Learn how to make multi strand necklace with this easy tutorial. It teaches you how to make a 3 layer necklace with seed beads, gold link chain and crystal glass beads in blue, white and gold.
With easy to follow instructions and simple techniques, you can make this pretty necklace in no time at all.
The first layer of the necklace is made of a strand of seed beads in a combination of metallic blues, greens and browns. The second layer consists of a pendant necklace made using gold link chain and a pretty white crystal teardrop pendant while the third layer is made up of a combination of freshwater pearl and crystal bead links.
All three strands are joined with a jump ring at each end and attached to a lobster clasp. This is a medium length multi layer necklace with the longest strand (third strand) measuring 60cm, the middle strand (second strand) at 55cm and the shortest (first strand) measuring 42cm. With these lengths, the longest strands ends at the chest, while the shortest strand sits slightly below the base of the neck.
For more bead necklaces, check out my easy to make multi strand seed bead necklace made with 4 strands of pretty seed beads in shades of purple. Also check out these beaded hoop earrings made using similar blue crystal beads and these DIY dangle earrings with chain. They will make a perfect match to the multistrand necklace on this page.
🎥Video Tutorial
Here is the video tutorial on how to make the multi strand necklace. The full tutorial with list of supplies, step by step images and detailed instructions are presented after the video below.
🧾Tools and supplies
- Turquoise-blue seed beads (approximately 350 to 360 beads measuring 2mm in diameter)
- Metallic blue glass beads (29 beads measuring 8mm in diameter)
- Metallic blue glass beads (26 beads measuring 3mm in diameter)
- Freshwater pearl beads (8 beads measuring 8mm in diameter)
- Clear white glass beads (16 beads measuring 3mm in diameter)
- Eye pins in gold metal (17 pins measuring 25mm each and 4 pins measuring 50mm)
- 24 jump rings in gold metal ( 9mm in diameter)
- Gold link chain (50cm in length)
- 2 Bead tip knot covers in gold metal (also known as crimp bead covers or crimp cover)
- 2 crimp beads or crimp tubes
- Nylon beading wire (approximately 60cm. I use 0.2mm clear wire)
- 1 teardrop pendant
- 1 lobster clasp
- Flat nose pliers
- Round nose pliers
- Scissors
- Wire cutter
- Measuring tape
✂️How to Make
To make the necklace, you start by making each layer separately and then join them together. Begin with the seed bead necklace, followed by the link chain with pendant and finally the pearl and crystal glass bead link layer.
Step 1: Make the seed bead necklace strand. Measure and cut the beading thread to 60cm.
Note: The finished seed bead necklace is 42cm. The extra beading wire is for easy handling of the beading process. Use a shorter length if you are comfortable working with shorter wire.
Insert a bead tip knot cover into the wire (image 1).
Next, insert a crimp bead or crimp tube (image 2). Hold the bead about 1 cm away from the end of the wire.
Crimp it tight with the flat nose pliers (image 3).
Check to make sure it is tight and trim off excess wire (image 4).
Push the knot cover towards the crimped bead and cover it (image 5).
Hold the other end of the wire and insert it into the hole of a beading needle. Thread the seed beads until they make a 42 cm strand of beads (images 6 & 7).
Note: When measuring the strand, only measure the beads and do not include the knot cover.
Next, insert the second knot cover. Push it open until flat (image 8). Insert a crimp bead.
Lift the wire to make sure there is no gap between the beads. With the crimp bead positioned close to the knot cover and the last seed bead in the strand, crimp it tight with pliers (image 9). Test to make sure it is secure and trim off excess wire.
Close the knot cover (image 10). Set the strand aside (image 11).
Step 2: Make the link chain with pendant. Measure the gold link chain to 50cm. Cut with a pair of wire cutters.
Open a jump ring with pliers. Insert the pendant (image 12).
Close the ring (image 13).
Insert the pendant into the link chain (image 14).
Set the strand aside (image 15).
Step 3: Make the pearl and blue beads link chain.
Insert a 3mm small blue bead into a 50mm eye pin (image 16). Follow with five 8mm large blue beads. End with another small blue bead.
Use a round nose plier to form a loop at the end of the eye pin (image 17).
Twist the loops with jewelry pliers to align the loops (image 18).
Repeat the process to make another 3 sets of wired beads.
Next, insert a small 3mm blue bead into a 25mm eye pin. Follow with an 8mm large blue bead and another 3mm blue bead (image 19).
Loop the end with a plier and twist the loops at both ends to align (image 20). Repeat the above steps to make another 8 sets.
To make the pearl wired beads, insert a 3mm clear white crystal bead into a 25mm eye pin. Follow with the pearl bead and top it with another 3mm clear white bead (image 21).
Loop the ends and align the loops (image 22). Repeat the process to make another 7 sets.
To join the bead links, open 20 jump rings. Insert a blue 3-bead link and a pearl-bead link into the first jump ring. Close the ring (image 23).
Insert an open jump ring into the other end of the pearl bead link. Add a blue 3-bead link into the same jump ring and close the ring (image 24).
Continue linking the bead cluster sets in the following order:
- Blue 7 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 3 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 7 bead link
- Blue 3 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 3 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 3 bead link,
- Blue 7 bead link
- Pearl bead ink
- Blue 3 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 7 bead link
- Blue 3 bead link
- Pearl bead link
- Blue 3 bead link
Here's how the completely linked beads will look like (image25).
Step 4: Assemble the necklace. Open 4 jump rings. Insert the end of the strands into the jump rings, one end into each jump ring.
Start with the seed bead strand, followed by the gold link chain and then the bead link chain (image 26). Repeat the same order at the other end. Keep the order of the strands consistent on both sides.
To insert the clasp, insert another jump ring to one of necklace ends. Add the clasp and close the ring. Add the last jump ring to the other end of the necklace (image 27). And that completes the necklace.
Options
- Color combination - You can change the colors of the blue beads and seed beads to a different color combination if you like.
- Size / gauge of the gold link chain - change the link chain to a thinner chain if you prefer.
- Necklace length - adjust the length by making longer strands for a longer necklace and shorter strands for a shorter necklace. Make sure the length of each strand is adjusted consistently.
Tips
- Use same metal color - for best results, make sure the metal color used in making the necklace is same across each strand, including the eye pins, jump rings, knot covers, link chain and the frame for the teardrop pendant. I used gold, and you can change it to silver or antique gold if you like.
- Size of the beads - use larger beads for bottom strand and smaller ones for the top for a more balanced layered look.
- Colors of the beads - use bead colors that are complementing each other.
- Arrange the beads and each strand in the shape of a necklace to determine the pattern and length before making the necklace - you can use a bead design board or simply arrange them on a piece of large cloth (to prevent the beads from rolling) to determine the the length of each layer so that they are consistently layered and do not overlap.
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