How to Re-String a Pearl Necklace
If you have a pearl necklace that has broken, consider repairing it yourself rather than making a trip to a jeweler. Re-stringing a pearl necklace can be challenging, but the task gets easier with practice. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Beading needle
- Thread, silk or synthetic
- Matches or lighter
- Large piece of felt or foam
- Scissors
- Small tray
Instructions
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1
Wash your hands well to remove any dirt or oils that may discolor the pearls while you work with them.
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2
Arrange all supplies on a work surface, including any loose pearls and the existing pearl necklace. Use a small crafting tray to make sure pearls don't roll away.
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3
Cut a long piece of thread, approximately four times the length of the necklace. Set it aside.
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4
Cut a 10-inch piece of thread, then cut that piece into four pieces. Insert one piece through the eye of the needle and tie a knot so that it forms a loop through the eye of the needle.
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5
Fold the long piece of thread that you are using for the necklace in half. Insert the two loose ends into the loop of thread on the eye of the needle. Pull the loose ends far enough through the loop that they will not fall out.
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6
Hold one end of the clasp that closes the necklace and cut it off. Insert the needle and thread into the hole in the clasp and thread it through. Insert the needle back through the loop in the thread to attach the clasp to the string. Tie a knot as close as possible to the clasp to secure it.
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7
Cut the existing thread on the pearl necklace on the end where the clasp was removed. Remove the pearls, one at a time, by carefully sliding them off the cut thread. Lay the pearls down carefully, one by one, in the same order that they were in when attached to the necklace.
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8
Remove the needle from the thread and tie a double knot at the two loose ends to prevent the pearls from sliding off the end of the thread.
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9
Place the needle though the hole in the last pearl you removed and slide the pearl down the thread. Repeat with all pearls.
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10
Tie a knot in the thread as close as possible to the first pearl. Continue to make knots as close as possible to all pearls. Leave some slack between pearls to prevent the thread from kinking.
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11
Attach the other half of the clasp after all pearls have been knotted. Tie the thread at the end of the clasp into a double knot. Slide all pearls tightly together.
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12
Cut the thread and quickly burn the small loose ends with a match or lighter. Do not hold the flame for longer than a second or two, or you may burn the knot off.
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