Making jewelry is fun and rewarding

Katherine Klingseis
August 2, 2011

Making jewelry is one of the most rewarding crafts you can do. When you finish making your jewelry, you can either keep it for yourself or give it to someone as a gift. Regardless of who ends up with the final product, jewelry making is a lot of fun. Here is a list of materials and a set of instructions to help you make your own necklace:

Materials:

  1. Beads
  2. Beading thread
  3. Needle
  4. Clasp
  5. Pliers
  6. Nail polish
Directions:
1. Buy supplies
First, decide what you want your necklace to look like. If you are making the necklace for yourself, you can pick any beads you like. If you are making the necklace for someone else, you should take that person’s tastes and interests into account. For example, choose beads that are that person’s favorite color or charms that represent activities and objects that that person is interested in. You will also need to buy beading thread, a needle, a clasp, pliers and clear nail polish. 
2. Decide length of necklace
Necklaces come in a variety of lengths. If you want to make a choker necklace, the length of your beading thread should be between 10 and 13 inches. Most necklaces range between 17 and 20 inches in length. Determine your ideal necklace size and cut your beading thread accordingly. 
Additional tip: Everyone has a different-sized neck. In order to make the best-fitting necklace, measure the neck of whoever will wear the necklace. 
3. Prepare your thread
After cutting your thread, you need to take your clasp and tie your thread to one end of your clasp. To secure the knot, dab a bit of clear nail polish on the knot. 
4. Thread your beads
Once your clasp is secure, begin threading your beads. If you decide to have a pattern, make sure to keep track of it as you thread your beads.
5. Finish your necklace
If you are satisfied with the placement of your beads, your next step is to tie the other end of your beading thread to the other side of your clasp. Using a needle, thread your beading thread through the clasp and begin to tie a knot. Before pulling the knot tight, place another needle in the open space created when you began tying your knot. As you pull the second needle near your last bead, begin tighten the knot by pulling the first needle away from the last bead. Essentially, you want to make the knot the closest it can be to your last bead. Once you accomplish this, pull the second needle out, and pull the knot tight. Use nail polish again to secure the knot, and cut off any excess thread. 
6. Wear your necklace or give it to someone else
Once you finish your necklace, you can immediately put it on. If you made it for someone else, you can put the necklace in a nice gift box and give it to him or her.