Don't pay over $100 for a trendy "Y" necklace (commonly referred to as a "lariat" necklace) from a department store, when you can make a sophisticated sterling silver one for under $10. With instructions from beader and author Wendy Simpson Conner, you'll have a lovely, personalized, and inexpensive necklace in no time.
Materials:
16 inches of sterling silver chain (may be shortened to desired length)
4 silver eye pins and one head pin, or a length of 22 gauge silver wire
4, 5mm crystal diamond-shaped beads, and one 14x10mm teardrop shape
sterling jump ring
needle-nose pliers and wire cutter
necklace clasp
Steps:
- Loop one of the eye pins or wire through the end link of the chain. If you are using wire, insert it through the link, and use pliers to create a loop to attach it to the link. Slide a diamond-shaped crystal onto the pin or wire (figure A). Cut the pin or wire 1/2" from the crystal.
- Thread the pin or wire through other end of the chain. Again use pliers to create and then close a loop on the end link (figure B).
- Cut the chain about 2" away from the crystal and repeat the process. Do this until all four of the crystals are threaded on the chain.
- Lay the chain on a table and determine where the back clasp will be. Cut off 1" on both sides of this mark to produce a 2" chain. This piece will later hold the teardrop bead on the front of the necklace (figure C).
- Cut the chain at the midpoint between crystals 2 and 3. With pliers, attach the jump ring to re-connect these newly cut pieces of chain.
- Add the leftover 2" chain to the jump ring to form the "Y" shape and close the ring.
- Slide teardrop-shaped bead onto head pin.
- Thread headpin through last link of 2" piece, cut the pin 1/2" from the crystal, and form a loop to secure the pin on the chain.
- Add clasp in the back.
Notes from Conner:
- You'll need a chain that's easy to work with and that can easily accommodate the wire or pins.
- The action of using the pliers is like flipping a flapjack. Start with your palm up, and turn your wrist all the way over. Bring the end of the wire around until it makes a circle loop and touches the wire.
- To open the jump rings, don't pull them apart. It's easier to open them side to side.
- Be sure to close loops all the way.
- Tailor your necklace design by adding different sizes and chain styles.
Beading Terminology
jump ring: circle of wire used to join chain links
eye pin: straight pin that has a loop at one end
head pin: straight pin with a head at one end
Resources Bead and Button magazine
Beads and Beyond publication
This is a quarterly publication free of charge.
Beads and Beyond
25 102nd Ave. NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: 425-462-8992
Email:
bohemianbuttons@msn.com
The Best Little Beading Book and The Beaded Lampshade Book
by Wendy Simpson Conner (ISBN: 0964595702, 0964595710 )
The Interstellar Publishing Co /Interstellar Trading and Publishing Company
Los Angeles, CA
US
Phone: 310-247-8154
Toll Free Phone: 800-790-8730
Email:
interstlr@aol.com
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