How to Make a Braided Bead Necklace

This is a fun necklace to make and wear. It can be as delicate or as chunky as you wish, depending on the beads you use.

Things You'll Need

• Dressmaker's Measuring Tapes
• Jewelry Beads
• Jewelry Supplies
• Jewelry Wire
• Pliers For Jewelry Making
• Safety Glasses

Instructions

1. Decide on the length of the necklace you wish to make. Place a seamstress tape around your neck and measure to the point where your necklace will hang.

2. Add about 8 inches to this measurement to compensate for the braiding.

3. Cut two pieces of 18-gauge jewelry wire, about 3 inches long.

4. Make an eye loop on one of the 3-inch pieces. Leave a small gap for sliding in the strand loops.

5. Make an eye loop on the other 3-inch piece of wire, but leave a small gap so you can slide the other ends of the braided strands onto it.

6. Cut five pieces of 20-gauge jewelry wire or a flexible wire of the length you figured in step 2.

7. Attach one of the five pieces of wire by looping the end of the wire through the larger loop you made in step 4 and form a smaller loop.

8. Secure the smaller loop to the larger loop by sliding a crimp bead up and over the cut end of the wire. Close the bead with a pair of jewelry pliers. (See the Tips.)

9. Repeat this step with all five pieces of wire. When finished, you will have five wires attached to the large loop.

10. String beads onto each strand of wire. Make a loop at each end and attach a crimp bead to each end to hold the beads in place.

11. Braid the beaded strands: Lay them flat on a table and bring the left strand over two strands to the center, then take the right strand over two strands to the center.

12. Continue braiding until you get to the end of the strands. Braid loosely so that the wire will not look crimped.

13. Slide the loops onto the 3-inch piece you made in step 5 and close the loop.

14. Slide a bell cap onto each 3-inch piece and over the ends of the strands. This will cover the five loops.

15. Make an eye loop above the bell cap on both pieces. This is where the clasp will be attached.

16. Wrap a piece of 24-gauge wire around the loop base to secure it.

17. Attach one end of the clasp to each side of the necklace.

Tips & Warnings

• To use a crimp bead, slide it up to the base of the loop and use pliers to squeeze the bead closed.

• Use safety glasses when cutting or trimming wire.