String Beads to
Learn How to Make Beaded Jewelry

It's easy to learn how to make beaded jewelry. Simply string beads! Here, get illustrated step by step free bead jewelry instructions for stringing beads.

Learning How to Make Beaded Jewelry is Easy

You can make a rockin' simple beaded necklace. String a bead necklace in turquoise and copper, wear it and make any gray day sky blue. Just wait for the compliments to stream in...

Added bonus...Pride...'Cause you made it yourself!

Stringing beads is very easy. Make it today, wear it today!

Bead stringing is one of the most basic beading techniques used to make handcrafted beaded jewelry.

The bead stringing instructions below show you the why and the how of stringing beads. So, the next time that you want to string beads you can create your own bead jewelry design.

This tutorial gives you practice with stringing irregular shaped beads. A bit more challenging than stringing all beads of similar size and shape, but well worth the effort.

Step by Step Bead Jewelry Instructions

Let's string beads!...

String a Flirty Turquoise Chunky Beaded Necklace!

Step 1: Decide on Jewelry Making Technique

Stringing

Step 2: Choose Necklace Style

Chunky, Choker Length (about 17")

Step 3: Select Jewelry Making Beads to String	Step 4: Gather Jewelry Making Supplies
What You Need to Buy: beads to string (a 15 or 16" strand or enough individual beads for the length of your necklace) flexible beading wire (23" = 17" finished length plus 6") 2 crimp beads (to secure the flexible beading wire after the beads are strung) 1 clasp (here I use a toggle clasp in copper)	What's Optional: 2 - 10 or 12 mm round beads (secondary beads) 2 crimp covers (to cover crimp beads for a more eye pleasing finish) 8 spacer beads (act as filler beads to add an extra touch to the design and 4 - 3 mm round metal beads (act as filler beads to help lengthen the necklace) 4 - 4 mm round turquoise beads (act as filler beads to help lengthen the necklace) Beading Mat, or a terry cloth dish towel (to keep beads from rolling around)

Step 4: Gather Jewelry Making Tools

• Chain nose pliers
• Crimping pliers
• Wire cutters
• Round nose pliers (Optional)

Step 5: Layout Bead Necklace Design

Place strand of beads onto beading mat on work surface. Cut and remove temporary string. Arrange beads into a semi circular pattern, resembling a necklace.	Add Secondary and Filler Beads Arrange all the beads in a pattern that appeals to you. Add and remove beads to your liking. You might work through a few designs before finding one that pleases you. When you are pleased with your design, move on to step three.

How to Make Beaded Jewelry

Step 6: String Beads

Cut a length of flexible beading wire. String beads one by one onto flexible beading wire. Continue to string beads until you've strung all of the beads onto the flexible beading wire.	Check your "almost" necklace's design. After you've strung all of the beads, arrange the strung beads in a semi-circular design resembling a necklace. Check the arrangement of the beads and make sure you like them. Make any adjustments (unstring and restring) that you would like.

Check Necklace Length
In this design, the length measures about 16" without the clasp. I know my toggle clasp is an inch in length. So once I've added the crimp beads and a 1" toggle clasp, the length will about 17".	About Necklace Length Measure length from where the beads end on the strand to the top of the beads in the front of the design where it curves. You need to account for the diameter of the beads which take up room on the flexible beading wire. This is why I didn't measure the length of the strung beads in a straight line. Your necklace needs to simulate hanging like a necklace would hang on your neck. Doing it this way gives you a first good approximation of length.

Step 7: String or Attach Clasp

On one end of the strand of beads, string a crimp bead and half of the clasp onto the flexible beading wire.	Thread the end of the flexible beading wire back through the crimp bead, the spacer beads, filler beads and one or two primary beads (turquoise beads) and pull on the wire to draw the beads next to the clasp.

Tip	Tip
If you have trouble drawing the beads to the clasp, place the round nose pliers between the clasp and the crimp bead and pull on the end of the wire. Doing this will help you draw the beads against the clasp and leave enough spacing between the clasp and the crimp to allow the clasp to move freely.	Then allow beads to fall into place. Grab the flexible beading wire by the end without the clasp and hold the strand of beads in the air to allow beads to fall into place next to one another.

Attach Second Half of Clasp
On one end of the strand of beads, string a crimp bead and half of the clasp onto the flexible beading wire. Thread the end of the flexible beading wire back through the crimp bead, the spacer beads, filler beads and one or two primary beads (turquoise beads) and pull on the wire to draw the beads next to the clasp.	You've attached a half of a clasp to both ends of the strand of beads. Now check how the necklace fits before we secure the clasp.

Step 8: Check the Fit of the Jewelry

There's no picture for this specific task. Gently pick up your necklace by both ends and go to a mirror. Facing the mirror, clasp the necklace around your neck. See where and how it rests against your neck. Is it long enough? If not, you'll need to make adjustments.

Step 9: Make Any Adjustments to the Fit

Step 10: Secure Jewelry Clasp

This is the start of the crimping process. Hold the crimp bead with the tip of the chain nose pliers. Try to keep the wires separate and parallel. Now squeeze the chain nose pliers to flatten the crimp bead.	Flattened Crimp Bead.

Crimp the Crimp Bead Place the crimp bead in the notch closest to the crimping pliers' handle and squeeze the pliers.	The crimp bead is now shaped like a 'U'.

Fold Crimp Bead Position the flattened crimp bead in the notch closest to the crimping pliers' tip. Firmly squeeze the pliers, folding the crimp bead in half at its indentation.	Folded Crimp Bead. Are you having fun learning to string beads? I hope so...

Cover Crimp Bead (Optional)
Place a crimp cover over the folded crimp bead.	Place the covered crimp bead in the notch closest to the crimping pliers' tip and gently squeeze the pliers.

Covered Crimp Beads A crimp cover gives your jewelry piece a nice finished look.	Trim Wire Trim the excess flexible beading wire. Repeat Step 9 on the other end of the necklace.

Finished!

Congratulations! Great job!

You're done. You've just successfully completed your beading lesson on How to String Beads!

Now you can answer the question, "How do I string beads?".

Try making a toggle clasp jewelry extender to extend the length of a necklace made with a toggle clasp.

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