Art of Beading – Jewellery making

‘Stretch Magic’ is a strong and stretchy, easy to knot jewellery cord. It is particularly suitable for younger students.

To Make Necklace or Bracelet:

1. Cut Stretch Magic cord to desired length.

2. Knot one end.

3. Thread on a small bead first and then thread chosen pattern of beads.

4. Join the two ends together with a simple knot.

Materials

‘Stretch Magic’ or Jewellery Cord

Beads 

To Make Nylon Coated Wire necklace or bracelet:

1. Measure desired length of Nylon Coated Wire.

2. To start: fold one end 1cm to form a loop. Thread a crimp onto the Nylon Coated Wire and hold where the end of loop meets the wire. Thread the end of the wire loop into the crimp so that it is at least half way in the crimp. Use a pair of teeth pliers and press down on crimp.

3. Thread beads.

4. To finish: use the same method used to start (i.e. crimp a loop as in step 2).

5. Thread each part of a clasp into each loop. (Use a round nose pair of pliers to open clasp attachment and a pair of teeth pliers to close it firmly.)

Note:

Manipulating crimps may be too taxing for younger students. Nylon Coated Wire is a soft, flexible wire and will allow more flexibility in length and shape. It may be used for necklaces, bracelets, or earrings. Pieces of Nylon wire may be added to the main part of the necklace with crimps or two or three lengths may be attached to the same clasp.

‘Memory’ wire is flexible and springs back into its curved form when you try to straighten it, hence the name. These pieces of jewellery are very easy to make at any age as they require no findings (i.e. clasp, crimp, split-ring etc used put jewellery together).

To make a necklace or bracelet:

1. Cut the desired length of memory wire.

2. To start: use a round nose pair of pliers and turn one end 1cm toward length of wire to form a loop. Close loop with a pair of teeth pliers by pressing on the rounded end of wire.

3. Design a pattern of beads in a row on the table and when satisfied thread beads.

4. To finish: leave 2cm at end of beading and close the necklace or bracelet in the same way as step 2 instructions (i.e. turn wire in 1cm).

Materials

Pre-cut Memory Wire

Beads

Round nose pliers

Flat Nose Teeth pliers

Note: To avoid beads rolling off the table, provide each student with a piece of corrugated cardboard (or an old tea towel or face wash).

Give each student a shallow recycled tub in which to put his or her chosen beads.

Jewellery pliers are especially made with a central spring on the handle to provide more grip and allow manipulation. The ones required for jewellery making are:

• Wire Cutters (the thicker the wire, the bigger the cutters need to be).

• Round Nose Pliers for manipulating the wire.

• Flat nose Teeth Pliers (serrated) for pressing wire together and closing ends.

If you need to find the centre of the wire so that a particular symmetrical pattern is achieved, wire has to be measured and then marked with a piece of masking tape or permanent marker.

The smaller ‘seed’ beads are not suitable for small hands.