Rose Tico's Haysian Smelt Necklace

Hello there, random fandoms and fellow enthusiasts! I recently watched The Last Jedi, and I was immediately a huge fan of Rose Tico’s haysian smelt necklace. I looked online and found only a few options to buy it, and they were either from not-so-credible sellers or over $10. As a teenager with a crafty side and a pennypincher mentality, I was not having that. So I decided to make it myself, with my favorite jewelry material: polymer clay.

Bronze, gold, or silver polymer clay

Needle tool (can be an actual needle in a pinch)

Ball tool (the head of a pin works for this)

A small rolling pin (Not one you use for food please)

Exact-o knife

Baking tray with parchment paper or a ceramic tile

2 popsicle sticks

Black or Dark brown cord or string

Reference image

Short fingernails! Long nails make dents in the clay that are hard to get rid of.

Working on a ceramic tile is a good idea, because you can bake the necklace without ever having to move it.

Baking clay in a toaster oven outside is a good idea, because it doesn’t smell very nice when baking or burning, and it can stink up your house.

If your clay feels too soft, throw it in the freezer for a minute or so to firm it up.

And wash your hands! Little dust flecks and bits of clay from other projects can ruin the look of your clay. I got a little blue speck in my necklace and I’m guessing it’s there because I didn’t wash my hands.

Now that you have an idea of how to make your project the best it can be, let’s get our clay ready. Of course, the first step is to pick clay. Rose’s necklace looks like it is a bronze or gold color, but apparently her sister Paige’s necklace was silvery in color, although I haven’t found a picture good enough to prove it. You can make the necklace from any color you like, but these are the screen accurate colors.

Once you’ve picked out your clay, you need to cut off a chunk and roll and fold and roll and fold and roll and fold on and on and on until the clay is soft and pliable. Then fold it up into a chunk again. This time when you roll, place a popsicle stick on each side of your clay. As you roll, your rolling pin won’t be able to make it thinner than the popsicle sticks, ensuring an even thickness for your necklace.

Looking at your reference image, cut out the yinyang/crescent moon shape with your exact-o knife. Note that it isn’t quite as balanced as a yinyang symbol. Once you have it cut out, use your knife or something else to make a hole for the cord. (Pro tip: Use a coffee stirstick/straw thing like a cookie cutter. It makes the perfect size of hole).

Now that you have the basic shape, it is time for the tedious work of carving the pattern into the clay. I used my needle tool to do most of it, using the ball tool only in the bottom part of the necklace where the lines are wider. Do this carefully, trying to keep your hands and fingernails from touching the clay. If it feels too soft, throw it in the freezer.

Following the directions on the package, bake your necklace for the appropriate amount of time. After that take it out, take it off the tray, and let it cool for a few minutes. Flip it over and see if you can scratch the back with a finger nail. If you can, it needs more time. Another test is to drop it or tap it on a ceramic plate or dish. It should make a clinking noise. If it isn’t a nice clear clink, if probably needs more time.

The last thing to do is string your necklace. You can compare the length of cord with hers from the movie, or pick a length that you like. I chose to make it the same length of one of my favorite necklaces, long enough that I don’t need to put a closure at the back, and I can just tie it. To tie your pendant on, put the cord through the hole until the ends are even, with the necklace hanging right in the middle. Then tie a knot in the cord about an inch from the pendant. You can also rub a bit of acrylic paint onto the necklace with a finger tip to catch the highlights.

You’re finished! It’s over! Now you can go wear your necklace as a cosplayer, Batuu-bounder, or simply a nerd like me. If you make this project, please show me in the I Made It! section. Thank you for reading, and May the Force be With You!