How to Make a Beaded Necklace With Two Strands

You can custom make your own two-strand beaded necklace.

A two-strand beaded necklace adds glamour and style to any outfit. You can make your own two-strand necklace using a fairly uncomplicated method of bead stringing that includes special metal "spacers" and clasps found at your local craft store. Beads are widely available in a variety of colors and sizes, so you can color coordinate your beaded necklace with one of your favorite outfits. By making the two-strand necklace yourself, you can also custom fit it to any desired length, including a short choker or a long strand necklace.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• 100 beads
• Nylon bead wire
• 2 metal jewelry spacers with two holes
• 4 crimp beads
• Crimping tool
• Wire cutter
• 2-part jewelry

Instructions

1. Determine the length of your completed necklace by measuring an existing necklace of the same desired length.

2. Use your wire cutter to cut one length of nylon beading wire to this length plus 6 inches. Cut another length of wire to the measurement from step 1 plus 8 inches.

3. Thread one end of the nylon beading wire through a crimp bead. Thread one part of the clasp. Pass the end of the wire through the crimp bead a second time. Press the crimp bead firmly with the crimping tool. Cut off any excess wire. Repeat this process with the other piece of nylon beading wire by threading the second wire through the clasp and securing it with a second crimp bead.

4. Pass each wire through the holes on the spacer bar. Thread your beads, in the desired patterns, onto the two wires, so you have two disctinct strands of beaded necklace. You want to leave a couple of inches of unbeaded wire at the end for the crimp beads and the clasp.

5. Pass the ends of the wires through the holes on the second spacer bar. Thread one crimp bead onto the end of each of the wires.

6. Pass each wire through the hole on the remaining part of the clasp. Thread the wires back through the crimp beads, and press them with the crimp tool. Cut off any excess wire to complete the necklace.

References

• "Simply Stringing"; Kalmback Publishing Company; 2006
• "Bangles and Bracelets"; Amanda Doughty; 2009