How to Make a Beaded Necklace

You'll need a few basic supplies, but making beaded necklaces is truly easy. All of the items needed are inexpensive and can be found at any craft store. Specialty beads of glass or stone can be found at a bead store or at one of the many online retailers.

• 1
  Gather your stringing materials. The best kinds are flexible beading wire and beading thread.
  
  

   

  • Look for wire that has 19, 21 or 49 strands of stainless steel wire, coated with nylon. (Strands that only have 3 or 7 wires will kink easily.) Beading thread is a great option if you are stringing lightweight beads and it comes in several different colors.
  • Look for silk cord which comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses if you will be showing some of the stringing material in the project.
• 2
  Before cutting your thread or wire, determine the length of your necklace and add 4-8 inches (10-20 cm), so that you have enough to connect the clasp to the stringing materials.
  
  
• 3
  Gather 2 crimp beads, 1 clasp, and the beads for the desired necklace.
  
  
• 4
  Slide a tiny bead on the threading material, then the crimping bead, then another tiny bead about 1 inch (2.5 cm) or so down.
  
  
• 5
  Place one end of the clasp (the jump ring) on after the crimp bead and make a loop with the stringing material.
  
  
• 6
  Place the end of the stringing material through the clasp section and then the bead-crimp-bead combo and use the crimping tool/chain nose pliers to crimp the bead in place.
  
  
  • If using bead thread, you may wish to put a dot of super glue of hypo cement on either end to ensure that the beads and crimp stay on.) These steps will protect the stringing material from rubbing on the ends of the crimp bead, which may cause the necklace to break.
• 7
  Choose your beads and lay out your design before stringing; using a beading board can be beneficial allowing the design to be laid out and measured before stringing.
  
  
• 8
  When you are satisfied, string them onto your necklace. Be sure to leave about 3-4 inches (7.5-10 cm) of stringing material at the end.
  
  
• 9
  Use a clasp section/ jump ring and the bead-crimp-bead combo and try to push the remaining stringing material into the bead holes below the crimp bead.
  
  
  • Be careful not to pull the stringing material too tight. Leave a small amount of slack in the necklace (2-4 mm or 1/4 inch). This leaves room for the beads to move and rotate, so they don't rub on each other or the stringing material too much. If the stringing material is too tight the necklace will be rigid and this can make the design look angular instead of slightly rounded like a necklace should be.
• 10
  Crimp the second end and cut the stringing material with slush cutters. It is not recommended that you cut the wire too close to the crimp bead. 1 inch (2.5 cm) of wire, carefully hidden in the bead holes, is good insurance against breakage.
  
  
• 11
  Finished.
  
  

  Tips

  • More strands of stainless steel wire equals more flexible jewelry.
  • Crimp covers can be used to cover the crimp bead and make the necklace look more professional.
  • If you wish to sell your jewelry and you want the highest price possible, you must use high quality materials.
  • Magnetic clasps are a wonderful option because they will release when pressure is applied, thus preventing the stringing material/necklace from breaking.
  • Before crimping the last crimp bead hold the necklace in the air to release any slack in the stringing material; otherwise, there might be too much slack when completed and the design will look sloppy.
  • Beading wire with more stands should be used for projects with heavy or large beads.
  • Sterling silver or gold-filled crimps hold better than base metal crimps.

   

  Warnings

  • Keep the small beads away from children under three years old, as they are a choking hazard.
  • A too-tightly-strung necklace is more likely to suffer breakage.

  Things You'll Need

  • Clasp (including jump rings)
  • 19, 21 or 49 strand flexible beading wire or beading thread
  • Sterling silver or gold-filled crimp beads
  • Super glue or GS Hyo Cement if using thread
  • Crimp beads
  • At least 4 small beads to protect your crimps beads and hide your wire or thread "tails."
  • Beads of your choice (e.g., glass, stone, ceramic, precious or base metal, etc.)
  • Crimping pliers or chain nose pliers
  • Flush cutters
  • Stiff, strong beading needles if using thread that does not come with an attached needle.