How to Make Necklaces, Part 4
Time to demonstrate making a classic string of beads! Instead of showing off the chain, ribbon, or leather cord as a feature of the necklace, we'll hide the structural part inside some glass and metal baubles. Some people use a synthetic stretch cord, monofilament cord similar to fishing line, or threads made of various natural or synthetic materials. Some of these materials accept knots quite well, but I will use beading wire secured by crimp beads.
Crimp beads are a simple concept, really. They are a thin metal ring threaded over the cordage. The end is looped back through to form a loop of whatever size is desired, and then the bead is crushed around the wire to secure it. I refer readers to Fire Mountain Gems for their detailed tutorial. I then use a crimp bead cover to make the crimp bead look better on the string as shown below.
These crimp beads are thin metal in a 'C' shape, and are designed to be gently crushed into an enclosure over the crimp bead that looks like another solid bead. This task especially calls for pliers with smooth jaws as noted in my Pliers for Jewelry post to avoid damaging the surface. Gently squeezing the cover into place from different angles results in a nice finished product that has a barely-perceptible seam. Practice makes perfect. I am not perfect, and had to discard a ruined cover during this very project.
Cut the wire a bit longer than you plan the finished necklace to be. It can always be trimmed shorter. From that point, it is a matter of stringing beads, spacers, bead caps, or other elements in the order you want. I am using conical metal bead caps, 10mm white glass "pearls," rhinestone-encrusted spacer beads, and smaller white glass "pearls."
Once the bead string reaches the intended length, form another loop, secure it with a crimp bead, and use another crimp bead cover if that is your method. I stopped at about 14"/360mm. Don't worry about getting the crimp right up against the last bead, because a little slack is necessary to allow the necklace to flex properly. Too much tension would make it uncomfortable to wear, and the metal and glass would destructively grind together.
Aaaaaand at this inopportune moment, I disovered that I am out of silver or stainless steel lobster claw clasps in the size I intended to use. Ooops. But at this point, I have nearly finished it by adding a jump ring to link to a clasp on one end, and a roughly 4"/100mm length of chain for size adjustment to the other end.
Some variations are possible. The end caps could be used to conceal the crimp beads depending on their shape, and eye pins or other wire could be used to link to the hidden wire loop to keep everything looking tidier, depending on your intentions. Just try what comes to mind and see how it works for you!
Questions, comments, or concerns? Leave your thoughts below! Share pictures of your own jewelry endeavors, too!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3