Make Your Own Felted Wool and Jet Bead Necklace

When I string a beading project, whether bracelet or necklace, I always use a piece of French Wire to help prolong the life of my beading wire. Of course, beading wire is very strong and can withstand a great deal of punishment, especially Soft Flex brand beading wire, but it may still be abraded by a sharp or rough edge from beads or clasps, leaving it vulnerable to further wear and weakening.

Using French wire is easy, and takes only an extra minute or two when you are making you beaded necklaces and bracelets and adds a very professional look to your finished beading. Here's how to add French Wire to your beading wire to protect it from abrasion:

• Place your Twisted Tornado Crimp Tube on to your beading wire and push it down to the beads.
  
• Place a 10mm piece of French wire on to the beading wire, and push it down towards, but not directly up against the crimp tube.
  
• Now, place the clasp over the beading wire, and push it over the piece of French wire you just added, so that it look like the picture below.
  
• Pass the cut end of the beading wire back through your crimp tube as usual, gently pulling the French Wire into a loop. covering the beading wire with the clasp on the French Wire.
  Give a final tug to snug the French Wire into a solid covering and to remove any slack.
  
• Close your Twisted Tornado crimp tube with flat nosed pliers, flip it over, and press the other side.
  
  

Your Felted Wool and Jet Bead necklace is securely crimped on one side.