Introduction: PI (π) Necklace: Color-coded 1000-digit Strand.

By
About: I'm a maker: I solder, photograph, draw, dye, write, cook, bake, garden.

Hi everybody! Be ready for π day, March 14! This is a relatively quick project, with pretty simple supplies. I hope you enjoy it.

Supplies

  • 10 colors of seed beads. The colors should be distinct from each other but you should still be able to make a rainbow out of them.
  • The size is up to you; I got # 10 beads.
  • Letter beads to spell "PI", optional.
  • Elastic string, the thickest you can manage for your bead size, i.e. 6mm for #10 bead size.
  • Crimps to finish the necklace.
  • Magnetic clasp.
  • Pliers to squeeze the crimp.
  • A list of π digits, easy to find on the Internet.
  • A divided plate or paint palette to store your 10 colors.
  • a bit of patience, good music.

Step 1: Choose Your Palette

This is the more important step aesthetics-wise. Once you've chosen 10 colors, decide on an order from 0 to 9. It's nice to arrange them on a rainbow. It's also important that they'd be the same sort: all shiny, all opaque, or all transparent, all mat, etc.

(If you're lucky, you live in a place where there are good bead stores around.

Otherwise there's Etsy: I even found glow-in-the-dark beads and made a special necklace where all the zeroes glow!)

Once this is done, label all numbers/colors on a palette.

Print the 1000-digit list and decide on a method: I string 3 digits then read the list and move a small ruler to keep my place on the list. At the end of each row, I put a dot so I know where I am.

If you've labeled everything correctly, you'll be able to find your place again since it's color-coded!

Step 2: String the Beads & Finish the Necklace

Start with the code, so you'll remember and you can show friends.

I still put one bead for zero since it's hard to represent nothingness.

1 bead for number 1, 2 beads for number 2 and so on until 9 beads to represent number 9.

Then string P and I, beware the direction.

String your 1000 digits. It's up to you to represent the decimal point. If you do, choose a neutral color that you won't use for the digits.

If you did it in one go, it would take a couple of hours. I usually do one in the span of a few days.

After the 1000th digit, insert a crimp, then half of the magnetic clasp. Pull the string back in the crimp, so you have 2 bits of string inside the crimp.

Pull on the string, but leave a tiny bit of leeway. Press on the crimp with your pliers hard, until the string doesn't move at all.

Cut the string. Do the other side.

You're done!

Step 3: Enjoy and Share

This necklace is quite versatile: it can be worn as a choker or longer and as a bracelet.

You can knot it to adjust the length; you can even wear it as a belt!

If you're not inclined, I also sell those on my SensitiveKnowledge store on Etsy. I make tau necklaces as well!

The magnetic clasp makes it easy to take off and show/explain to friends. You can start a conversation about randomness, irrational numbers and the magic of π in general!