Beaded Pearl Necklace Tutorial
Here is where you'll learn how to make your beaded Pearl necklace. If you want to download these instructions, click HERE, it is very useful to have them printed out while watching the videos.
Practice Videos
Tools Needed: Size D Thread, Pearl Strand, Large Filigree Clasp, Needle, French Wire, Scissors, Clippers, Glue, Tape Measure.
Your Beaded Pearl Necklace can be made up to 18 inches long.
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1. Measure out 120 inches of your size D thread.
2. Hand stretch the length of your thread. Wrap the length of thread around both of your hands and gently tug them away from each other - covering the whole length of the thread. (Video Minute Mark 0.04)
3. Run one end of your thread through the eye of the needle, allowing yourself a tail of 6 inches. (Video Minute Mark 0.23)
4. Use your scissors to cut a piece of your French Wire that is approximately 1/4 inch long. The French Wire serves to protect the end of the thread. Slide that over the needle and the thread to middle of the thread. You can find the middle with your tape measure or by folding in half. It may be easier to remove the thread from the needle to do this. (Video Minute Mark 0.37)
5. Add the first half of the clasp in the above manner, adding your needle back if necessary, and sliding it so that it sits in the middle of the french wire. (Video Minute Mark 1.20)
6. Making sure not to move the French Wire from its position at the midpoint of the thread, slide both ends of the thread through the eye of the needle. One end may still be in the eye, and you now can add the second, or you may need to add both back. Give yourself a tail of 6 inches. (Video Minute Mark 1.59)
7. Slide on your first five Pearls through the needle and onto the thread, and pull them down to the French Wire and first end of your clasp. You can choose to add the rest of your Pearls now, or wait until you have knotted the first few to do so. For both options, leave out two Pearls. These will be added back later. (Video Minute Mark 2.10)
8. Separate your first and second Pearls, and begin knotting as was done in the practice video. Make sure you have watched our
Practice Videos to see our Loop, Tuck, Slide, Hold and Pull hand motion.
(Video Minute Mark 3.39)
Here is a very detailed breakdown of the exact hand motion you will use:
8-1. First - separate the first bead from the second bead and the rest of the strand. We recommend using a distance of 4-5 inches between beads to start.
8-2. Hold the first bead in your non-dominant hand, and the rest of the strand with your dominant hand.
8-3. With your dominant hand, make a loop between your non-dominant index finger and thumb - go between your index and middle finger first, then loop back over your thumb. The thumb serves to open up the loop. The thread you are holding in your dominant hand should be on top, and the beginning thread and bead you are holding in your non-dominant hand should be in the back.
8-4. Take your first bead with your dominant hand and tuck it into that loop. You have created your knot! Keep it steady against your first bead by using tension between both hands. This might take practice. Remove your thumb from the loop.
8-5. You can use your non-dominant thumb and middle finger to hold the knot against the first bead. Eventually you might not need to do this.
8-6. Slide down the next bead with your dominant hand until it is snug up against your knot.
8-7. Grab the first two beads with your non-dominant thumb and middle finger
Remove your non-dominant index finger from the loop.
8-8. Pull the length of thread through the second bead with your dominant hand. You’ve made a secure and tight knot!
9. If you have only added your first few Pearls, knot between all of them, then add all but two of your remaining Pearls. If you have already added the rest of your strand, continue knotting the rest of it. If you are aiming to make your strand an exact length, measure as you go, and you may need to remove beads at the end. Don't forget that the clasp will add some length at the end, and that we will be adding two final Pearls at the end. (Video Minute Mark 5.10)
10. Knot up until you have reached the last Pearl on your strand, or until you've reached your desired length (while allowing for the length of the clasp and two more beads). Remove one end of thread from the eye of the needle. This thread should still be inside of the last Pearl on your strand. Trim this tail to a length of one inch if it is in your way. (Video Minute Mark 5.52)
11. Add your last two Pearls back on through the end that is still strung through the needle, sliding them all the way down to the last bead that has the tail sticking out. Alternatively, If you decided to remove beads to make a shorter strand, you can just remove the one end of thread from these two last Pearls, instead of adding them back to the length of thread that is still attached to the needle. (Video Minute Mark 6.25)
12. Cut a piece of the French Wire that is approximately 1/4 of an inch, and slide that over the needle and onto the thread, again, going all the way down up against the very last Pearl. (Video Minute Mark 6.55)
13. Add the other end of the clasp in the same manner, sliding that over the French Wire. (Video Minute Mark 7.23)
14. Take the needle and pull the thread all the way through the last Pearl, creating a loop of French Wire around the clasp. Hold the last three Pearls together and next to each other in your non-dominant hand between your thumb and index/middle fingers to hold them steady. (Video Minute Mark 7.48)
15. Ensure there is only a small amount of space - approximately equal to the size of the previous knots between the final Pearls. (Video Minute Mark 8.05)
16. Still holding the last Pearls in your non-dominant hand, make a knot between the last and second to last Pearls with your dominant hand by making a loop around your non-dominant index and middle fingers between two Pearls. Wrap your needle underneath your loop and pull the thread through, making a taught and tight knot. (Video Minute Mark 8.23)
17. Put the needle through the second to last Pearl and repeat the knotting motion you just made. (Video Minute Mark 8.55)
18. Still heading away from the clasp, slide the needle through the third from last Pearl - this one will have a tail sticking out of it so be careful to avoid all the thread when sliding the needle through this bead. (Video Minute Mark 9.50)
19. Pull the thread fully through this third Pearl. Your necklace is now fully strung. (Video Minute Mark 9.56)
20. Use your GS Hypo Cement to dab small amounts of glue on the edges of the thread and inside of the third Pearl, from both directions. (Video Minute Mark 10.32)
21. Allow to dry - we recommend at least 20 minutes. (Video Minute Mark 11.00)
22. Trim the tails off with your scissors or clippers. (Video Minute Mark 11.04)
23. You're done! Now you can wear your necklace and make more!
