Make your own bridal jewelry

If you haven't found a necklace to wear on your wedding day that is high-quality, affordable, fits you perfectly, and matches your dress, why not make your own? This article gives instructions for making an elegant bead cluster necklace. Even if you've never made jewelry before, you will be able to follow these simple instructions and end up with a stunning piece of quality jewelry to wear at your wedding!


You will need the following supplies, all of which can be found at a bead shop, or in a bead catalog or online bead store. Craft stores in general will not carry all of these items. Please read through all of the instructions before you shop, so that you can decide exactly what you will need.


Beads:


-Seven to fifteen large beads (6-10 mm diameter). These can be pearls, crystals, semi-precious stones, or even pretty handmade glass beads.

-Fourteen to thirty medium beads (4-6 mm diameter). These can also be any of the above listed types; choose medium beads that complement rather than exactly match the large beads. Buy twice as many of these as the large beads.

-Fourteen to thirty small accent beads (2-3 mm diameter). These can be sterling silver or gold beads to match your ring, or tiny crystals. By the same number of these as the medium beads.

-One package seed beads. These tiny beads come in two basic shapes: rounded, which will have a "beaded" look when strung, or cylindrical, which will blend into a smooth "tube" of beads that looks very elegant.


Other supplies:


-Beading wire. Look for flexible, 49-strand coated.

-One clasp. Clasps come in silver, gold, plated, and base metal styles. For this project, look for a "lobster clasp." One side looks like a lobster's claw with a small hinge to open and close it. The other side is a matching ring.

-Two crimping beads. These tiny metal beads are used to close off the ends of the wire. For a few cents extra you can buy them in sterling silver or gold plate to coordinate with the rest of your design. (It's a good idea to buy a few extra of these; they are small and get lost easily, and mistakes can be made in crimping.)

-Needle-nose pliers or crimping pliers. Crimping pliers can be had for under ten dollars and will give the ends a more professional look. Otherwise, you can use regular needle-nose pliers from the hardware store.

-Sharp, heavy scissors or wire cutters.

-Measuring tape.

-Clean towel to lay your beads out on so that they will not roll away.


Directions:

1. Start by holding a piece of string around your neck to the desired length of your necklace. Mark the length with a marker on the string and measure it. This will be the length of your necklace.

2. When you purchase your beads, buy two medium and two small beads for every large bead. These will make the clusters, separated by lengths of seed beads. Keep in mind that if you want a short necklace, you will either need smaller beads or less beads than if you want a longer necklace. Bring a picture of your dress or a fabric swatch to the shop to help you match the beads to your dress.

3. Place the towel on your table and lay out the beads you purchased. Arrange them into groups of one large bead, two medium beads, and two small beads.

4. On a piece of wire at least two feet long, string one small bead, one medium bead, one large bead, one medium bead, and one small bead. This is one bead cluster.

5. Depending on the size of your beads and the length you want your necklace to be, string between one-half inch and one inch of seed beads. Count the number of seed beads you have just strung, and add the same number to the other end of the wire.

6. Center the large bead on the wire. Add a bead cluster to each side, then add the same number of seed beads you had previously strung. Continue adding clusters and seed beads to each side until you reach the desired length. Remember that the clasp will add one inch to the total.


*Note: you may find that you under- or overestimated the amount of seed beads you wanted strung between the clusters, or the number of clusters you want to use. This is why it is easiest to start from the center. You can always slide the beads off the wire and start over with that center cluster. And if the length is close, but you don't want to start over, you can "cheat" by adding or subtracting a few seed beads at each end without disturbing the overall look of the necklace.

7. When you are satisfied with your design, string a crimp bead onto each end. Slide one end of the wire through the hole on the lobster clasp, then string it back through the crimp bead (in the opposite direction as before). String the wire back through a few of the seed beads as well, and pull it so that the clasp is on a small loop of wire. Don't make it too tight; you want it to be somewhat flexible.

8. Using the pliers, smash the crimping bead to hold the wires together. If using crimping pliers, you will end up with a tight rounded cylinder; the needle-nose pliers will produce a flat crimp.

String the clasp ring on the other end of the necklace. Again, string the wire back through the crimping bead and through a few seed beads, and smash the crimp bead.

*Note: The second crimp is the hardest part. You want the loop to be small but not too tight; also, you want to allow some flexibility in the necklace. Adjust the beads on the wire so that a small amount of wire is showing at each end before you crimp it. It won't be visible when you wear it, because the curve of your neck will cause the beads to take up that space. Another way to accomplish this is to wrap the necklace around your hand or wrist a couple times and hold it like that while you smash the second crimp bead.

Congratulations! You now have a gorgeous, custom-made necklace to wear on your wedding day!