We love pearls! So we made this elegant Pearl Illusion Necklace featuring nothing but pearls! We decided to “float” the pearls on gold bead stringing wire using crimp beads. This necklace is so pretty and actually very easy to make. We’ll show you every step!
Even if you’ve never made a necklace before, you can make this Pearl Illusion Necklace. We’ll show you the tools and materials you’ll need. Then we’ll show you how to space the pearls on the bead stringing wire and how to secure them in place using crimp beads. And then we’ll show you how to use crimp beads to add the clasp.
Video How-to: Pearl Illusion Necklace
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How To Make A Pearl Illusion Necklace
Materials
15 Pearls, 5mm
32 Crimp beads, gold, size #1
2 Clamshell bead tips, gold
1 Small lobster clasp, 12mm
1 Jump ring, gold, 5mm
19-Strand bead stringing wire, gold
Tools
Chain-nose pliers
Wire cutters
Ruler
Finished Length 17.75″
Steps
1. Cut a 20″ piece of bead stringing wire using the wire cutters. Slide a crimp bead, a pearl, and a crimp bead onto the wire and slide all three to the center. We like to find the center by lining up the ends of the wire.
2. Use the chain-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead on the bead-stringing wire to the left of the pearl so it stays in place.
3. Slide the second crimp bead right next to the pearl, leaving no gaps. Use the chain-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead onto the wire.
4. Slide on a crimp bead and measure ¾” from the crimp bead you flattened next to the pearl. (We drew a little template on scrap paper for this to make it easy!) Again, use the chain-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead onto the wire.
5. Next slide on a pearl. Then slide on another crimp bead next to the pearl and flatten it in place.
6. Measure ¾” from the last crimp bead. Slide on a crimp bead and flatten it. Next slide on a pearl. Slide a crimp bead onto the wire up to the pearl and use the chain-nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead.
Continue adding pearls and crimps to both sides of the necklace until you have all the pearls on. (Add more pearls and crimps if you’d like to make your necklace longer.)
7. To finish the ends, feed one end of the wire up through the bottom of a clamshell bead tip.
8. Then slide on a crimp bead and measure ¾” from the last crimp. Then flatten the crimp bead in place using the chain-nose pliers.
9. Trim the end of the wire with the wire cutters.
10. Slide the clamshell bead tip up and over the flattened crimp bead. Use the chain-nose pliers to gently press the clamshell closed.
11. Hang the lobster clasp from the clamshell loop. Rotate the loop closed with the chain-nose pliers.
12. Repeat to finish the other end of the necklace. To do this, feed wire up into a clamshell bead tip, then feed on a crimp bead. Measure ¾” from the last crimp bead. Flatten the crimp there and trim the wire. Slide the clamshell bead tip up and over the crimp bead. Press the clamshell closed with the chain-nose pliers.
13. Hang the jump ring from the clamshell loop. Then use the chain-nose pliers to rotate the loop closed.
How lovely is that? We think this one makes a great gift! And you can wear it with something fancy or just a white tee and jeans. What do you think of the Pearl Illusion Necklace? What would you wear it with? Leave us a comment below.
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
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