4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

blackbutterfly — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:08:30 GMT

Wonderful. I am a jewelry lover, but as to beading, i am a beginer. i love your post, after reading it, i learned how to extend the length of a necklace. My mother is a litter fat, i want to make a beaded necklace as a gift to her, so i can try your methods, i think it works well. Thanks!

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

blackbutterfly — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:05:16 GMT

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Bea@29 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 14:04:07 GMT

Save on beads and make a neclace/braclet... When I was in California last year I bought a lovely one. All the beautiful anitque beads hung in the front where they could be seen. Attached to this was an 8' silver chain. The chain could be added or removed when the piece was to be worn as a bracelet or a necklace...

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

rorykay — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:16:00 GMT

Jean - You crack me up! 'Great Plains', indeed! Let me tell ya, we who identify with 'Grand Tetons' don't wear long necklaces or chains as invariably one of the Tetons ends up being 'looped' by them! I'd love to be able to wear longer strands but it's just not flattering. Rosemary K. Minneapolis

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Jane Lindsay — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:29:58 GMT

About a year ago, I started making a series of bracelets. Instead of a focal bead, the center of each is an over-sized jump ring I make out of very large gauge wire, and they come with interchangeable charms on hooks (keys, large beads, metal flowers...) that can be attached to the center ring. When I made my first pair of these bracelets, I found that two of them together make the right length for a choker for my small neck! By mixing and matching bracelets and charms, I have an almost infinite selection of colors, styles, and even lengths (by using three or more bracelets) of necklace. And always with another bracelet to match! :)

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

bcroman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:09:21 GMT

Yes, perfect. Thanks!

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Jean Campbell — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:18:14 GMT

bcroman-you need to add a seed-bead loop to the end of the beadwork first. Then you can crimp the beading wire to the seed bead loop. This ensures that it's not a thread-to-wire connection, but a bead-to-wire one. Make sense?

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

bcroman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:04:18 GMT

Would someone please elaborate on how to attach a length of beading wire to the end of woven beadwork. It sounds so simple in example 2 of this article but I'm skeptical about how well a crimp would hold onto beading thread. More details would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Jubeadilation — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:03:16 GMT

I recently made a necklace where I didn't want any type of catch to be obvious. I put 2 magnestic catches into it, offset so that catchs were about an inch apart. The unintended surprise from this was that I could make the necklace longer simply by joining the end catches (leaving the shorter ones unused. Hope you follow me - a picture woould be worth 1000 words! Frances

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Jubeadilation — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:57:28 GMT

If you have a loop and bar catch, simply make up extension pieces that also have loops and bars. Yoou can have multiple ones to make the necklace any length you please! I suppose you could also have multiple ones made up ready for use with any sale. Frances

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

AGJ — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 06:36:56 GMT

For crinklequirk: I make a bracelet style using fancy button/seed bead loop closures. Made in multiples sized to the wearer's wrist, two make a choker; three a slightly longer necklace, all in proportion to the wearer. The buttons add focal interest.

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

JanG@25 — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:31:56 GMT

With strung pieces using beading flex, I finish them with wire guards and crimp the ends before adding the clasp with a jump ring. That way, if a client wants a longer necklace, it's a matter of moments to add a bit of chain to the end. The necklace doesn't need restringing that way., and those who prefer short necklaces are happy, too.

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Jane Lunders — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:01:22 GMT

Jane A. Mainly I use magnets for closures. So I just make up various lengths of chain with a magnet on each end. I make up 2 and 2 1/2 and 3inch in both 14k gold and sterling. Then I can wear them at any length and over turtlenecks in particular.

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

crinklequirk — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:26:02 GMT

Although I have large Tracts of Land, I am and have always been short with small bone structure. While having kids ...enhanced my hourglass figure to a slightly larger model, my neck and collarbone are the same ~13-13.5 inches around, so most necklaces are still too large in scale, whether they are chokers or meant to ride the curves a little lower. Since I'm not alone in this problem, YES, folks, please put up your solutions for smaller, not larger, necklaces. There are plenty who will love and need them, like me. :)

re: 4 Ideas for Necklace Extensions

Leslie Rogalski — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:01:33 GMT

Personally I love the necklace-bracelet idea, but I have to make 2 bracelets so I can wear one AND have a spare one as an extension! Or what about making 2 necklaces, for that extra-long style. When you feel like wearing a bracelet, wrap one twice! Leslie Editor, Beading Daily