1. Summer sophisticates
String an easy multistrand pearl necklace and earrings
by Diane Jolie
P earls and summer parties go
together like bubbles and
champagne, but don’t wait
for a black-tie affair to show off this
ensemble. Wear it whenever you feel
aside a few pearls for earrings. The
featured pair incorporates the same
beads and techniques used to make the
necklace. This project offers plenty of
room for creative interpretation, so have
and string three round spacer beads, a
cylinder, and 15 in. (.38m) of pearls
(photo b).
String a cylinder, three round
spacers, and the other clasp half. Go
like adding a touch of sophistication. fun making your own party pearls. back through one round spacer (photo
To make the necklace, string pearls of c). Snug up the beads.
different colors – one color per strand, as
shown here, or mix colors for confetti
stepbystep Tie off the thread with a front-back-
front knot as follows: Pull one thread
strands. Dress up the necklace with a ring necklace out of the needle, and thread it through
or fob of crystals and pearls or other With 4 ft. (1.2m) of thread, tie a a second needle (figure 1). With a needle
materials. I like to have more than one lark’s head knot (see “Basics,” p. 180 in each hand, tie half a square knot
fob, switching them to match my mood and photo a) on the clasp loop. (“Basics”) in front of the pearl strand
or stringing multipules at one time. Set Thread both ends through a needle (figure 2). Turn the necklace over and
108 beadandbutton.com

2. figure 1 figure 2 figure 3
a f
b d g
c e h
repeat, tying the ends in the same order loop. Complete the loop (photo f).
(right over left or left over right) as Trim the excess wire. materials
before. Turn the necklace over again and Slide the ring over the clasp’s toggle all
repeat to produce a third knot (figure 3). end. Position the fob on the side or • 5 16-in (.4m) strands of pearls, 3 colors,
Go through the next spacer and center of the necklace (photo g). various sizes
repeat the three-knot process. Dab the 17-in. (.43m) necklace
knots with glue and let them dry. Go earrings • 6 2mm round spacer beads
through the next beads, then cut Make a lark’s head knot • 2 5mm cylindrical spacer beads
the thread. on the earring loop with 12 in. • toggle clasp (Scottsdale Bead Supply,
Repeat steps 1-5, stringing (.3m) of thread. String three see ad, p. 3)
five strands of pearls in total (photo d). round spacers. • beading needles, #12
String an alternating pattern • Fireline B or Nymo D conditioned with
fob of pearls and spacers. Then string Thread Heaven
This ornamental ring dresses up three more round spacers • G-S Hypo Cement
the necklace, but it’s optional. (photo h). earrings
Make a wrapped loop Go through the earring loop • 32 2mm round spacers
(see “Basics”) on one end and back through the first spacer. • 2 ear wires
of the 24-gauge wire. Make two front-back-front knots • beading needles, #12
String 21⁄2-3 in. (64- as before. Dab the knots with glue • Fireline B or Nymo D conditioned with
76mm) of pearls and crystals and let them dry. Go through the Thread Heaven
in an alternating pattern (photo next spacer and cut the thread. • G-S Hypo Cement
e). Experiment with the length to make Make a second earring to match fob (optional)
sure the ring slips over a clasp end and the first. w • 5-7 4mm Swarovski crystals or
fits snugly around your pearls. fire-polished beads
Start a wrapped loop close to the Diane Jolie is managing editor of • 7 in. (.18m) 24-gauge wire
end bead and connect it to the first Bead&Button magazine. Tools: wire cutters (for fob)
Bead & Button • June 2004 109

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