How to Make a Twisted Pearl Pendant
Fashioning twisted pearl pendants allows you to make inexpensive but impressive gifts for friends or bridesmaids. Beaded accessories carry a hefty retail price but are often simple to make at home, as long as you have the proper tools. You can purchase faux pearls in craft stores or jewelry supply stores. They are available in a variety of colors and sizes, which is beneficial if you are crafting an accessory to wear with a specific ensemble, like a bridesmaid's dress.
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Things You'll Need
- Nylon thread
- Wire cutters
- At least 24 pearls, 4 to 6 mm size
- Needle
- Scotch tape
- 2 headpins
- Round-nose pliers
- 2 jump rings
- Needle-nose pliers
- Fine chain necklace or pearl necklace, any length
Instructions
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1
Cut two pieces of nylon thread with the wire cutters. Make each piece of thread 5 inches long. Tie a knot as close to the end of each thread as possible.
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2
Set two pearls aside for later use. Arrange the rest of the pearls in two even groups in front of you, for stringing.
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3
Thread the needle with one piece of nylon thread. String one group of pearls onto the thread. Tie a knot above the final pearl to secure the string. Repeat the process with the other nylon thread and group of pearls.
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4
Hold both strings of pearls in your hand, pinching the ends of the nylon threads together. Slide one of the reserved pearls onto both threads, joining the strands. Tie a knot above the pearl to secure it.
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5
Tape the loose thread above the pearl to your work surface to secure the strands. Twist the two strands of pearls around each other. Hold together the loose ends of the threads. Thread the second reserved pearl on the two strands. Tie a knot above the pearl.
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6
Insert a headpin through the last pearl you strung -- the pearl on both threads. Insert the pin from the bottom of the pearl, the side that faces the rest of the strung pearls. Hold the headpin in place with the thumb of your non-dominant hand. Trim the protruding headpin to 1/3 inch with the wire cutters.
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7
Bend the headpin to a 90-degree angle with the round-nose pliers. Shape the headpin into a loop. Twist the end of the headpin around the base of the loop with the pliers to secure it. Trim the excess thread above the knot, so that the headpin loop is the only thing visible at the end of the pearl string.
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8
Untape the other end of the twisted pearls. Repeat the headpin and trimming tasks. You should have a 4-inch twisted strand of pearls with a small, metal loop at each end and no visible thread.
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9
Open a jump ring with the needle-nose pliers.
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10
Fold the pearl strings in half. Twist the the strings together again to make a 2-inch twisted pendant. Both headpin loops should be side-by-side on the same end of the pearls. Slip the open jump ring through both loops. Close the jump ring with the needle-nose pliers.
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11
Open the other jump ring with the pliers. Slip it onto the chain or strand of pearls from which the pendant will hang. Hook the pearl pendant onto the open jump ring hanging from the necklace.
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12
Close the jump ring with the pliers.
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