How To Bead A Crystal Illusion Necklace

Make an elegant necklace to wear on a special night out! Follow the instructions below or watch us make it step-by-step on Curious.

Materials
30 assorted faceted crystal beads, turquoise, light blue, cobalt, 6mm to 16mm
32 assorted faceted crystal bicone beads, turquoise, light blue, cobalt, teal, 3mm to 5mm
Bead stringing wire, 19-strand, silver color
60 crimp tubes, silver plate, #1 size
2 clamshell bead tips with loops, silver plate, 3mm
2 jump rings, silver plate, 16mm
1 lobster clasp, silver plate, 12mm
Jeweler’s glue (we used G-S Hypo Cement)

Tools
Chain-nose pliers
Round-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Tape measure
Piece of felt or a bead board

Steps
1. Cut three strands of bead stringing wire the following lengths: 20″, 20½”, and 21″.

2. Starting with the 20″ strand of bead stringing wire, slide a crimp tube, a crystal bead, and another crimp tube to the center of the beading wire. Flatten the crimp tube on one side of the bead with the chain-nose pliers. Hold the bead firmly against the flattened crimp tube, slide the other crimp tube up against the bead, and flatten it with the chain nose pliers.

3. Feed on another crimp tube, a bicone bead, a crystal bead, another bicone bead, and a crimp tube. Slide the crimp tubes and bead cluster ¾” away from the first bead and flatten the crimp tubes on either side to hold the cluster in place.

4. Continue adding beads flanked by crimp tubes to the bead stringing wire until your strand has ten beads or bead clusters crimped onto it. Just vary the beads and bead clusters as you go and make sure they are about ¾” apart so sections of the bead stringing wire shows.

5. To bead the 20½” strand of bead stringing wire, slide a crimp tube, a crystal bead, and another crimp tube to the center of the beading wire. Lay the strand next to the beaded 20″ strand so the ends are lined up. Slide the bead and crimps slightly away from the center so they line up between the beads on the beaded strand. Flatten the crimp tubes on either side of the bead with the chain nose pliers. Keep adding beads and bead clusters to the strand and crimping them in place until your strand has nine or ten beads or bead clusters.

6. Repeat to bead the 21″ strand of beading stringing wire using the same technique.

7. To finish the necklace, feed the end of the 20″ strand up through the hole in the bottom of a clamshell bead tip. Slide a crimp tube onto the end and flatten it as close to the end of the wire as you can. Feed one end of the 20½” strand up through the bottom of the same clamshell bead tip. Flatten a crimp on the end of the strand. Feed the last strand up through the same clamshell bead tip and flatten a crimp on the end. Slide the clamshell bead tip up the strands so the crimps sits inside the clamshell. Add a drop of jeweler’s glue to the crimps inside the clamshell. Use the chain-nose pliers to gently close the clamshell and close its loop. Finish the other ends of the three strands using the same technique.

8. Using the chain-nose pliers and round-nose pliers, open a jump ring like you’d open a door. Slide the lobster clasp and the loop of a clamshell bead tip onto the jump ring, then close the jump ring. Open the other jump ring the same way, slide on the other clamshell bead tip, and close the jump ring.