Beaded Link Necklace

While I was spending a winter day in bed without power, I decided to read through the stack of fashion magazines by my bed.  I'm known for ripping pages out and pasting them all over my studio.

I saw this necklace and thought "I can make that!"  It's an easy necklace to make even for a beginning beader, however the results look complicated. 

You can make your links as big or as small as you want and can even alternate the sizes in your necklace.  The length can vary also as you can make it extra long so you can fold it over your head twice or make it smaller and attach a clasp. 

I made my links with 30 silver lined black seed beads so the tutorial uses that amount.  I think we'll be seeing a lot of variations on this necklace this year. 

Supplies Needed:

You can find all of these supplies in Michaels, JoAnns, or the craft aisle in Walmart.  I purchased mine from Shipwreck Beads in Olympia Washington just because they have a great selection and I hang out there a lot.

1 hank size 8 silver lined black beads (you can use any size of seed bead)  It's easier to bead off a hank since they're already strung and all you have to do is pick them off the string with your needle.

Beading needle

Black Nymo Thread (use a color that closely matches your beads)

Thread Heaven- I highly recommend using this conditioner for your thread as it reduces tangling and allows the thread to be pulled through the bead easier.

Scissors

STEP 1.  Cut a piece of thread at least 24 inches long and thread your needle.  Thread on 30 beads.

STEP 2.  Using a surgeon's knot (see instruction graphic) knot the end of your thread.  I do it twice for good measure.

Now you have a circle

STEP 3.  Thread the needle back the through all of the beads to make it strong.  Bring the needle out where the tail thread is.  Tie another surgeon's knot and thread the kneedle through three more beads.  Cut all the threads. 

Here's your first finished link.

STEP 4.  Thread on 30 more beads.

STEP 5.  Thread the first completed link over the 30 beads..

Complete this link as you did the first going back to Step 2.  You will continue connection and making links this way.  When you have finished beading all the links to a length you desire, bead one more link connecting the two ends together.

YOU'RE DONE!

ENJOY! 

Instruction graphic from Bead & Button