| Making the Winter Storm Necklace | |
Step 1:
I like to bead my pieces right on to the spool of wire, and then do my cutting when I'm done. I find that by doing this, I end up wasting less wire than if I cut it when I start. Start by stringing on three 2 mm sterling silver beads.
Step 2:
Add a 3 mm pearl, followed by another 2 mm round sterling silver bead. Follow this with a 5 mm pearl, a 2 mm silver bead, a 3 mm pearl, a 2 mm silver bead then a 5 mm Labradorite. The pearl pattern begins again after the addition of the labradorite.
The pattern is this: silver, small pearl, silver, large pearl, silver, small pearl, silver, labradorite, silver small pearl, etc. Continue in this pattern until all beads are used.
Step 3:
When you complete the pattern, double check the strand to make sure there are no pattern errors. Make any adjustments, as necessary.
Step 4:
You are ready to add your clasp. Do not cut your wire yet. At the free end of the wire, add a crimp bead, one side of your clasp, and then pass the wire end back through the crimp and the three silver beads. Pull the wire through, leaving a small loop at the end holding the clasp. Close the crimp bead using the inside jaw of your crimp pliers to bend the crimp bead, then use the outside jaw to squash it together, making a small and smooth crimp.
Step 5:
Now you are ready to close the other end. Check your clasps BEFORE you put them on the necklace (trust me - do as I say, not as I have done) to make sure they open and close properly. Cut the wire, leaving a tail of about 3 to 5 inches to work with. Carefully pick the strand up by the cut end of wire, making sure that the beads all slide down to the crimped end. Make sure the wire that you trimmed is tucked in to the beads at the other end. Make any adjustments as necessary. Repeat the steps for adding a clasp to this end of the work. Make sure that the tension is snug, but not too tight, on the strand before you close the crimp, or you may have will gaps or puckers in your finished piece.
Enjoy your beautiful Winter Storm necklace. I bet you'll get many compliments on it!
