners. Read What is soapstone? General overview of the properties, characteristics and applications of the stone.

Here are the steps to carve a simple soapstone necklace:

Materials You’ll Need for Carving Soapstone Necklace:

Soapstone block or rough soapstone pendant blank
Pencil
Ruler
Sandpaper (various grits)
Safety goggles
Dust mask
Carving tools (such as rasps, files, and carving knives)
Small saw (optional)
Drill with small drill bits (optional)
Cord or chain for the necklace
Jewelry findings (jump rings, clasps, etc.)

You can buy the stone, you can easily find the right size blocks on Amazon, for example.

Small Soapstone for Carving, White Blank Cube

Efco Soapstone Blank Rectangular Cube

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 1.97 x 0.79 x 0.79 inches

Middle Soapstone for Carving, Grey Blank Cube

Soapstone for Carving Block – 3” x 3” x 5”

Item Dimensions LxWxH: 3 x 3 x 5 inches

Big Soapstone for Carving, Ocean Green Blank Cube

Sculpture House – CS904-2BX Soapstone, Deep Ocean Green, Pack of 5

Item Weight: 10 Pounds

Carving tools:

Toolso Stone Carving Tool 10pcs High-Carbon Steel Carving Chisels/Knives Kits

DGOL 8pcs Tungsten Steel Soft Limestone Carving Kit

Sculpture House Basic Stone Carving Set Set of 6 Stone Tools

Diamond Grinding Burr Bit Set，20Pcs Rotary Tool Accessories Stone Carving Set

Grizzly Industrial H8237 – Mortising Chisel 4-pc. Set

NEU MASTER 180W Rotary Tool Kit, with 165 Accessories and 6 Variable Speed

10000-35000RPM Electric Drill Set for Handmade Crafting Projects and DIY Creations

Step 1: Design Your Necklace

Begin by sketching out your design on the soapstone pendant blank using a pencil. Keep the design simple, especially if you’re a beginner.

Step 2: Safety First

Put on your safety goggles and dust mask to protect your eyes and lungs from dust created during carving.

Step 3: Carving

Start carving your design by using carving tools. You can use rasps, files, and carving knives to remove material slowly and shape your pendant.
Work slowly and carefully, making small cuts and checking your progress frequently.
If you need to make large cuts or remove a significant amount of material, you can use a small saw to rough out the shape before refining it with carving tools.
Pay attention to the details of your design and carve with precision.

Step 4: Drilling Holes (Optional)

If your design requires holes for stringing a cord or chain, use a drill with small drill bits to carefully create these holes. Make sure the holes are positioned where you want them and are the appropriate size for your cord or chain.

Step 5: Sanding

After you have carved your soapstone pendant to your satisfaction, it’s time to sand it to a smooth finish.
Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper and gradually work your way up to finer grits. This will help you achieve a polished and smooth surface.
Be patient and thorough during this step, as achieving a smooth finish is essential for a polished look.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Once your pendant is smooth, you can choose to apply a coat of mineral oil or wax to enhance its natural color and protect the stone.
Attach any jewelry findings, such as jump rings and clasps, to your pendant if needed.

Step 7: String Your Necklace

Cut a length of cord or chain for your necklace, and thread it through the holes in your pendant.
Secure the ends of the cord or chain with the appropriate jewelry findings, such as a clasp or jump ring.

Step 8: Final Inspection

Examine your finished soapstone necklace to ensure it meets your design and quality standards.
Make any final adjustments if necessary.

With these steps, you can create a simple soapstone necklace that reflects your creativity and craftsmanship. Remember to take your time and work carefully to achieve the best results.

Ideas for Soapstone Necklace Carving

Below we have some motivational pictures to create a necklace. These illustrations are made with a neural network and serve as a visual reference point for creativity.
Even simple shapes carved in stone and carefully polished have their own charm – create free and enjoy your craft!

How to carve Soapstone Necklace with Plant Ornaments

Take a small piece of soapstone, round, oval or other shape, suitable for the pendant – the central part of the necklace. Draw a simple sketch – leaves or stems, flowers.