Learn to make this Black Tie Beaded Necklace. Perfect for a holiday cocktail party! Your friends won’t believe you made it yourself!

How To Make A Black Tie Beaded Necklace

Materials

7 Faceted oval beads, 7mmx9mm, Black Spinel
6 Faceted lentils, 8mm, Black Spinel
9 Medium faceted rondelles, 4mmx5mm, Black Crystal, Fire Polished
11 Small faceted rondelles, 3mmx4mm, Black Crystal, Fire Polished
66 Tiny faceted rondelles, 2mmx3mm, Black Crystal, Fire Polished
64 Bugle beads, black
Silver barrel clasp
2 Silver wire guardians
2 Silver crimp beads
2 Silver crimp bead covers
Bead stringing wire, silver, 19-strand
Masking tape or Bead Bug

Tools

Chain-nose pliers
Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters

Steps

1. Cut a piece of bead stringing wire 22 inches long using the wire cutters.

If you don’t know much about bead stringing wire, here’s a little video we made explaining what it is and how to select the right kind.

2. Attach a piece of masking tape or a Bead Bug to one end of the bead stringing wire. This will keep the beads from sliding off.

3. Starting at the other end, slide the beads on. (Our photo shows the end after we put on the clasp.) The pattern we chose starts with:
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – medium rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – medium rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead

4. Next we alternated lentils and ovals in our design like this:
tiny rondelle – oval bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – lentil bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead

5. Then we kept repeating the pattern adding in 4mm rondelles as we got to the center of the necklace:
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – oval bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – medium rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – lentil bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead

6. We repeated that pattern again:
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – oval bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – medium rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – lentil bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead

7. Then we added these beads in the same pattern so the oval bead will hang right in the center of the necklace.
tiny rondelle – small rondelle – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead
tiny rondelle – oval bead – tiny rondelle – bugle bead – bugle bead

8. The rest of the necklace is a mirror of the other side. To feed the beads on, do the same pattern in reverse. We think it’s easiest to just look at the side you already have beaded and follow the pattern from there.

9. Once you have the beads on, slide a crimp bead onto the end of the wire. Then feed the end of the wire through a wire guardian. Slide on one side of the clasp. Then feed the end of the wire back through the crimp bead. Press the crimp bead flat with the chain-nose pliers. Trim the end of the wire with the wire cutters. Cover the crimp bead with the crimp bead cover and press it closed.

We have a video showing how to attach a clasp using crimp beads and wire guardians. It might be helpful to watch us doing it. The clasp section starts at minute 4:45.

If you liked this video, we have lots more. Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

10. Remove the tape from the other end of the necklace. Slide the beads down toward the clasp. Slide a crimp bead onto this end of the wire. Feed the end of the wire through the second wire guardian. Slide on the other side of the clasp. Then feed the end of the wire back through the crimp bead. Press the crimp bead flat with the chain-nose pliers. Trim the end of the wire with the wire cutters. Cover the crimp bead with the crimp bead cover and press it closed.

We are addicted to beaded necklaces! Here are some more we’ve made:

Elegant Beaded Necklace

Briolette Necklace

And you can use the same technique to make a bracelet!

Multi-Strand Friendship Bracelet