Beading tutorial 1
I’m rather excited as I’m posting my first tutorial for making beaded garland jewellery - you know, the delicate, jingly, pretty jewellery where beads hang from a chain. It’s like tiny, slightly tinkly, beady bunting. Oh!
There’ll be two of these tutorials - one to show you how to attach a bead to a chain and the other to show you how to attach a clasp to the chain. These two tutorials are ALL YOU NEED to make garland jewellery. How very exciting!
You’ll need:
Three tools:
Wire cutters -far right in the picture
Round-nosed pliers, (the ends have a circular cross-section) - middle in the picture,
Snipe-nosed pliers (pointy ends) - far left of the picture
These should cost no more than £5 each but there are often wire cutters and snipe-nosed pliers in toolboxes - it’s worth a rummage before you hit the shops.
Headpins* - pieces of wire, 2-5 cm long with a tiny disc or ball at the end to prevent beads falling off. These are at the bottom of the picture
Chain* (the links need to be at least 2mm wide to fit the headpins and wires through). You can buy chain by the metre or you can use ready-made chains with clasps - you may even have one or two knocking around in your jewellery box.
0.5mm or 0.6mm wire*
Clasps* Lobster or carabiner clasps, ring and bar (toggle) clasps - it’s up to you
Pretty pretty beads. You may already have a stash or some broken jewellery you can remodel - thrifty!
Right, are you ready? Stop knitting at the back of the class and put down Country Living (hmm, am I sounding a little bossy?).
Here we go:
Step 1 Thread your bead onto the headpin. I’m using a delicious little Venetian-style glass millefiori (thousand flowers) bead given to me by Gina. Grasp the headpin around 3mm above the top of the bead with your round-nosed pliers and push the bead to around ‘7 o’clock’ with your thumb.
Step 1
Step 2 Push the top of the headpin round the right-hand ‘nose’ of the pliers with your index finger, catch it with your thumb and push it round, in front of the bead, to ‘8 o’clock’. This makes a neat loop at the top of your bead.
Step 2
Step 3 Release the bead+headpin from the pliers and thread into a link in your chain. Keep the chain draped behind the bead, over your hand. Grasp the loop tightly with the tips of the snipe-nosed (pointy-ended) pliers and push the headpin around the short vertical length of headpin that remains above the bead.
Using your index finger and thumb push it around the vertical once or twice to form a neat little spiral that sits on top of the bead.
Step 3
The spiralling takes a little practice but the more beads you attach, the more you’ll get used to the tension in the headpin and the pressure needed from finger and thumb in order to make the spiral. This teeny spiral locks the bead safely onto the chain but still allows it to move in a pleasing, jingly way when it sits on your neck or wrist.
Step 4 Use your wire cutters to snip off any excess at the end of the headpin with your wire cutters.
Step 4
Step 5 Squeeze the cut end with the snipe-nosed (pointy-ended) pliers to ensure there are no spiky, scratchy bits.
Step 5
Ta dah!
You have the first little ‘flag’ on your beady bunting. Keep repeating the process on the same chain with beads of your choice to make something really very lovely indeed.
Oooh!
All you need is ONE of these on an ear wire and you have a jingly jangly spingly spangly earring! I do not believe that spingly is a real word but who cares.
The next thing to look out for is my second tutorial - a figure of eight wire attachment for clasps and to make your own clasp loops. Next thing you know you’ll have a stash of pirate treasure (and a bunch of pretty Christmas presents).
Splice the mainbrace and spachcock me seagull! Arrrrggghh!
Now if you make some lovely things I would very much like to have a look at them with my one good eye!**
Gina’s already made some lovelies with a kit I sent her! Go and have a peep.
Also, if you’d like to make some of these silvery garland-y beady jewels and need some of these materials then email me direct and I’ll send you my suppliers list.
I just thought, if you like I might post a tutorial for making a jewelled ring like Gina’s. Now there’s an idea.
Have fun…
* Wire, chain and headpins can be either sterling or silver-plated. The latter is a little more of a bargain.
** I’m only pretending in a pirate stylee - my eye is fine really.
EDITED TO ADD: If you’re looking for materials Spoilt Rotten Beads is an excellent place to start.
