Let's Make a Necklace!

Some of you may know (most of you may not) that I have tried my hand at MANY different crafts - from painting and drawing to cross-stitch and clay. As it stands now, I have settled on stamping/card-making, scrapbooking, and jewelry-making. So since I've already shared card and scrapbooking techniques, I think it's high time we tried some jewelry!

Today I will be showing you how to make a hematite necklace (and show an alternate at the end). All of the following supplies were purchased at Michael's, but I'm sure could be found at other locations. Here's what you'll need:

Beadalon Supplemax Soft Illusion Cord/Clear .012 in/.30mm/12 lb. (or equvalent)
62 hematite 4x4mm cubes
4 hematite 13mm diamonds
4 multi pearls 6mm round real fresh water pearls
3 silver metal spacer beads
8 silver jump rings
2 silver closed jump rings
1 lobster-claw clasp
2 round crimp beads - size 3
2 cylindrical crimp beads - size 1
(Tools: 2 pair needle-nose pliers, crimping tool, scissors)

Step 1: Thread 31 hematite cubes onto the cord.

Step 2: Thread cord through one side of a hematite diamond, then through a pearl, then through the other side of the diamond, so the pearl ends up in the center of the diamond. Thread on one silver spacer bead. Repeat this step 3 more times until four diamonds and pearls have been added. Leave the spacer bead off the end of the fourth diamond.

Step 3: Thread 31 remaining cubes onto the cord. Leave about 2.5" of cord free at the end. Cut the other end of the cord off the roll with 2.5" of cord free at that end as well.

Step 4: Open a jump ring by holding it between two pair of pliers, with the opening facing up and in the center, and twisting one hand toward you and one hand away from you. You don't want to pull the ends apart to the left and right because that will weaken the metal.

Step 5: Loop 2 jump rings onto the one you opened. Close the jump ring the same way you opened it. Repeat steps 4 & 5, attaching four more jump rings and then a CLOSED jump ring to the three you already have, until you have a chain of eight rings - making sure the close ring is at the end.

Step 6: As in step 4, open and attach a chain of two jump rings to the lobster claw clasp, making sure the ring farthest from the clasp is a CLOSED jump ring. Onto one end of the free cord, thread a round crimp bead, a cylindrical crimp bead, and the closed jump ring (the one with the clasp at the other end).

Steps 7 & 8: Take the end of the cord and thread it through the crimp beads and through one of the hematite cubes. The second image shows the cord thread through the first crimp bead. Making sure the other end of the necklace cord is secured, pull the end of the cord snugly through the crimp beads and cube until the closed jump ring comes up against the first crimp bead.

Step 9: Using a crimping tool, crimp the first (cylindrical) crimp bead to secure the cord (refer to crimping tool directions for details on how to use). Trim excess cord from under the cube bead.

Step 10: Repeat steps 6-9 with the other end of the cord and the chain of jump rings, making sure the cord is thread through the CLOSED jump ring on the end.

Now you've created a gorgeous hematite necklace (hematite is my favorite)!

You could easily adjust the length (this creates a 15" - 16.25" necklace) or the type of beads, or the number of focal beads (use 3 diamonds instead of four). I made this second necklace by using 5mm hematite rondelles, 12mm hematite loops, and 6mm round turquoise stone beads:

One thing to note - always hold the unfinished/uncrimped necklace up to your neck BEFORE crimping it to make sure it is the length you want and it lays the way you want it to. You may want to add more beads or take some out - and that is MUCH harder to do once you've finished it!

I hope you have enjoyed this post, and I hope you decide to try your hand at jewelry-making! You may find that it's your new favorite hobby! Have fun!