How to Make Beaded Necklaces

You only need a few items to complete this necklace. Once you're done, you'll have the basic skills necessary to tackle more complex beading and jewelry projects.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Jewelry Wire
• Bead Design Boards
• Beading Needle
• Beading Threads
• Flat Work Surfaces
• Beads
• Craft Glues
• Scissors
• Flat-nose Pliers

1. Choose a length for your necklace and purchase that much beading thread, plus a few extra inches.
2. Make sure you have enough beads, including spacer beads (the small beads that go between the larger beads). You will also need a clasp and two bead tips, which are used to secure the ends of your necklace so that the clasp can be attached.
3. Lay your beads out on a flat surface, on top of a towel to keep them from rolling away. Determine the design of your necklace and in what order the beads will be strung.
4. Knot a thread end and use scissors to trim off the excess thread. The knot should be at the very end of the thread, but not so close that it runs the risk of unknotting.
5. Push the unknotted end of your thread through one open end of the bead tip and thread it through the hole. Pull the thread all the way through so that the knot you made rests firmly against the hole.
6. Place a small amount of craft glue on the knot to keep it from coming undone, and allow it to dry.
7. String your beads and then thread on the other bead tip so that the open end of the tip faces away from the strung beads.
8. Tie a loose knot in the thread end and use a long, straight pin to push the knot down into the open end of the bead tip. The knot should rest securely against the hole. Trim the excess thread and use pliers to close the bead tip.
9. Affix one clasp piece onto one bead tip hook so that the loops at the end of each are joined. Use the pliers to close one ring over the other. Repeat with the remaining clasp piece at the other end of the necklace.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for bead tips under the name 'clam shells' or 'oyster shells,' so named because of their shape.
• Use a double strand of beading thread for extra strength.
• Place glue along 1 to 2 inches at the end of your thread before stringing the beads and allow it to dry. This will stiffen the thread end and make the beads a lot easier to string.