This necklace is easy to make and very versatile. These instructions can be used to make an infinite number of designs so that each one is unique. Match the beads to suit a favorite outfit or color scheme.
They can be given as Christmas or birthday gifts, and will be cherished mementos as well as practical accessories.
The design is deliberately quite informal – it gives a hand-crafted look that adds to the charm of the piece. There is no need to be terribly precise.
Tools & Materials
- A quantity of beading wire – this soft wire is easy to bend but will keep its shape and be robust enough to make a lasting piece of jewelry. You can choose silver, gold or bronze colored wire to match the beads you are using.
- A selection of chunky beads
- Round nosed pliers for making loops
- Flat nosed pliers
- Wire cutting pliers
This design does not include a fastening because the necklace is long enough to pass over the head comfortably. Make sure you have enough beads to be able to make a string that is at least 60 cm long.
Method
Using the wire cutting pliers, cut a length of 1mm silver plated craft wire. The wire should extend beyond the bead you are using sufficiently long enough to make the link. The size of the link will depend upon the size of the beads you are using.
Make a loop in the wire: Take the round nosed pliers and 2 cm from the end, make a u-bend in the wire 2 to 3 cm long Coiling the loop: secure the loop with the flat nosed pliers and coil the free end around the wire.
- Tighten the protruding end up using the flat nosed pliers.
- Thread a bead onto the wire and make a loop on the other end following the above steps.
- Adding on another bead Follow steps 1 and 2 above and then thread on the wire another bead. Create a loop on the other end of the bead and pass the loop through one of the loops on the first bead. Repeat the above steps until you have made a large necklace. Join the last and the first loops together as you finish the last bead.
Designs
This design should be chunky and funky. If you want to use large beads as in the example illustrated, then choose a light material like wood, resin or plastic that will be comfortable and light to wear. You can also use this design wrapped around the wrist as a chunky bracelet.
For making matching earrings, follow this link.
References:
- Stringing Beads by Jean Campbell, Interweave Press, ISBN 978-1-931499-79-8
