1. Easy
  2. Calendar project 6 steps

Wire and pearl necklace

Create this stunning necklace from the cover of our 2010 calendar
by Beads Unlimited

Gemma Gray has been working for Beads Unlimited for nearly 3 years. She originally joined us as a mail order assistant, until we discovered her talent for designing jewellery. Since joining our in house design team she has created some of our best sellers and is never short of new ideas. Gemma’s designs are tasteful and classy and she can design for any occasion.

This pearly necklace is guaranteed to brighten up an otherwise gloomy January. It was inspired by the spirograph, you probably remember this famous geometric drawing toy from your childhood. Mixing chunky pearls and light wire gives it an effective contrast. It is an easy and fun design to make and works really well with a low cut top or dress so you can see the full effect of the wire loops. Make sure you try it in different colours for a summer look too. You can even try it with contrasting colour wire to really make it stand out. The wirework is an excellent way to make otherwise simple beads really shine to their full potential.

Designer Tips


  • Choose your thirteen beads ranging evenly in size for the top section before you start, to speed up the making process
  • When you are squeezing your crimps, make sure you use the flat part of the multi pliers and squeeze them all at the same angle
  • Measure your loops as you make them so that they are all symmetrical

MATERIALS

  • High quality glass pearl mix silver (GLXHP31 x 100g)
  • 14mm round pearl magenta (GLHP14-12 x 4)
  • 12mm round pearl magenta (GLHP12-12 x 3)
  • Plastic coated wire black coloured (PCW01 x 10m)
  • 2mm crimp silver plated (CRSP x 3 retail packs)
  • 3mm crimp cover silver plated (CRC3SP x 3 retail packs)
  • Large bolt ring silver plated (BRLSP x 1 retail pack)
  • Multipliers (PRMT x 1)

Step 1

Using the cutting part of your pliers, cut one 1m length and one 2m length of plastic coated wire. Take your 2m length of wire, measure 11cm from the end, add a crimp. With the flat part of your pliers, squeeze the crimp. Thread on a bead approximately 8mm, followed by crimp (don’t squeeze this one yet).

Step 2

Thread the 2m length of plastic coated wire back through the crimp to create a loop. Your first loop should measure approximately 1.5cm in diameter. Hold your pliers parallel to the table, and squeeze the crimp, so that the crimp lies at the same angle as the loop.

Step 3

Thread on a bead that is slightly larger than the previous bead. Thread on a crimp, thread the wire back through, making a loop that is slightly larger than the first. Squeeze the crimp. Add a crimp cover to join loops together. Add beads making the loops larger to the centre. Reduce until the end loop is the same size as the first. Add one bead, a crimp and squeeze.

Step 4

Take your 1m length, add a couple of the smallest beads from your mix so that they fit snugly in the loop. Weave the 1m wire underneath the right-hand side of the first loop, and over the left-hand side, add a few more beads so that they fit snugly in the next loop. Repeat this all along the looped section.

Step 5

Measure 10cm along the looped wire from the first crimp, cut. On the straight wire, measure 12cm from the first crimp, cut. Repeat for other side. Take one end of your necklace, thread a crimp onto both pieces of wire, leave 1cm of the longer length and squeeze the crimp.

Step 6

With the longer length, thread on a crimp, then the bolt ring, thread it back through the crimp and squeeze with pliers. Repeat this to add you bolt ring tag. To give your necklace a more professional finish, cover the crimps at the end of your necklace with crimp covers.

Resources:

Website: www.beadsunlimited.co.uk
Tel: 01273740777