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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.
2: An assortment of beads. I used a random assortment of plastic, timber and glass beads.
3: A bunch of eye pins.
4: Two head pins.
5: A lobster clasp.
6: Two medium jump rings.
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.
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Half and Half for the best of both worlds? Here’s how to make a half bead half chain necklace!
This necklace is really cool! It is made using different materials for a half-half look. One side of the necklace is made with delicate chain while the other half features a rainbow of glass seed beads.
The Materials
You’ll need the following tools and materials to make your half and half necklace:
1: Pliers. I used my cutting pliers, round nose pliers and flat nose pliers.
2: A piece of tiger-tail wire.
3: Four crimp beads.
4: Three jump rings.
5: A lobster clasp.
6: Some chain. I used gold-tone rolo chain.
7: Beads. I used some mixed glass seed beads in different colors.
The steps
Follow these steps to make your half and half necklace:
1: Add two of the crimp beads and a jump ring to one end of the wire.
2: Fold the short end of the wire around it and back through the crimp beads.
3: Squash the crimp beads using the flat nose pliers.
4: Add beads and continue beading until you have a beaded section that is around half the length you want your necklace. I checked my length by measuring it against my neck, holding the secured end at the back of my neck and wrapping it loosely around the font of my neck.
5: Add two more crimp beads to the wire and a second jump ring.
6: Bend the wire around the jump ring and pull it tightly back through the crimps and a few of the beads.
7: Squash the crimp beads using the flat nose pliers again.
8: Trim the excess tiger tail wire using the cutting pliers.
9: Open a jump ring on one side of the beaded strand and attach one end of the chain.
10: Measure the chain so that it is the same length as the beaded strand and trim it.
11. Add the remaining jump ring to the other end of the chain, using it to secure the lobster clasp in place.
Now your half and half necklace is finished!
You can even add a charm to the middle to add some extra interest. I added this yellow clay and resin charm to mine.
This tutorial contains affiliate links.
