Aleš Lombergar

Here are some hints to help you get started with creating your own necklaces. Threading beads is pretty basic, but it does help to know a few tricks if you are going to add a clasp or if you are planning on knotting between each bead.

Materials Needed to Make a Necklace

Here is a list of the things you will need for the projects. You can start with the basics and go from there.

What you need:
? Beads
? Beading Thread
? Beading Needle
? Super Glue
? Stretchy Elastic for Bracelets

Other things to consider:
? Beading Tray
? Chain Nose Pliers
? Clasp and Bead Tips
? Bees Wax for Thread

For knotting you need:
? Tri-Cord Knotter, or Beading Awl

For chain necklaces:
? Cable Chain by the Foot
? Eye Pins
? Round Nose Pliers
? Wire Cutters

Bead Suppliers

I get my beads from these sources. There are many others, of course, but these are the ones I use and I am comfortable recommending them.

Fire Mountain Gems: Until recently you could only order a limited number of items from Fire Mountain on-line, but now it seems that you can buy everything you need on-line. You can also request a catalog at their web-site, or call toll free at 1-800-423-2319. They have everything you need to make jewelry, including a great selection of semi-precious gemstone beads. I always receive my order within 3 or 4 days of placing it. Fire Mountain will charge you an extra $5.00 for orders under $50.00.

Eclectic Etc. Inc. Beads and Supplies: This is an Internet only bead supplier with a great on-line selection of products. It’s very easy to order from their site and I always receive my orders within 3 or 4 days. A big plus with EE Beads is that you can buy small quantities of beads for very reasonable prices. This is a great source for hobbyists who only need enough beads for one or two projects at a time. Eclectic Etc. will charge you an extra $3.00 for orders under $20.00.

Rio Grande: Visit their site and request a catalog. They have competitive prices and great customer service. I faxed my order in and received a phone call from one of their representatives to review details of the order. This was very reassuring. Rio Grande has no minimum order and only charges what they pay for shipping.

Types of Beads

I have worked with:

Furnace Glass Beads: These hand made beads are made in the United States. They consist of a clear glass shell with a colored core. The shapes are cylindrical, cubic and also triangular and round slices. I buy mine from Eclectic Etc. You get a random selection, but I think that just adds to the fun of working with them.

Semi-Precious Gemstones: These beads come in many sizes and shapes and are generally very consistent in quality. Fire Mountain has a full range of these beads, and Eclectic Etc. also offers a nice selection.

Czech Glass Beads: Eclectic Etc. refers to these as fancy glass beads. You can get round beads, crystal beads and many different shapes such as hearts and leaves. Czech beads are always consistent in quality.

India Glass Beads: These beads may not as consistent in quality, but they are very affordable and each is hand made. They may not be the classiest, but I have received many compliments for my India bead necklaces.

Fresh Water Pearls: These are very affordable pearls that will add a great deal of elegance to your necklaces. They may not be perfectly cylindrical cultured pearls, but they do have the same luster.

And many more beads, such as wood, bone, shell, cloisonné, gold, silver, pottery beads, etc. Flip through a catalog or surf the net to find your favorites.

Necklace Design

The best way to plan a necklace design is to work with a beading tray. You can set up all your beads on the tray and move them around to come up with the best design. If you don’t have a beading tray, use a towel to set your beads out on. That way they won’t roll off the table and become a cat toy!

I usually try to mix two or three sizes of beads in my necklaces, and sometimes I mix different types of beads. But, be careful when mixing, as this will affect the weight of thread you will use, since different types of beads have different hole sizes.

Necklace Thread

Please review these to make sure you have the right weight of string, as well as the right length, especially if you will be knotting your necklace.

Once you have your beads arranged the way you like them and your thread ready you can string your beads. If you are planning on using a clasp, then string a bead tip first.

Knotting

Now you are ready to begin knotting. I have a special tool I use, called a Tri-Cord Knotter.

