How to Shorten a Necklace

Chain necklaces are much easier to shorten than fiber or beaded necklaces.

It can be frustrating to find a necklace you love, only to realize it's too long for your tastes. Depending on the material the necklace is made from, you can usually take off length with a few basic tools. You can shorten necklaces made from chain without needing any extra materials, but beaded necklaces or necklaces strung on leather, suede or fiber may call for extra bead findings to shorten.

Things You'll Need

• Wire cutters
• Chain-nose pliers
• Round-nose pliers
• Jump rings
• 2 crimp beads
• Crimping pliers
• 2 cord ends

Instructions

Chain Necklace

1. Cut the link of chain attached to one side of the clasp with wire cutters, and remove the clasp from the broken link. Repeat on the other end of the chain necklace.

2. Remove an even length of chain from each end of the necklace. Grip the chain link at the end of the shortened necklace with chain-nose and round-nose pliers at either side of the opening. Twist the pliers apart to open the link.

3. String the open chain link through the hole at the base of the clasp, and reverse the twisting motion to close the link again. Repeat with the other side of the necklace. If the chain links are soldered shut, attach the final chain links to each side of the clasp with jump rings made from the same metal.

Beaded Necklace

1. Cut the bead wire with wire cutters at the clasp at each side of the necklace. Remove the excess wire bits from both sides of the clasp, and pull off an even number of beads from either side of the necklace until it measures the desired length.

2. String a crimp bead onto one end of the wire. Pass the wire tip through one side of the clasp and back through the crimp bead. Pull the wire to tighten the loop and crimp in place. Repeat with the other end of the necklace.

3. Cut a length of wire 10 inches longer than you want the necklace if you only want to shorten it by an inch or two and don't have enough spare wire on the existing necklace to refasten the clasp. Attach one end of the clasp to the new wire segment as in step 2, restring the beads onto the new wire and secure the other half of the clasp.

Fiber Necklaces

1. Cut an even length of the stringing material from both ends of the necklace with wire cutters or a pair of sharp scissors.

2. Place one end of the stringing material into a cord end, and pinch the center of the cord end to secure. Repeat on the other end of the necklace.

3. Hold a jump ring at either side of the opening with your two pliers, and twist the pliers apart to open the ring. String one cord end and one side of the clasp onto the jump ring. Reverse the twisting motion to close. Repeat with the other side of the necklace.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep beads and beading tools out of reach of children.

References

• Fusion Beads: Techniques -- Crimping
• Fusion Beads: Techniques -- Opening and Closing a Jump Ring
• Fusion Beads: Techniques -- Attaching a Cord End - Style 3