Handmade beaded rings can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. For the beginner, it's best to keep the beaded form very simple to help you learn the method. In this tutorial, you'll shape a simple but very effective beaded ring that looks appealing owing to its use of pretty and well shaped beads. After making one for yourself, consider making some for your friends too.
Steps
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Assemble the beads, wire and other items needed to complete the project (see Things You'll Need" below). Having everything ready to work with is an important part of making beading easier. Keep the beads on a bead board or in easy-to-access containers so that they're easy to find and keep tabs of.
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Cut approximately 5 inches (25cm) of wire.
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Put one bead on the end. In this case, the centerpiece bead, which is the largest bead, is threaded in place first. You don't have to have a centerpiece bead; you could also use beads of uniform size if preferred.
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Bend the wire over the bead you've just added. The bend should look like a squashed shepherd's crook. This prevents the bead from slipping off as you work.
- On the other end of the wire, put another bead on. Slip it to the the other end where the first bead is already placed. Thread the other end of the wire through the second bead and pull it tight. You should now have bent the wire into a curve. Remove end from second bead.
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Continue threading the remaining beads onto the ring.
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Keep stringing until the ring is long enough to fit snugly (but not tightly) around your finger.
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Poke the unfinished end of the wire through the little circle you made in step 5. Wrap the wire around a few times to secure it, and trim short.
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Tips
- You can make fun patterns with the different colors of beads.
- It's easiest to pick up a bead by scooping it out of a container with the end of the wire.
- Don't pick beads with pointy/sharp edges, because it can be very uncomfortable when wearing the ring.
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Warnings
- Be very careful not to let all the beads slip off!
Things You'll Need
- Very thin wire, as thin as fine threadâ??â??you can use thicker wire but you'll have to use different beads
- Seed beads - these are the very small beads with tiny holes, or similar suitable beads
- Wire cutter
- Needlenose pliers
- Bead board or bead containers
