Bead & Wire Lariat

While flipping through a few fashion magazines, I noticed that some of the lariat designs available include a simple strand connected to a loop of some kind. I like this simple look. It has a kind of elegance about it. So that was the seed that planted my Wire & Bead Lariat design.

The key to this necklace is to make sure your teardrop on the end fits through the wire component you create. I dug through my miscellaneous beads and found a number of lonely teardrop beads that would be great for this necklace. The one I finally choose was about ¼ of an inch at its widest part. I recommend digging through your beads to see what teardrops you can find.

To make this necklace, you’ll need:

Your choice of teardrop bead
2 crimp beads (I prefer the tubes.)
seed beads (I used size 11.)
various accent beads in crystal and stone (I used Czech, moonstone, and goldstone.)
approx. 35 inches of .014 or .010 Soft Flex
5 inches of wire (I used 18 gauge copper.)
wire cutters
round nosed pliers
flat/bent nosed pliers
crimping pliers
jeweler’s files
ruler

I noted above the beads and wire I choose to use for the necklace pictured. However, you can use a variety of different beads and wire to create your own piece. This list is just a guide.

1. Start by creating the wire component piece first because you have to make sure the your teardrop bead will fit through the hole in your wire component.

2. Use round nosed pliers to make a loop on one end of the wire.

3. Measure about an inch from the loop and make another loop.

4. Again, measure about an inch from the loop and make another loop.

5. Now cross the end of the wire and the first loop.

6. Wrap the wire around the first loop part, and trim excess wire.

7. File area smooth, and double check that your teardrop fits through the hole.

8. Now you are ready to make the beaded part of the necklace. Start this by cutting about 35 inches of beading wire. I’m sure you could also use nylon cording. You just need to make sure it is thin enough to go through your beads.

9. Make a small loop on one end of the beading wire, and use crimping pliers and a crimp bead to close up the loop. This will be attached to the wire component created earlier.

10. Now string on all your beads in the whatever design you’d like.

11. The last bead you string on should be your teardrop and one seed bead.

12. Skip the last seed bead, and insert the end of your beading wire back through the end of the teardrop.

13. Bring the wire up through the top of the teardrop, and tie an over hand knot.

14. Thread more of the beading wire up through more beads above the teardrop, and then trim off excess.

15. Adjust your beads so that they cover the knot you created above the teardrop.

I hope you get a chance to make this piece. The hardest part is the wire piece because you have to adjust the size depending on your teardrop bead. I had to make about 3 until I got one I was happy with. If you don’t feel like making the wire piece, you might consider using the round part of a toggle clasp as your component.

All graphics created by Tammy Powley.