How to Make Your Own Jewelry Set

A lariat necklace is interesting because of the way it fastens. This slightly longer necklace can be made bright or muted, but whatever style and color of beads you choose, it is sure to draw attention and compliments.

Wear it with a plain blouse or sweater to add style and drama to your outfit.

Here are instructions for making a matching lariat necklace and earrings.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 36-inch length of beading wire (.018 gauge) 3 Peridot teardrop beads Glass pearl beads (4 mm) 1 glass pearl bead (6 mm) 3 glass pearl beads (10 mm) Clear crystal beads (4 mm and 6 mm) Round peridot beads Freshwater pearls Gold spacer beads Gold seed beads Gold crimp beads 2 Gold earring findings Wire cutters Crimping pliers Scissors

Make the Necklace

1. Cut a 26-inch piece of beading wire. Thread 24 gold seed beads onto the wire. Position the seed beads onto one end of the beading wire with several inches of excess wire on one end and the bulk of the wire on the other end. Add a crimp bead on one end of the wire and insert the other end of the beading wire into the crimp bead as well to make a loop out of the gold seed beads. Push the seed beads and the crimp bead down tightly to form the loop. Crimp the crimp bead with the crimping pliers.

2. Thread both wire ends through a gold spacer bead and the 6 mm pearl bead. Trim the short end of the wire off at the 6 mm pearl bead.

3. String the beads onto the wire in this pattern:
   
   Gold spacer bead, 4 mm pearl bead, gold seed bead, 4 mm crystal bead, gold seed bead, 4 mm pearl bead, gold spacer bead, 4 mm pearl bead, 3 gold seed beads, freshwater pearl bead, gold seed bead, peridot bead, gold seed bead, freshwater pearl bead, 3 gold seed beads, 4 mm pearl bead, gold spacer bead, 6 mm crystal bead.
   
   Reverse the pattern.

4. Continue the beading pattern until the necklace measures approximately 18 inches.

5. Add enough gold seed beads to make a 1.25-inch length of seed beads at the end of the necklace. Add a crimp bead, two gold spacers, the 10 mm pearl bead, and a peridot teardrop. Push the beading wire back through the pearl, the gold spacers and the crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead with the crimping pliers and clip any excess beading wire close the the crimp bead.

Make the Earrings

6. Cut one 5-inch length of beading wire. Thread a peridot teardrop onto one length of wire and place at the center of the wire.

7. Bend both halves of the wire up to the top of the peridot teardrop and add a 10 mm pearl bead through both wire ends. Add two gold spacers and one crimp bead. Push all the beads down snugly against each other and crimp the crimp bead with the crimping pliers.

8. Trim one end of the wire at the crimped crimp bead. Add another crimp bead and pass the end of the beading wire through the loop of an earring finding. Push the end of the wire back down through the crimp bead and pull the wire taut.

9. Crimp the crimp bead with the crimping pliers. Trim off the excess beading wire flush with the crimped crimp bead to finish the earring.

10. Repeat steps 1 through 4 to make a second matching earring. Pay close attention to the sizing to make sure that the second earring is identical to the first earring.