Yoga Necklace - Page 2
7. Now thread on enough beads to make a loop around your 8mm bead on the other end of your toggle clasp that you are creating. This may vary depending on the seed beads you use. I used 15 in my loop.
8. Using the same technique as in my Fringe 101 Earrings, bring the needle down through the next seed bead in the row to make a loop. You’ll notice in my necklace pictured, I made a loop ending with one bead at the top. However, if I had it to do over again, I would make the loop as I did in the earring project because I think it looks better and is stronger.
9. To reinforce the loop, go back through the loop a few times, make a tiny over hand knot and hide in your beads, and trim off thread. You now have two "ends" to work with to construct the necklace.
10. Now, go back to the thread coming out of your first end made in steps 1 - 5, and start stringing on your seed beads and accent beads randomly so you have an inch or so of seed beads, an accent bead, a few more seed beads, an accent beads…until you have about 15 inches of beads strung.
11. Now thread the needle through the corresponding rung of the ladder on the other end.
12. Bring the needle back down through the next rung of the ladder, and if you have enough thread, string up your next strand of beads. You may need to finish off your thread and start with a fresh one. Continue the same kind of bead design as before mixing seed beads with accent beads.
13. Once you get 15 inches of beads on your second strand, insert the needle into the corresponding rung of the opposite end of your necklace.
14. Continue this process of adding strands and moving back and forth between the two ends until you have completed nine strands.
This project is not real difficult, but it does take some time to put together. However, I think the results are worth the time. You can either wear the necklace loose as pictured above, or you can twist the strands for a different look. I used nine strands in this necklace, but you could make it with fewer strands if you choose. Just make sure that you have an odd number of strands as the brick stitch ends must be constructed with an odd number of beads.
Here's a printer friendly copy of this file.
Sign up for the weekly Jewelry Making Newsletter and
find out about new additions to this site each week.
Chat with other jewelry makers in our chat room.
All graphics created by Tammy Powley.
Previous
Features
