Make a Multi-Strand Necklace with Silver Beads and Shells
555E
Here's an eye-catching design that evokes the bounty of the sea and lost pirate treasures! A fabulous mix of shells, silver, pearls and gemstone beads of all shapes and sizes comes together to make an heirloom quality necklace. This is a complex design, but complete video and text instruction will guide you through to the finish.
: : : Materials : : :
- Pearl, cultured freshwater, white, 16x5mm-27x8mm long-drilled stick
- Pearl, cultured freshwater, pink, 15x5mm-21x7mm center-drilled stick
- Pearl, cultured freshwater, pink, 16x5mm-27x8mm long-drilled stick
- Pearl, cultured freshwater, gold, 5-6mm faceted semi-round with 0.2-0.7mm hole,
- Drop, sterling silver and pearl, 21.5x8mm overall with 4mm and 5 mm round cabochons
- Bead, Celestial Crystal, glass pearl, multicolored, 4mm round
- Bead, turquoise, blue, mini to small nugget
- Bead, turquoise, blue, mini nugget
- Bead, turquoise, 6mm round
- Bead, rose quartz, small to medium tumbled pebble
- Bead, rose quartz, medium chip
- Bead, rose quartz, 14x10mm hand-cut faceted puffed rectangle with 0.4-1.4mm hole
- Bead, rose quartz, 4x2mm heishi
- Bead, amazonite, 9x6mm faceted rectangle
- Bead, amazonite, medium chip
- Bead, lapis lazuli, 8x4mm heishi
- Bead, citrine, 7mm hand-cut faceted puffed round
- Bead, Czech glass druk, translucent pink luster, 6mm round
- Bead mix, ''quartz'' glass, mixed colors, 17x13mm top-drilled twisted diamond
- Bead, quartz crystal, extra-large hand-cut top-drilled Hawaiian chip with 0.5-1.5mm hole
- Bead, spotted tiger cowrie shell, 8-9x4mm flat round
- Bead, red lip shell, slice cut
- Bead, red lip shell, 4-5mm heishi
- Bead, mother-of-pearl, 14x8mm-24x10mm marquise
- Bead, mother-of-pearl, freeform frangia
- Bead, rhodonite, 9x6x4mm faceted rectangle
- Bead, Hill Tribes, fine silver, 1.2x1mm oval with 0.9mm hole
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 3x2mm smooth oval
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 5x4mm corrugated oval
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 14x8mm etched flat oval
- Bead, Hill Tribes fine silver, 23x9.8mm scalloped oval
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 23x11mm oval with line design
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 3x3mm flattened cube with dot design
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 5x5mm faceted cube with stamped flower design
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 3x2mm etched round
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 11mm puffed flat round with swirl
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 17mm flat puffed round
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 24mm double-sided puffed flat round
- Bead, Hill Tribes, fine silver, 15.5mm light hammered round
- Bead, Hill Tribes, fine silver, 4x2mm cutout drum
- Bead, Hill Tribes, fine silver, 5x3mm tube with ''X''
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 8x3mm S-design tube
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 12x4mm fancy long tube
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 20x3mm wrapped tube
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 25x4mm wrapped tube
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 9x3mm round tube with sun
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 7x5mm rondelle with stamped sun design, 2.5-3.5mm hole
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 10x9mm barrel with leaves
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 23x12mm flat diamond with flowers
- Bead, Hill Tribes, fine silver, 13x11mm hourglass
- Beads, Hill Tribes fine silver, 17.5x14.75mm puff spindle
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 13x13mm double-sided puffed shell
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 23x7mm double-sided melon with flowers
- Bead, Hill Tribes fine silver, 31.5x17.75mm scalloped melon
- Bead, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 37.5x15.2mm puffed melon
- Drop, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 11x7mm S-swirl
- Drop, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 10mm swirl round
- Focal, Hill Tribes, antiqued fine silver, 30x15mm long puffed shell
- Wire, sterling silver, half-hard, round, 20 gauge
- Crimp, sterling silver, 4x2.5mm tube, 1mm inside diameter
- Clasp, hook-and-eye, sterling silver, 21x6mm with crimp ends, 3.5mm inside diameter
- Cord, suede lace, turquoise blue, 3-4mm
- Cord, suede lace, medium brown, 3-4mm
- Cord, Satinique, satin, light beige, 1.5mm small
- Head pin, sterling silver, 2 inches with 3mm ball, 22 gauge
- Beads, fancy jasper
- Beads, gemstone, heishi and rondelle
- Beads, coral
- Beads and components, golden jade
- Beads, Czech pressed glass, flower
- Beads and components, Hill Tribes
- Crimps
- Wire cutters
- Pliers, round-nose
- Pliers, chain-nose
- Pliers, flat-nose
- Pliers, crimping
-
Bead, golden ''jade'', 4x2mm heishi -
Bead, golden ''jade'', 4x4mm cube -
Bead, fancy jasper, 9x6x4mm faceted rectangle -
Bead, mixed pen shell, 4-5mm heishi -
Bead, Czech pressed glass, pink-gold, 8mm flower -
Bead, coral, white, 9x7mm-18x13mm graduated flat teardrop
STEP 1
Cut a 6-inch piece of 20-gauge wire. Hold the round-nose pliers so the jaws are horizontal and grasp the piece of wire 1-1/2 inch below one end. With your free hand, bend the tip of the wire to a 90 degree angle. Place the pliers so the jaws are now vertical with one jaw above and the other below the angled section of wire. Bring the tip of the wire up and over the top jaw of the pliers so it is now facing down at about an 80 degree angle. Place the pliers so they are now horizontal again, one jaw in the loop and one jaw out and to the right. With chain-nose pliers or your free hand, grasp the tip of the wire and direct it behind the length of wire.
