Small Beaded Gem Necklace Tutorial
Here is where you'll learn how to make your small beaded necklace. This necklace is not knotted all the way through, we only use 4-5 knots at each end to secure it. 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, Small Gem Strand, Jump Ring and Small Lobster Clasp, Needle, French Wire, Scissors, Clippers, Glue, Tape Measure.
Your Small Beaded Necklace can be made up to 16 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. Slide the needle to the middle of the thread. You can use your measuring tape to confirm this or fold the string in half to find the midpoint. (Video Minute Mark 0.38)
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 the new midpoint of the needle and the other end of thread.
(Video Minute Mark 0.52)
5. Add your jump ring in the same manner.
(Video Minute Mark 1.12)
6. Making sure not to move the French Wire from its position at the midpoint of the thread, take the two ends of your thread and loop them back through the eye of the needle, leaving a tail of 6 inches. While the French Wire is no longer the exact midpoint given this tail - the 120 inches we had you measure out allows for this. (Video Minute Mark 2.04)
7. Slide on your first five beads through the needle and onto the thread, and pull them down to the French Wire and jump ring.
(Video Minute Mark 2.35)
8. Separate your first and second beads, 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 3.40)
Here is a very detailed breakdown of the exact hand motion you will use:
8-1. 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.
8-9. You’ve made a secure and tight knot!
9. Make a total of four knots between the first five beads. (Video Minute Mark 3.53)
10. Add all but two of the rest of your beads. If you are aiming to get your necklace to be exactly 16" or shorter, you will want to use your measuring tape to confirm the length and see if you need to remove beads. (Video Minute Mark 5.06)
11. Separate the last three beads that are still on your strand from the others, and start making your end knots. This will be done in the same manner as before by first creating a loop that you tuck your earlier beads through, however since you have many more beads now on this end of your necklace, it may feel more awkward in your hand. The first knot will be between the fourth from last and third from last beads. Make three total knots. You now should have one bead remaining after your the third knot. (Video Minute Mark 5.15)
12. Remove the two loose tails of thread from the eye of your needle. Trim these down to an inch long. These two threads should still be inside of the last bead on your strand, and then the tails will be sticking out from that last bead still on the strand. (Video Minute Mark 7.04)
13. Add your final two beads through the needle, sliding them all the way down to the last bead that has the tail sticking out. (Video Minute Mark 7.15)
14. 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 bead. (Video Minute Mark 7.53)
15. Add the clasp in the same manner, sliding that over the French Wire. (Video Minute Mark 8.24)
16. Take the needle and pull the thread all the way through the last bead, creating a loop of French Wire around the clasp. Hold the last three beads 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 8.45)
17. Ensure there is only a small amount of space - approximately equal to the size of the previous knots - between the final beads. (Video Minute Mark 9.05)
18. Still holding the last beads in your non-dominant hand, make a knot between the last and second to last beads with your dominant hand- by making a loop that goes between two beads and around your non-dominant index and middle fingers. Wrap your needle underneath your loop and pull the thread through, making a taught and tight knot. (Video Minute Mark 9.22)
19. Put the needle through the second to last bead and repeat the knotting motion you just made. (Video Minute Mark 9.46)
20. Heading away from the clasp, slide the needle through the third from last bead - this one will have tails sticking out of it so be careful to avoid all the thread when sliding the needle through this bead. (Video Minute Mark 10.35)
21. Pull the thread all the way through this bead. Your necklace is now fully strung! (Video Minute Mark 10.45)
22. Use your GS Hypo Cement to dab small amounts of glue on the edges of the thread and inside of the third bead, from both directions. (Video Minute Mark 11.01)
23. Allow to dry - we recommend at least 20 minutes. (Video Minute Mark 12.15)
24. Trim the tails off with your scissors or clippers. (Video Minute Mark 12.22)
25. You're done! Now you can wear your necklace and make more!
