Don't you love to buy beads when they're on sale? Even if I don't have any idea what I want to do with them, when my beady little eyes see them, I sometimes pounce.
And then I wait.
I'm glad I pounced and waited this time. It took another sales purchase before this necklace came together, but I'm really happy with it. First, I went to Joann's Fabric to look for plain muslin, and I came home with that plus a really neat frog-style closure like you'd use on a sweater that had been sitting all lonely in a clearance bin. And then there was the chain and the wire and the lovely mixed metals...
Yay! Now the beads have a home!
Note: Since the time this tutorial was first posted, the original beads are no longer available, so I have inserted some suggestions for substitutions below. However, I think this necklace style would look great in many different colors and in different combinations of metals.
Materials
14 - 18 mm beads in a mix of grays or whites
Bronze bead caps, 2 sets
Wire, 20 gauge antique brass
Chain, large copper links, 2 ft length
Chain, small antique gold links
Jump rings, 8mm copper
Gunmetal-colored clasp from JoAnn's or other sewing store
Tools
Chain nose and round nose pliers
Wire cutters
Small file
Measuring tape
1. Make two beaded chains by turning wrapped loops, using the focal beads, small round brass beads or bead caps, and brass wire. Use the file to smooth any sharp ends.
2. Fold a 2 ft length of interesting chain into thirds, but not necessarily even thirds. Use a jump ring at each end to gather them up. Attach the chain ends to the beaded chains using the same jump rings.
3. Attach the other ends of the beaded chains to short lengths of a second style of chain (smaller antique gold colored). Attach the other ends of the chains to the clasp halves.
This post contains affiliate links: Jesse James Beads and Beadaholique
Copyright 2011 Cyndi Lavin. Not to be reprinted, resold, or redistributed for profit. May be printed out for personal use or distributed electronically provided that entire file, including this notice, remains intact.
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