Beaded Bib Necklaces Rock!
Learn How to Make Your Own Bib Necklace

Like the style of bib necklaces? Want to wear one to work? With this bead jewelry project, learn how to make a bib necklace you can wear everyday!

Everyday Chic Multi-Strand Bib Style Necklace

Beaded bibs come in a wide range of styles. The style depends upon the jewelry making technique used to make it. You're limited only by your imagination!

We'll use an easy bead stringing technique called crimping to make a stylish necklace that resembles a bib.

This beginner beading tutorial shows you how to make a simple bib style necklace, one that you can wear everyday.

Multi-Strand Bead Bib Necklace

The focus is placed on the beading technique - bead stringing. After you complete the bead jewelry project, suggestions are made for making the necklace more dramatic if you choose.

You'll find that making beaded necklaces is easy when you can visualize the end result.

We're simply making a bead necklace in the general shape of a bib.

Making Beaded Necklaces by Stringing Beads
Free Jewelry Making Instructions

Tutorial Category: Stringing Tutorials

Skill Level: Beginning Beading

Prerequisite Jewelry Lessons:

These lessons contain step by step instructions for some of the beading techniques only referred to in this bead jewelry project.

If you're new to stringing beads, it's a good idea to first practice the step by step prerequisite jewelry lesson or beading technique.

Approximate Length: 20" (50.8 cm)

Jewelry Making Supplies

• 129 6mm round beads* (2 16" (40.6 cm) strands of beads)
• 4 4mm round beads, sterling silver
• 2 28mm 3 to 1 connectors, sterling silver
• 10 2mm crimp beads
• 10 3mm crimp covers
• 1 toggle clasp with two links
• 3 15" (38.1 cm) lengths of .014 or .015 diameter clear beading wire
• 2 6" (15.2 cm) lengths of .014 or .015 diameter clear beading wire

*Beads used in this bib necklace: 74 6mm round rhodonite, 41 6mm round black onyx, 14 6mm round ruby crystals

Jewelry Making Tools and/or Pliers

• Crimping pliers
• Wire cutters

If you need it, here's a review of jewelry pliers used in bead stringing projects.

Bead Jewelry Project Instructions

1. Gather supplies, tools and beads.

2. Layout beaded bib necklace pattern.

On the beading board, for the bib, layout the three rows by placing the 6mm beads up to each 5 1/2" measurement mark as indicated in the picture below.

Number of beads in Strand #1: 32. Strand #2: 39. Strand #3: 40.

If you chose to use a single color of beads, simply layout the number of beads indicated.

If you chose to use two or more colors of beads, randomly layout each color in the number of beads indicated.

Layout each 3 to 1 connector and the two sides (nine 6mm beads and two 4mm beads) of the necklace as indicated in the picture below.

Layout of Necklace Pattern

The finished necklace length measures about 20" (11' bib + 8" necklace + 1" clasp) (50.8 cm).

The bib portion of the necklace will measure 11" (5 1/2" times 2) (27.9 cm).

The necklace portion measures 8" (4" times 2)(20.3 cm). The toggle clasp measures about 1" (2.5 cm).

Bib strand #1 plus the necklace plus the clasp determines the finished necklace length and how close to the base of your neck the necklace will lay.

Bib strand #3 determines the greatest length and where the bib will fall along your neckline.

At 20" (50.8 cm) in length, strand #1 of this bib style necklace falls at the base of my neck.

For a longer necklace, add more beads to the necklace portion now.

3. Make a bead stopper.

On one end of each 15" (38.1 cm) length of beading wire, tie a loose knot to act as a bead stopper. This will keep your beads from falling off the beading wire while you string them.

Overhand Knot Acts as Bead Stopper

4. String the three strands of the beaded bib necklace.

Strung Strands of Bib

5. Attach the three strands of the bib to the 3 to 1 connector.

Starting with the unknotted end of strand #2, string a crimp bead and its corresponding connector ring.

Pass the beading wire back through the crimp bead and three 6mm beads.

Tighten the wire against the connector.

Crimp the crimp bead. (How to Crimp a Crimp Bead)

Strand Attached to Connector

6. Repeat the process for each end of the three strands.

Six Strand Ends Attached to Connectors

7. Attach the two beaded bib necklace sides to each connector and clasp.

Pick up one 6" (15.2 cm) length of beading wire. On one end, string a crimp bead and the "1" ring end of one of the connectors.

Pass the beading wire back through the crimp bead.

Tighten the wire against the connector. Crimp the crimp bead.

String nine 6mm beads, two 4mm beads, a crimp bead and one half of the toggle clasp.

Pass the beading wire back through the crimp bead, two 4mm beads and one 6mm bead.

Tighten the wire against the connector.

Attach Necklace Side to Connector and Clasp

Repeat the process for the second necklace strand.

Check fit. Add or remove beads if necessary.

Crimp all crimp beads. Trim all excess wire. Add crimp covers if desired.

Congratulations!
You've completed a beautiful unique bead jewelry project.

8. Finished necklace ends with crimp covers in place and wire trimmed.

9. Finished connectors with crimp covers in place and wire trimmed.

An Idea or Two for Stringing Other Bib Necklaces...

• For a bigger bib, use a connector that accommodates more connections like a 5 to 1 connector.
• For a fuller or beadier bib look, string more strands onto the 3 to 1 connector used in this bead jewelry project.

A Helpful Beading Tip or Two...

• Before removing the beads from their temporary strands, lineup the strands with the connector's rings to make sure the beads will have room to move once strung and crimped.
• If they seem to not have enough room, add a few smaller beads to each end of the inner- and outermost strands.

• If your connectors fall along the curve of your neck, for a better fit, slightly bend the connector over a cylindrical object (I used a condiment bottle) to help them hug the curve of your neck.

Make Another Style Bib Necklace

Have fun showing off your new unique beaded necklace! It's just one of many styles of bib necklaces.

Do you make want to make another bib necklace style? If so, now learn how to make a jeweled beaded bib necklace!

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