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Free Beading Project: Wire and Bead Chain Using Vintage Metal Beads

Jul 18, 2012 by Jennifer VanBenschoten

I loved these curved metal beads from the July 2012 shipment of A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club. They reminded me of stringing macaroni onto yarn with my mother and sister when I was kid! But their lovely gold finish and their unusual curved shape made me wonder what would happen if I used them to make a wire and bead chain necklace. The result was an unusual, vintage-style beaded necklace that I can wear with just about anything.

Materials:

  • 9 20mm curved gold vintage tube beads (A)
  • 18 3mm gold round beads (B)
  • 10 5mm gold jump rings
  • 8 feet gold craft wire, 20 gauge
  • Gold clasp of your choice

Tools:

  • Combination pliers OR chain nose and round nose pliers
  • Wire cutter

 

Step 1: Working from your spool of wire, slide on 1 B, 1 A, and 1 B. Make a wrapped loop at the end of the wire, and push the beads against the loop.

Tip: When threading the curved bead on your wire, you might find it easier to use your pliers to gently push the wire through the bead.
Step 2: Cut your wire 1 1/2" from the other end of the beads.
Step 3: Make a wrapped loop at the other end of the link. Repeat until you have completed 9 links.
Step 4: Open a jump ring and string on two links. Close the jump ring. Use the jump rings to connect all 9 units. Attach one jump ring to each end of the necklace, and attach the clasp using those jump rings. Close securely.

Enjoy!

Bead Happy,

Jennifer

For more great vintage beads, check out A Grain of Sand.

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Comments

 
Beading Supplies We Love wrote
on Jul 19, 2012 11:15 AM

July's shipment from A Grain of Sand's Bead Hoard Curiosities Club held some fabulous finds!

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