Knotted Pearl Necklace

Knotted Pearl Necklace

Supplies: Pearls (Or glass beads), Silk Cording Size 4, clam shell bead tips, clasp, flat nose pliers, scissors, needle tool and clear nail polish (or crazy glue).

Instructions:

1. Open and unwind the silk cord from the card. Make a double knot at the end farthest away from the needle. Add a dab of clear nail polish or crazy glue to the knot and let dry.


2. String on a clam shell bead tip and use your flat nose pliers to close the clam shell part over the knot.

3. String on your first pearl (the bead shown is a gemstone bead). Make a knot above the bead and insert your needle tool into the opening of the knot. Use the needle tool to bring the knot down right next to the pearl.




4. When the knot is right next to the pearl, pull out the needle tool and use your fingernails (or a pair of tweezers) to tighten the knot against the pearl. Add another pearl, then make another knot and continue on and on until you finish the entire strand. If you find that the pearl has too small of a hole, you can use a bead reamer or small fine point file to make the hole larger.


5. After your last pearl, make another knot. Then string on another clam shell bead tip so that the opening faces away from the pearl. To make a knot inside the clam shell tip, use the needle tool in the knot to slide the knot down towards the bead tip, so that it is snug inside the bead tip which is flush against the last bead. Gently tighten the knot while pulling the excess, making sure it stays inside the clam shell bead tip and at the last moment before the knot is tight pull out the needle tool so that the knot is complete inside the clam shell part. Tug lightly to tighten the knot while using fingers or some tweezers to keep the knot in in place. Make a second knot on top of the first one.



6. Add a dab of glue to this knot and then close the clam shell part with your pliers. Trim off the excess cording.



7. Use the hooks on either end of the necklace to attach your clasp. Do this by putting the clasp on the loop of the bead tip, then use your pliers to bend the loop of the clam shell bead tip closed . Now your Necklace is done!

©Alicia G. - 2001

Ribbon and Bead NecklaceTutorial

Supplies:

Organdy Ribbon or ribbon of your choice (Do not get the kind with the wire in the sides)
Scissors
Jewelry Pliers
Wire Cutters
22 or 24 gauge wire (any color)
Pencil, small paint brush
Split rings or jump rings and clasp

Instructions:

1. Cut the ribbon to the desired length (add a few inches on either side to attach the clasp). Set ribbon aside.

2. To make your coils, take 20 or 22 gauge wire and wrap around a pencil about 5 times.

3. Use your jewelry pliers to make a loop at either end of the coil. Take a head pin and make a bead dangle by cutting the headpin about .5 inches longer than the length of the bead and making a coil with your pliers.

4. Attach these to either end of the coil. Make 4 more coils and bead dangles (or more if you wish). String them on the ribbon.

5. Using a large jump ring (or split ring as shown in the picture), tie the ribbon to the ring using a double knot.

6. Using a small paint brush handle, make another coil and add it to the ribbon. You can add it by wrapping it through the rings of the coil.

7. Take the top end of the wire and thread it through the ring, trim it, and tuck back inside the coil to secure it. Then twist the coil so that it tightens on the knot and the ribbon. Trim the bottom part and tuck back inside the coil.

8. Repeat for other side and attach clasp.

©Alicia G. - 2001