How to Make Gemstone Jewelry

With so many great colors and textures to choose from, it's worth the time it takes to learn to make gemstone jewelry. Because so many precious and semiprecious gemstones are available, you can create a different jewelry piece, or two, to go with every outfit. Making gemstone jewelry isn't difficult, and designing each piece can be a lot of fun. Here's how to make gemstone jewelry.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Beading thread with attached needle
• Gemstone beads
• Jewelry clasp
• Jewelry glue or clear nail polish
• Bead knotting tool or large corsage pin
• Small towel or washcloth
• Beading scissors or nail clippers
• Beading board (optional)
• Precious metal or seed bead spacers (optional)

1. Create your design. Before threading a single bead, decide on a pattern and lay the beads out in that pattern. If you don't have a beading board, use a small terry-cloth towel to keep the beads from rolling away. After laying out the pattern, make any final changes or adjustments. When you lay out the pattern before stringing the beads, you can change it as much as you like without a lot of work or ruining your beading thread.

2. Attach half of the jewelry clasp. Tie one half of the clasp onto the end of the beading thread. A regular double or triple knot will do. After tying the knot, put a small dot of glue or clear fingernail polish on the knot. Once the glue or nail polish has dried, use beading scissors or nail clippers to cut off the loose end as close to the knot as possible.

3. Thread the beads. Slide all of the gemstone beads that you set out in a pattern in Step 1 onto the beading thread using the attached needle. Once all the beads are on the thread, hold the strand up with the clasp that is already attached at the bottom. Let the beads naturally fall against each other so there are no gaps between them.

4. Attach the other half of the clasp. This is the most difficult part of making gemstone jewelry. The thread needs to be pulled tight and the knot snug against the last bead to avoid any gaps. To do this, slide the clasp on to the thread, and tie a very loose knot at the base of the clasp. Put the bead knotting tool or a large pin through the center of the loose knot. Without tightening the knot, carefully work the knot down to the bead so that the knotting tool or pin is snug against the last bead. Lift the strand up and make sure there are no gaps. Pull the thread running through all the beads tight, but don't allow the knot to tighten just yet. Without releasing tension on the thread running through the beads, lay the strand down and begin to tighten the knot while also keeping the pin snug against the last bead. (This process is similar to tying a knot on a package and using your finger to keep the knot tight. In this case, the pin is serving the same purpose as your finger on the package.)Continue pulling the thread until the knot is tight without any gaps. Gently remove the pin or push the release on the bead knotting tool. Place a small dot of glue or clear nail polish on the knot. After the glue or polish is dry, use beading scissors or nail clippers to cut the loose end as close to the knot as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Use this same method to make bracelets and anklets.
• Buy French earring wires and use four or five threaded beads to make matching earrings for your gemstone jewelry pieces.
• When cutting loose ends, cut as close to the knot as possible, but be careful not to cut the knot itself.
• Don't force beads onto the thread if the hole in the bead happens to be too small. Choose a different bead instead, or use thinner thread.

Resources

• Beading Knots Tutorial