How to Make a Focal Bead Necklace

A couple of weeks ago I showed you how to design a memory wire bracelet with a focal bead.  This week, I’m making a matching necklace.

This necklace uses this stunning combination of acrylic purple AB bicones and hematite bicones. I really love this combination – the purple bicones sparkle in the light and the grey of the hematite seems to ground them.

Materials

Here’s what you’ll need to make this focal bead necklace:

• ‍20x15x8mm Flat Oval Faceted Glass Bead x1 ‍
• 10mm Purple Chinese Crystal Faceted Glass Beads x5‍
• 6mm Hematite Bicone x31‍
• 6mm Purple AB Acrylic Bicone x31
• 11x8x6mm Barrel Bead x1
• 10mm Toggle Clasp Twisted x1
• 1.5mm Black Crimp Beads x2‍
• Black Carlotte Clamps x2‍
• Tiger Tail x60cm‍
• 20 Gauge Silver Wire x 15cm‍
• 5cm Headpin x1

Tools

• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Flush cutters
• Bead stopper (optional)

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below.

Step 1

Make the Dangle

Onto the head pin, thread an acrylic then a hematite bicone.

Make a loop in the end of the wire close to the hematite bicone.

If you’ve never made a loop before watch this video – it will show you everything you need to know.

Step 2

The Focal Bead

Make a loop in one end of the 20 gauge wire.  

Thread on one of the 10mm purple beads, then the Flat Oval Glass Bead. Make a loop in the other end of the wire.

Open the loop on the top of the dangle and attach the it to the bottom of the component you have just made. Close the loop.  Check that both loops are well closed.

Step 3

Attach the Barrel Bead

Open the loop at the top of the focal component and attach the barrel bead.  Close the loop ensuring that there’s no gap.

Step 4

Thread the Necklace

Thread the barrel bead onto the Tiger Tail.

Next add two of the 10mm purple beads on either side of the barrel bead. Place the beads close to the centre of the Tiger Tail.

On each side, thread on one acrylic bicone and one hematite bicone.  Repeat this pattern until you have 15 of each bead on each side.

Step 5

Attach the Clasp

If you are using a bead stopper place it on one end of the Tiger Tail to stop the beads falling off. If not, just pop the end out of the way and be careful that the beads don’t fall off.

Thread the Tiger Tail through the bottom of one of the carlotte clamps, then thread on one crimp bead and one side of the clasp. Put the hook of the clamp through the loop of the clasp.

Thread the Tiger Tail back down through the crimp bead and the hole at the bottom of the clamp.  

Using the chain nose pliers, carefully squeeze the crimp bead tightly until it is flat.

Close the clamp so that it hides the crimp bead. Close the hook of the clamp.

Thread the Tiger Tail back down through three of the beads and trim off the end using the flush cutters.

Repeat the process to attach the other piece of the clasp to the other end, ensuring that there are no spaces between the beads.

Trim off all the ends.

Double check that all loops are tightly closed.

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I hope this post gave you inspiration to make this great focal bead necklace

If so….. 

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