Reasons to Knot

You don’t have to knot, but I like to for a few reasons. The primary reason is that knots keep your beads from rubbing against each other. Also, If your necklace ever breaks you won’t find all of your beads flying about the place. You will lose your beads, and if it happens on the dance floor, someone might get hurt! More than anything, I just think the necklace looks better. Instead of being stiff and inflexible, it drapes nicely. Knots also add to the length of your necklace, so you don’t have to use as many beads. It’s a bit more work, but I think it’s worth it. And, with a Tri-Cord Knotter it really isn’t that much more work.

Sources for the Tri-Cord Knotter

I bought the Tri-Cord Knotter so that I could restring my cultured pearls, instead of sending them off to the jeweler. I dropped my necklace off once and I swear it came back shorter (but that may have been because a different weight of thread was used). So I decided to do it myself. Once I found out how easy it is to work with this tool, I started making my own necklaces, and I just got carried away.

You can get the Tri-Cord Knotter from Fire Mountain Gems or from Rio Grande. You can also visit the Tri-Cord Knotter site for more information on their product.

The Knotter

How to use the Tri-Cord Knotter

When working with the Tri-Cord Knotter you will need a doubled length of thread that is at least twice as long as the necklace you are making. To make it easier to knot towards the end, I add on a good extra 10 or 15 inches. I then take the thread and pull it through a wire beading needle. I match up the two ends of the thread and place a knot at the end to hold the beads in place when I string them. And, for this method you can go ahead and string all of your beads before knotting. Once this is done you are ready to get started. Remember to start a with a bead tip if you are going to be using a clasp. If you are not using a clasp, check out the method I use to finish without a clasp.

Once your beads are strung you are ready to begin working with the knotter. Begin by placing an over hand knot up next to the first bead. Use your thumb to bring the loop up next to the bead. Then catch the loop in the knotter, and snug it as close as you can to the bead. Push the thumb spring lever towards the bead, and presto, you have a perfectly snug knot. Repeat this until you are finished. Keep in mind that you will have to pull all of the finished beads through each loop, which can get a bit cumbersome. You can switch sides and loop the unfinished beads through the loop when you are half way finished, to work more quickly.

Traditional Knotting

Traditional knotting methods use a beading awl and tweezers to snug the knots up against the bead. Here is a method I found at About.com. I haven’t tried this, but I wanted to include it for folks who don’t want to bother with the tri-cord knotter. You will need a beading awl or a stiff beading needle. Again, you will need to ensure that you have sufficient thread to make up for the knots, and you can go ahead and string all of your beads if you want, but you will have to pull them through each loop. With this method each over hand loop is slipped onto the awl. The knot is then placed up against the bead, while still wrapped around the awl. The awl is then removed from the bead, and then you can use the awl to press the knot up against the bead.

An Easier Way to Knot

I have never used this method either, but have seen it described at About.com and at RioGrande.com. With this method you will string your beads on two separate strands of thread. One strand is the carrier strand, and the other is the knotting strand, which must be at least twice as long, if not longer. You can knot as you string with this method, or string all of the beads on to the carrier string only, and then work the knotting string through the beads as you go. Start with either a bead tip or one bead through both strands. Then, take the knotting strand and make an over hand knot over the carrier thread, and snug the knot up against the bead. String another bead, make an over hand knot, and continue until finished.

If you don’t want to knot just go ahead and string your beads and finish off your necklace. You will have your very own personal creation to be proud of.

For more information visit: http://www.pmegio.com/index.html

I work wonders with making pearl necklaces.

Hi there, i make my own beaded jewellery, including the safety pin bracelts, these are the easiest to start with. Try the link below, and click on saftey pin bracelt kits (or along those lines)
Hobbycraft is good too, but the people at the link below can help you if you get stuck. Lucky for me there clkose by, and if im stuck with something they help me figure it out.

If you get really good you can make loads and sell them on ebay/at markets etc

Good luck, and if you want any help send me a message!

i use necklace string from habedashers

Hi, there is a ton of great info online on how to start making your own bead work. There is one site I found that has great articles on how to start making your own beadwork. Go to http://www.my-beadwork-guide.com then click on articles on the left. Hope that helps.

All the best!

what you need is easy to find…go to a scrap book store and buy some ‘fishing line’ string (a sales person can help you) and hten buy some beads, they are more expensive but the bigger ones are easier to work wiht at first. you can also take lessons sometimes at the craft stores.

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