How to Restring Beads

Though there are many techniques for stringing a necklace, these basic steps will work for almost any set of beads.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Craft Glue
• Towel Or Piece Of Folded Fabric
• Jewelry Clasp
• Scissors
• Scissors
• Toothpick
• Flat-nose Pliers
• Beading Thread
• Flat-nose Pliers
• Two Bead Tips

1. Place the beads you're restringing on a flat, soft surface, such as a towel or a piece of folded fabric, to keep the beads from rolling every which way. (If you plan to do this regularly, you might want to invest in a bead board--a wooden or plastic board with storage compartments and grooves for laying out your beads.)

2. Determine in what order you'd like the beads restrung, and arrange them in that pattern on your flat surface. (If possible, keep the beads on their original string before restringing so you can maintain their original arrangement.)

3. With scissors, cut a piece of beading thread long enough for the necklace with about 6 inches (15 cm) to spare. A standard necklace is typically 18 to 20 inches (45 to 50 cm), a choker 14 to 16 inches (35 to 40 cm).

4. Spread a bit of craft glue along 1 inch (2.5 cm) of one end of the beading thread and let it dry. This will stiffen the thread and make it easier to string the beads.

5. 

   Tie a knot close to the opposite end of the string (see A).

6. Dab the knot with a tiny bit of the craft glue and let it dry. A toothpick is often helpful for dabbing glue on the knot, where you want to use as little glue as possible.

7. Cut off the excess thread close to the knot.

8. 

   String the unknotted end of the thread through the top of one of the bead tips (sometimes also called "bell tips") (see B), pulling the knot that you just made into the cup of the bead tip.

9. String all of the beads onto the beading thread in the order that you want them.

10. After all the beads are on the thread, string the thread through the bottom of the remaining bead tip so that the open end of the bead tip faces away from the beads.

11. Tie a knot in the unknotted end of the thread.

12. Dab the knot with a bit of the craft glue, and tuck the knot into the cup of the bead tip. Cut off any excess thread.

13. Attach one end of the jewelry clasp to one of the bead tips, using flat-nose pliers to wrap the hook of the bead tip around the loop of the jewelry clasp.

14. Attach the other half of the jewelry clasp to the other bead tip, again using the flat-nose pliers to wrap the bead tip's hook around the jewelry clasp.

Tips & Warnings

• Beading thread comes in silk, cotton and nylon varieties. Any type can be used for this project, but choose the heaviest thread that will fit through the holes in your beads without fraying.
• When restringing very expensive or delicate items, such as pearls or rare gemstones, it's best to make a knotted necklace, with a small knot separating each bead, which will keep the beads from scattering if the necklace breaks as well as prevent damage from the beads rubbing together. Invest in a bead cord knotter, available at bead stores, and ask for advice on how to use it.

on 11/22/2005 I make my own peg boards with screws and a piece of wood. I screw in the screws and simply twist my soft wire around the pegs and give it my own style (until I come up with a design).