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How to make a beadalon necklace
How to make a beadalon necklace:
I’ve used Beadalon 19 strand wire to make this beautiful, blue beadalon necklace. You can also use beading wires such as Soft Flex or Accu-Flex. Click on the link if you need more information about stringing materials. Feel free to use bead and color choices of your own. You can even replace the large blue lampwork bead with a crystal bead or pearl. There are so many variations you can make on the design of this beadalon necklace!What you need:
- 19 strand bright or silver Beadalon wire .018” (0.46mm) diameter
- 2” headpin
- crimp beads
- 4 calottes (in case one breaks)
- small crystal beads of your choice: 4mm and 5mm
- large 10mm bead
- 2mm silver ball spacer beads
- lobster clasp
- 5mm jump ring
- measuring stick or some sort of measurement
- round nose pliers
- crimping pliers
- chain nose pliers
- wire or side cutters
- safety glasses (optional)
Step 1:
Cut off a piece of Beadalon wire, 2” longer than your necklace size. Click on the necklace size guide if you need more info.Step 2:
In the graphic the X indicates the center of the wire. Take a non-permanent marker to make a little mark on the center of your wire. Slide a crimp bead onto your Beadalon wire. Use your crimping pliers to press the crimp bead into a tiny ball next to the mark that you’ve made. Click on the link to see how to use crimp beads and crimping pliers. Slide your beads in the following order onto the wire: 4mm crystal bead, round spacer bead, 5mm crystal bead, spacer bead, 4mm crystal bead. Slide another crimp bead onto the wire when the beads are in place. Compress the crimp bead into a tiny ball.
Step 3:
Now you are going to do the same on the other side of the beadalon necklace. Slide your crimp bead onto the wire 1mm apart from the other crimp bead, next to the centre point of the necklace, and compress the crimp bead. The reason for this is that you’re going to hang the headpin in this space. Slide your beads in the same order as step 2 onto the wire. Slide a crimp bead onto the end and compress it. Your necklace will now look like the one shown in the graphic below.
Step 4:
Measure 1 inch from the end of the last crimp bead and make a little mark on the wire. Insert a crimp bead and compress it. Slide your beads onto the wire, still using the same order. Compress another crimp bead at the end of it. Do exactly the same on the other side of your necklace.
Step 5:
It’s up to you how you would like to string the beads onto the rest of the necklace. I’ve strung 5mm crystal beads one at a time, and put them 1 inch apart until I’ve reached the desired length of the necklace.
Now it’s time to measure your necklace to see where you have to string the last beads, but don’t cut off the extra pieces yet (just keep in mind that the calottes and clasp will add approx. 1 inch to your necklace). I like to string a bead at the end of the necklace before attaching the calotte next to it. It gives a more professional finish.Step 6:
When you have strung the last bead onto your necklace, slide one calotte as shown in the first graphic, followed by a crimp bead onto the wire. The space is too tight for crimping pliers, therefore you will need to compress the crimp bead with chain nose pliers. Make sure the crimp bead is securely in place after pressing it.
Use your wire cutters to cut off the extra wire next to the crimp bead. Always protect your eyes when cutting wire.
Use your chain nose pliers to close the shells of the calotte.
Step 7:
Slide the lobster clasp onto the loop of the calotte, and close the loop completely. Follow the same steps for attaching a calotte to the other end of the necklace, and slide a jump ring onto the calotte.
Step 8:
Slide the beads for your focal point onto the headpin. Follow the steps for making a loop on a headpin as described on the page ‘headpin loop’. Once your loop is made, open it slightly with your round nose pliers as shown in the graphic below.
Step 9:
Finally attach the loop to the center of your beadalon necklace, and close the loop completely. Congratulations, you've just made a beautiful beadalon necklace!
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