How to Make Lariats

Lariat necklaces are beautiful and not too difficult to make. They come in a variety of colors and designs. You can choose any beads and colors you like. Here you'll learn the supplies you'll need and how to complete your own lariat necklace.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• beading floss. Size 1 or B is thin enough to go through most beads, but still thick enough that it won't tear or break.
• beading needle. These are very long, flexible needles that are thin so that they can fit through sead beads. Big Eye needle is a good one.
• thread wax or it may be labeled bees wax as well. You will need this to condition your beading floss and keep the floss from fraying.
• scissors
• sead beads in any colors you choose. When choosing sead beads, the larger the number sized bead, the smaller the opening of the bead. So, size 10 or 11 sead beads work best.
• larger beads, made from stones, glass, or wood. In coordinating colors to go with the sead beads you've chosen.

1. First cut your floss about three feet long. You are going to fold this in half and tie the ends together. Then run the floss through the wax a few times to condition it and also to get the floss smooth and straight.

2. Once you have your floss smooth, thread it through the needle. Leave a two-three inch tail to fold onto the floss. Run the floss through the bees wax again if necessary.

3. The first beads you add, you may need to make the knot larger so that the bead does not come off. Or you can thread on a large bead, then a smaller sead bead, then skip over the sead bead and go back through the larger bead again.

4. Now begin adding a combination of sead beads and other large beads, stones and gems that you have chosen. Create a pattern or let the assortment be completely random. Again, continue running your floss through wax whenever the floss becomes tangled or if you see any fraying.

5. Once you have added all the beads that you want to and you are near the end of the floss, you are going to make a loop with the beads. Choose a larger bead farther back down the line. Once the beads are strung, go back through this bead so that you have created a loop for the other end of your lariat to fit through.

6. Now that you have gone through this bead, tie off your string. You can make a few knots that will fit inside the beads, then sew through the string of beads a little further and make a few more knots. Cut close to knots to hide the floss.

Tips & Warnings

• Add wax to the floss whenever necessary to make beading easier and to keep the floss smooth.
• If beads look rough on the inside, use your scissors to carefully smooth the edges so that it does not fray your floss.
• Do not add too many large beads or the lariat will be very heavy. A combination of sead beads and varying sized stones and other beads works well.

Resources

• Shipwreck Beads
• Fire Mountain Gems

[alltrails]

on 9/1/2009 Nice article. I'm going to try this. 5 stars and a recommend. Thanks!