Here’s how to make a bead chain lariat

Bead chains are pretty cool, and a fun way to use any random beads you have lying around. I recently made this kitschy hodgepodge lariat necklace using the bead chain technique. This tutorial features affiliate links.

Here are the tools and materials you need to make your bead chain lariat:

1: Pliers. I used by round nose and flat nose pliers for this design.

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2: An assortment of beads. I used a random assortment of plastic, timber and glass beads.

3: A bunch of eye pins.

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4: Two head pins.

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5: A lobster clasp.

6: Two medium jump rings.

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7: Two smaller jump rings.

Follow these steps to make your bead chain lariat:

1: Add some feature beads to one of the head pins. I used this silver plastic heart bead and some glass seed beads.

2: Bend the pin at a right angle and use the round nose pliers to form the top into a loop.

3: Set this pin aside.

4: Begin adding beads to the eye pins.

5: Once each pin is beaded, bend the top to form a loop using round nose pliers. This will secure the beads in place.

6: Repeat this step for the other pins, attaching the pins together by opening one of the loops and sliding it through another to form the chain.

7: Once you have a chain long enough to fit your neck, attach the two ends together using one of the larger jump rings.

8: Create a few extra links and attach them to the middle of the necklace, finishing with the first head pin you beaded.

9: Split the top of the chain opposite the lariat chain you just attached.

10: Attach the clasp to the chain using one of the smaller jump rings and add another jump ring to the other side.

11: Bead the other head pin, looping it at the top as you did the others. Attach this pin to the chain behind the clasp using the other larger jump ring.

Now your necklace is finished! So fun!

This tutorial contains affiliate links.