Vintage reborn

A gift of long-forgotten beads gives way to a versatile necklace

by Roxie Moede

My friend found these black beads in bags and bottles at an estate sale during the early ’60s. Can you believe they sat on a shelf until now? If you like the vintage touch, look for similar crystals in jet, or opt for pristine crystal AB. Make a necklace, or two, or three. Each strand is detachable, so you can wear as many or as few strands as you wish.

“I have been beading for about three years now and I just can’t get enough. I have so many completed pieces, because I just bead to bead.”

SuppliesSupplies from Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, firemountaingems.com.

necklace 23 in. (58 cm)◆ 2 18 or 28 mm crystals◆ 4 15 mm bicone crystals◆ 2 14 mm round crystals◆ 12 mm round crystal◆ 6 8 mm round crystals◆ 80 –110 6 mm round crystals ◆ 6 4 mm bicone or round crystals*◆ 4 g 90 seed beads◆ 6 3 mm round spacers◆ flexible beading wire, .014 or .015◆ 8 6 mm split rings◆ 13 crimp beads◆ 2 lobster claw clasps◆ magnetic clasp◆ chainnose or crimping pliers◆ diagonal wire cutters◆ split-ring pliers (optional)1 To make the tassel: Cut three

10-in. (25 cm) pieces of beading wire. Fold the wires in half and string a crimp bead over all six ends, leaving a 1⁄8-in. (3 mm) loop. Crimp the crimp bead (Basics, p. 132).

2 Over all six ends, string a 14 mm crystal and a 6 mm

crystal. On one end, string: 2 in. (5 cm) of 90 seed beads, crimp bead, 4 mm crystal, 90. Go back through the 4 mm, the crimp bead, and a few 90s. Tighten the wire, crimp the crimp bead, and trim the excess wire. Repeat on the remaining ends.

3 Cut a piece of beading wire (How-Tos) for the shortest strand

of your necklace. Cut two more pieces, each 4 in. (10 cm) longer than the previous piece. On the shortest wire, center a 12 mm crystal. On each end, string five 90s and a 6 mm. Repeat until the strand is within 2 in. (5 cm) of the finished length. End with a 6 mm.

4On the middle wire, center a 14 mm. On each end, string:

two 90s, 8 mm crystal, two 90s, 8 mm, two 90s, 18 or 28 mm crystal, two 90s, 15 mm crystal, two 90s, 6 mm, two 90s, 6 mm.

TipLarge bicone crystals, like the 15 mm crystals used in step 7 of this necklace, are sometimes called double-cone crystals.

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Design alternativeIf you are sure this necklace will be worn strictly as three strands, skip the lobster claw clasps. Just finish your necklace by attaching half of a clasp to the three strands on each side.

5On each end of the middle strand, string a 90 and a 6 mm.

Repeat until the strand is within 2 in. (5 cm) of the finished length. End with a 6 mm.

6On the longest wire, center the tassel.

7On each end of the longest strand, string: three 90s, 6 mm,

three 90s, 6 mm, three 90s, 6 mm, three 90s, 8 mm, three 90s, 15 mm.

8 On each end, string five 90s and a 6 mm. Repeat until the strand

is within 2 in. (5 cm) of the finished length. End with a 6 mm.

9 On each end of each strand, string a crimp bead, a spacer,

and a split ring. Check the fit, and add or remove beads from each end if necessary. Go back through the last few beads strung and tighten the wire. Crimp the crimp bead and trim the excess wire.

10On each end, use a split ring (How-Tos) to attach a lobster

claw clasp and half of a magnetic clasp. ✳