How to Do Cluster Beading
Cluster beading is jewelry style where multiple bead strands and beads are put together to form a cluster. They are used in earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets. It is possible to create cluster beads with all types of beads, including wooden, gold, silver and plastic.
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Things You'll Need
- 1 x 8 mm bead
- 15 x 6 mm beads
- 22-gauge wire
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Cutters
- Ruler
- Nylon jaw pliers
Instructions
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1
Measure out 10 to 12 cm of wire.
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2
Cut the wire with your wire cutters.
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3
Straighten your wire with jaw pliers.
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4
Make a right angle in your wire 3.5 cm from one end. Use your chain nose pliers to make the right angle.
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5
Slide a 8 mm bead onto the wire. The bent wire looks like an upside down "L". The bead is slipped on to the longer leg.
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6
On the longer leg leave another space of 3.5 cm from the bead you just put on, and make a second right angle in the wire with your chain nose pliers. Your wire is now a rectangle with the right side open.
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7
Create a small loop out of the right angle above the bead. Don't worry about securing it.
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8
Create a larger loop below the bead where the second right angle is. Use the wide end of your round nose pliers for this.
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9
Wrap wire around the base of the loop a few times to secure it. You have just created the core bead with the loop for the cluster of beads.
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10
Take your spool of wire and thread on a 8 mm and then a 6 mm bead. The 8 mm bead is just to give you the amount of wiring you need for the 6mm bead to clear the one you are clustering on to on the loop.
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11
With the pliers fold the open end of the wire into a loop to make a stop for the 6 mm bead.
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12
Cut the wire just after the 8 mm bead, and then take the 8 mm bead off, as it was only there to help measure.
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13
Make a simple loop on that side to stop the 6 mm bead from sliding off.
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14
Secure this one 6 mm bead to your 8 mm bead by opening the smaller bead's simple loop and putting it onto the core bead's wrap around loop.
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15
Create about five more beads to attach to the core bead by repeating steps 10 through 14.
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16
After you have attached all of your beads to the core bead, the cluster is ready to be attached to earring hooks, a necklace chain, etc.
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