Grasp the loop with chain-nose pliers. Grasp the tip of the wire with flat-nose pliers and wrap it around the straight length of wire below the loop, wrapping for approximately three revolutions. Trim any excess wire and press in the cut end with chain-nose pliers. You've just created a wrapped loop and now have a secure anchor to begin your necklace. Repeat to make 8 wrapped loops. |
STEP 2
Cut a length of beading wire, 18-inch long, string one crimp end, nine small Thai-silver beads, and one wrapped loop. Pass the beading wire back through the crimp end until 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch is sticking out past the crimp end. Hold the wires so they are parallel then compress the center section of the crimp end with chain-nose pliers. Press until the wire is secured to the wrapped loop. |
STEP 3
String on an assortment of beads for approximately 5 inches. This will be one tassel for below your focal bead. |
STEP 4
Repeat to complete 8 tassels.
STEP 5
Pass all eight wires through the focal bead, separate them into 2 groups; four for one side of the necklace, four for the other side. |
STEP 6
Begin stringing beads onto one length of wire for approximately 7 inches. Add one crimp bead and nine small Thai-silver beads.
STEP 7
Repeat for all eight strands, stringing beads so they blend well together, i.e. if you've strung a large bead on one strand, string smaller beads on the other strand, to rest opposite the large bead, so they lie well together when worn. |
STEP 8
Repeat Step 1 to make 2 more wrapped loops using 8 - 10 inches of wire--the wire should be 3 inches longer than the beads you're using at the top of your strands.
Loop one strand through one wrapped loop and pass the beading wire back through the crimp bead. Crimp the crimp bead using crimping pliers. Repeat, attaching four strands of beading wire to the first wrapped loop. Repeat attaching the remaining four strands to the other wrapped loop.
STEP 9
Add your large bead above the wrapped loop and make another wrapped loop above the bead, trim any excess wire. Repeat, adding a bead to the other half of the necklace. |
STEP 10
Cut four lengths of suede lacing, 48 - 60 inches long. Pass one length of lacing through the wrapped loop made in Step 9. Pass another length through the same loop. Repeat, adding two lengths of lacing to the wrapped loop on the other half of the necklace.
STEP 11
Cut a 3-inch piece of 20-gauge wire. Begin wrapping the wire around one nose of the round-nose pliers, creating a small coil. Slide the coil over two lengths of suede lacing. Using chain- or flat-nose pliers, compress the coil gently, securing the lacing to the necklace. |
STEP 12
Take one length of suede lacing from each pair joined by the coils in Step 11. Lay 2 inches of satin cord down the lacing, having the tail facing up, away from the necklace. While holding the 3 layers of cord together, begin wrapping the rattail up until you reach the tail. Secure them by compressing another coil around all three cords. |
STEP 13
Thread beads onto all the cords as your design dictates. As an added element you can add pieces of coiled wire like a bead. |
STEP 14
Add a crimp end with a loop onto the end of one length of lacing. Compress the center section with chain-nose pliers, securing the crimp-end to the lacing. Repeat, adding the crimp end onto as many laces as you'd like.
Thread beads onto a headpin. Begin a wrapped loop, and before making the wrap, open the loop and slide it onto the loop of the crimp end. Finish wrapping the loop, securing the dangle onto the end of the lacing. Repeat, adding as many dangles to the ends as you like. |
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
Copyright Permissions
Permission to copy this instruction sheet is granted for non-commercial educational purposes only. All other reproduction requires written permission. Please email copyrightpermission@firemtn.com for more information.