necklace on bead board

How to make a necklace

Tuesday, 1 April 2025 2:14 PM

How to make a necklace

(using tiger-tail, crimps and clasps)


At the String of Beads Parties - jewellery making birthday parties, we often make necklaces as one of the projects. It's a great fun project and the boys & girls both love making this project at our parties & at the school holiday incursions I run.
I've got some DIY kits for sale on my website, and these are the instructions that I provide with the packs. These instructions can be used if you've got your own materials though - you don't need to buy a kit! :)


Tools you need:

* pliers - flat nose

* tigertail thread (provided in kit)

* crimps (provided in kit)

* clasp (provided in kit)

* closed jump ring (provided in kit)

* beads (provided in kit) 

* charm  (provided in kit)

* Charm barrel & open jump ring (provided in kit)

* hand towel or necklace sign board


Instructions:

  1. Empty beads onto a hand towel to stop the beads from rolling away (leave the thread, crimps & jump ring in their little packet for now)
  2. Arrange your beads on the towel (or bead design board) with the charm in the middle and the beads in whatever pattern you like on either side of the charm.
  3. Make sure you put matching numbers of beads on each side - we like it symmetrical (same on both sides)
  4. When you've got your beads how you want them, then start threading onto the tiger-tail wire from one end of your beads
    - this is to make sure that the charm is in the 'middle' when they're all threaded
    - you'll notice that I've already attached the 'parrot clasp' to one end of the wire for you (if you need instructions for attaching a parrot clasp, then check out my other tutorial 'How to attach a clasp using a crimp')
  5. When you've got all your beads on the thread make sure it's even
  6. Now is when you need your crimp & jump ring & pliers
  7. After the last bead put on your crimp
  8. Thread the wire through the jump ring & back down through the crimp

9. Thread the end of the wire through the last couple of beads you put on & pull the end of the wire to take up the excess string on your necklace (ask a parent for help if you need it with this part)

10. This is where we need our pliers - we use them to squish the crimp bead to make it totally flat (this is what holds the wire together so the necklace doesn't come undone!)

11. Snip off the excess wire using a pair of sharp scissors

12. You're all done & have a beautiful handmade necklace!!!


If you have any questions, please contact Danielle from 

String of Beads Parties on info@stringofbeads.com.au

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