How to Make Beaded Necklaces & Bracelets

Create your own personal style with handmade beaded jewelry.

If you have a creative flair and enjoy wearing beautiful jewelry, consider creating your own beaded necklaces and bracelets. Handmade jewelry can show off your artistic talents and be an economical alternative to purchasing beaded jewelry at craft shows or shops. Creating customized beaded necklaces or bracelets as gifts for friends is also a nice way to show you care. You can make your own designs to sell if you are particularly talented.

Things You'll Need

• Cloth measuring tape
• Nylon-covered wire
• End clasps
• Wire cutters
• Crimp beads
• Crimping pliers
• Tape
• Bead board
• Bead assortment

Instructions

1. Lay out your beads on a bead board so that you can identify and inventory your beads. Design your necklace and bracelet by picking out the colors and styles of beads you would like to use. Choose similar beads for both necklace and bracelet if you want them to complement each other, or if you want the bracelet to be a smaller version of the necklace.

2. Determine the length of the necklace and bracelet. Place the strand of wire loosely around your neck and visualize the desired length before cutting it. Repeat this process with the wire around your wrist.

3. Add the clasp first to one end of the wire to ensure that beads don't fall through. Slide a crimp bead and one part of the clasp onto the wire. Thread the wire back through the crimp bead and pull tight. Flatten the crimp bead with the crimping pliers to secure it. Trim the excess wire.

4. Locate the hole in each bead and string the wire through the beads until you are satisfied with the design. Add the other half of the clasp to the other end by following Step 3. Alternately, create a symmetrical design by stringing the center bead first and adding beads to both sides. Add the clasp to each end of the wire when your necklace or bracelet is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• When creating a symmetrical design without a clasp on the end, add a piece of tape at the end of the wire to ensure that beads don't fall through.

• Add a few inches to the length of wire you cut to be on the safe side, then cut as necessary when finished with the necklace or bracelet.

References

• Beadage: Making a Simple Beaded Necklace

Resources

• Beadage: Bead Stringing Books and Resources