October 9th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Mrs. Pebble! You’re ADORABLE! Thank you so much for posting this — I’ve just been winging it, and not very well, I might add. This is perfect — I even put down my knitting and paid strict attention!!!
October 9th, 2009 at 6:57 am
My dear, you are a heroine. I cannot wait for the figure eight tutorial too. And I am fidgeting with excitement at the thought of a beady cakey trip next week — oooooh.
And I swear I could *hear* you saying ‘Oh’ at the end of the first paragraph.
October 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am
Now, that’s another thing I want to try! What clear instructions Mrs P (for pirate).
Celia
x
October 9th, 2009 at 8:50 am
what a really lovely tutorial so clear and so pretty, can’t wait to start one of my own xx
October 9th, 2009 at 10:07 am
A truly spingly post! Loved it, found it fascinating from start to finish. Isn’t millefiori wonderful? I never tire of it. :O)
October 9th, 2009 at 11:09 am
what a brilliant tutorial - will definitely have to give that a go - and what an excuse to go shopping for lovely beads!
xx
October 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am
oh thank you for sharing, i love beads, i seem to collect them and then just look at them everynow and then but never make anything! fliss xx
October 9th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
What a great tutorial and I lovvvve the eye patch!!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Nina x
October 9th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I am glad your eye is fine, I was getting quite worried! Thank you for the tutorial. I have always wanted to have a go at jewellery making and will put it on my ‘things to do’ list! x
October 9th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Squealing with enthusiasm and raiding the tool box for odd-nosed pliers. Lovely tutorial Mrs Spingly.
October 9th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Fabulous tutorial… I want to go and have another go now!
October 9th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
You make it look so easy - I am going to have to save this post and come back to it, as I have always wanted to try… Thanks.
October 9th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Emma you make it look so easy!! And I know it’s not! The tubelined waterlily is so pretty, the blue working so well against silver. As for baby pebble’s first steps? Adorable. Bye for now. Lesley
October 10th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
What a great tutorial!
I would like to have a play with jewellery making but i think I have so many crafts already attempting to produce I shouldn’t add another just yet!!!
Victoria xx
October 10th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Utterly inspiring. I have all the requisite ingredients soomwhere - now I know what to do with them! Thanks xx
October 10th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
A great idea Emma and very generous I have to say … what would happen if we all made our own jewellery!! No, I may just leave it up to the experts - and that means YOU!!
Jeanne x
October 10th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Oh thanks for letting me know about Withersfield Bazaar - hope to meet you on 21 November!
Janne x
October 10th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Ooooh! How yummy! But can I really start another crafting passion?????? Have you considered how irresponsible this tutorial is? I may have to go and spend money now! Dang! ;o)
Lucy xxx
October 10th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Thank you for sharing your secrets.
If we meet I’ll easily recognise you now .
I’ll just look for the eye patch.
October 11th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Hang on. Why is your online tutorial easier for me to understand than a woman actually showing me it in real life at a class at the bead shop? Is it a) that my eyesight isn’t what it was and I need to have nice big pictures, or b) that you are a genius?
October 11th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Thanks for the tutorial! I will have to get ou the jewellery making supplies and have a go at this technique.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
WOW ! thank you. Your work is so beautiful
October 12th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Oooh, Mrs. Pebble (or should I say YARRRRRRR, Mrs. Pebble?) are you trying to torture me by making such a tasty tutorial? I’ve already spent my week’s budget in 3 days and am seriously considering a trip to the John Lewis craft department! Must resist…
October 13th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Such a great tutorial! Really clear and helpful. Thanks for the sympathy about my migraine…all gone now, thank heavens! x
October 13th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Fantastic link! Thanks Emma! x x
October 13th, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Oops….sorry about the knitting during class….I’m obsessed and just couldn’t help myself!
So glad you posted this tutorial though as I missed most of this when I was turning my heal
Fab post Mrs Pebble - especially that photo of you looking gorgeous as usual!
lots of love Mrs Moog xxx
October 16th, 2009 at 1:43 am
Thank you so very much! I’ve been meaning to learn something about jewelry making for a little while now - hopefully I’ll be able to make some gifts for the holidays.
October 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Beautiful! love your combinations of different types of beads!