Ladder Necklace

I had a request to create a ladder necklace. I thought about it for awhile and decided to design a choker style ladder necklace since chokers are so popular right now. This design combines the ladder stitch and brick stitch along with a little wire and chain. I also added a unicorn crystal charm to accent it. You can add a metal charm or a lamp work bead would also look nice.

You’ll need:
120 - ½" bugle beads
5" of chain
approx. 4" of wire
1 head pin
2 crystal beads
1 crystal pendant
2 colors of seed beads - size 11 (only a few grams)
needle and thread
scissors
round nose pliers
wire cutters
files

1. First, you need to make your wire hook. You can make a simple hook as described previously in my hook and eye project or make a hook and wrap the wire around itself as I did here. Set the hook aside for later.

2. Using the bugle beads, use the ladder stitch to make a long ladder at least 10 inches long.

3. Next decide which color of seed beads you want to be the border color (we’ll call it bead A) and use these to brick stitch down one side of the ladder. The other color will go in the center of the necklace (we’ll call it bead B).

4. When you’ve reached the end, flip the ladder so the side not brick stitched yet is up and string on 4 seed beads, the hook, and 4 more seed beads.

5. Insert the needle down through the first bugle bead and up through the next. This will make a loop on one end of your ladder.

6. Brick stitch down the other side of the ladder.

7. Add on 4 seed beads, the last loop of your chain, and 4 seed beads.

8. Insert the needle up through the last bugle bead to make your other loop. Tie an over hand knot and go back through a few bugle beads before clipping off the thread.

9. Now you’re ready to do the middle part of the necklace. Fold the necklace in half to find the center easily and count out six seed beads. Thread your needle back in so it comes out of this bead.

10. Now, use brick and make your first row using the following number and color of beads: 1 A bead ; 9 B beads; 1 B bead. Flip the piece around to start the next row.

11. Continue brick and let the piece naturally decrease to create the triangle. You will keep using color A bead as the first and last bead of each row and the B bead will be in between.

12. After you’ve made 9 rows in the triangle, you have two more rows to go. Use color A bead only for these last two rows. You will end with the thread coming out of the last bead. Set your necklace aside in order to make the dangle.

13. Use a few inches of wire to create your dangle for the middle of the necklace. You can use whatever you have available. For this piece, I used a vintage German pink crystal bead and a crystal unicorn crystal charm along with 22 gage, round, red wire. Use the bead and chain technique and your round nosed and flat nosed pliers to make this dangle.

14. Now, go back to the beaded piece and add on 3 A beads, your dangle, and 3 more A beads.

15. Thread the needle back up through the triangle. Tie an over hand knot. Thread through a few more beads and clip off.

16. For one final touch, use another crystal bead and head pin and add to the end of the chain.

There are a lot of variations you could do with this basic design. I hope you get a chance to make one and add your own touches.

Click here for a printer friendly version of this file.

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