How to Attach a Toggle Clasp
Jewelry making is one of the most popular crafting projects, and it is something that just about anyone can do. You can create your own beautiful necklaces from an enormous variety of stunning beads on the market. Making beaded jewelry on flexible jewelry wire is simple, and there is a technique for attaching a toggle clasp with the use of crimp beads that makes it even easier. This simple technique is one of the most effective ways of finishing off a hand-beaded necklace, giving it a polished appearance and a sturdy hold.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Cut the flexible jewelry wire to the length desired for your necklace, adding at least four inches of additional length.
-
2
Slide a crimp bead onto the wire.
-
-
3
Slide the tip of the wire through the clasp loop, bend the wire over and pull the tip of the wire through the crimp bead. There should now be a loop formed that the clasp is hanging on. Slide the bead to the edge of the clasp loop, leaving a small loop for the clasp to hang freely.
-
4
Squeeze the crimp bead with the crimping tool. This will leave the bead flattened with a small dent through the center. Turn the bead and crimp it again, which folds it in half along the scored dent. Squeeze the crimping tool over the finished bead to flatten and strengthen it. Pull gently on the wire to make sure it is secure.
-
5
String your first bead, over both wires, up to the crimped bead. Cut off the short tail of wire. Continue stringing your beads onto the flexible jewelry wire, leaving at least two inches of length on the end.
-
6
Repeat steps two and three to begin attaching the clasp on the other end.
-
7
Pull the excess wire through the crimp bead until your necklace beads meet flush with the clasp. Repeat step four to crimp the bead. Cut off the excess tail of wire with a wire cutter. Tuck any additional tail under the beads on the necklace.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When crimping the bead, make sure to leave a little bit of a loop for the clasp to hang on. The clasp will not hang freely if it is crimped too tightly.
Take care when using a wire cutter.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit women's necklaces image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
