1. Easy
  2. Calendar project 6 steps

Miracle bead cluster

Curled headpins give this colourful set a contemporary look. By Gemma Gray, Beads Unlimited

Gemma is inspired by everything around her, from colour and form to the materials she uses, and by using many traditional techniques with contemporary ideas she creates jewellery with her individual style.

Shades of pinks, blues, purples and white are combined in different sizes on curled headpins and threaded onto trace chain to create a tactile set. Make in your favourite colour ways to add your own twist or to match your favourite outfit.

Designer Tips


  • Keep the coils as even as possible for a neat finish, practice on a few spare headpins if necessary
  • Add more large beads to the set to create a bolder look
  • For a jewellery set to party in, use two contrasting colours to really stand out

MATERIALS

  • 1m x trace chain silver plated (CHTRSP)
  • 1 x trigger clasp silver plated (TRGSP)
  • 1 packet of 25 5mm jumprings silver plated (JR5SP)
  • 2 x 100 headpins silver plated (HPSP)
  • 1 x 100 plain cups silver plated (PCSSP)
  • 1 packet of 6 long ballwire silver plated (LBWSP)
  • 4mm miracle beads: 6 x pearl (PLBF0402), 14 x turquoise (PLBF0418), 9 x violet (PLBF0424), 9 x royal blue (PLBF0417), 9 x cerise (PLBF0412), 8 x dusty pink (PLBF0422)
  • 6mm miracle beads: 6 x pearl (PLBF0602), 3 x turquoise (PLBF0618), 3 x violet (PLBF0624), 9 x royal blue (PLBF0617), 9 x cerise (PLBF0612), 2 x dusty pink (PLBF0622)
  • 8mm miracle beads: 6 x pearl (PLBF0802), 4 x turquoise (PLBF0818), 2 x violet (PLBF0824), 6 x royal blue (PLBF0817), 7 x cerise (PLBF0812), 4 x dusty pink (PLBF0822)
  • 12mm miracle beads: 2 x pearl (PLBF1202), 5 x turquoise (PLBF1218), 1 x royal blue (PLBF1217), 1 x cerise (PLBF1212), 1 x soft pink (PLBF1222), 3 x violet (PLBF1224)
  • 14mm miracle beads: 2 x pearl (PLBF1402), 1 x turquoise (PLBF1418), 1 x cerise (PLBF1412), 1 x soft pink (PLBF1422), 2 x violet (PLBF1424)
  • 1 pair of craft multi pliers (CRMT)

Step 1

Thread a 4mm bead onto a headpin, curl the headpin around the middle of the round nosed section of the multi pliers from the end until you reach the bead. (You need to be able to thread the chain through the loop). Repeat for all of the 4mm, 6mm and 8mm beads.

Step 2

Thread a cup onto a headpin followed by a 12mm bead and another cup. Curl the headpin in the same way. Repeat for all of the 12mm and 14mm miracle beads. (Place two sets of five beads of your choice aside for the earrings).

Step 3

Measure and cut 36cm of trace chain. Using the round nosed section of the multi pliers open a 5mm jumpring and attach to one end of the chain.

Step 4

Lay all of your beaded headpins out in a line, starting with the smallest at the ends and the largest in the middle, mix a few 8mm in between the largest beads to create a clustered effect. Reduce the size to the smallest with the colours all mixed up. Where the different sizes meet you can mix a few sizes so that the necklace isn’t too regimented, but still symmetrical.

Step 5

Thread the beads onto the chain in the order that you have laid them on the table. It should form a graduated shape, from larger in the middle to smaller toward the clasp.

Step 6

Open a 5mm jumpring, attach a trigger clasp and join to the last link of the chain, close the jumpring.

Extra project

To make the earrings, cut a 7cm length of chain, thread one set of five beads that you saved from earlier, attach a jumpring to both ends of chain and a long ballwire. Close the jumpring. Repeat to make a pair.

Resources:

www.beadsunlimited.co.uk
We have included the Beads Unlimited codes in the materials needed list to make it easy to order the items from them. Please request a free Project Sheet from Beads Unlimited when you place your order with them, quote code GMCCALAP. Or buy everything you need with one click at: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/home/projects.php