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
like adding a touch of sophistication.

To make the necklace, string pearls of

different colors – one color per strand, as
shown here, or mix colors for confetti
strands. Dress up the necklace with a ring
or fob of crystals and pearls or other
materials. I like to have more than one
fob, switching them to match my mood
or stringing multipules at one time. Set

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
fun making your own party pearls.

step

by

step

necklace

With 4 ft. (1.2m) of thread, tie a

lark’s head knot (see “Basics,” p. 180
and photo a) on the clasp loop.

Thread both ends through a needle

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
back through one round spacer (photo
c). Snug up the beads.

Tie off the thread with a front-back-

front knot as follows: Pull one thread
out of the needle, and thread it through
a second needle (figure 1). With a needle
in each hand, tie half a square knot
(“Basics”) in front of the pearl strand
(figure 2). Turn the necklace over and

108

b e a d a n d bu t t o n . c o m

String an easy multistrand pearl necklace and earrings

by Diane Jolie

Summer sophisticates

repeat, tying the ends in the same order
(right over left or left over right) as
before. Turn the necklace over again and
repeat to produce a third knot (figure 3).

Go through the next spacer and

repeat the three-knot process. Dab the
knots with glue and let them dry. Go
through the next beads, then cut
the thread.

Repeat steps 1-5, stringing

five strands of pearls in total (photo d).

fob
This ornamental ring dresses up
the necklace, but it’s optional.

Make a wrapped loop

(see “Basics”) on one end
of the 24-gauge wire.

String 2

1

⁄

2

-3 in. (64-

76mm) of pearls and crystals
in an alternating pattern (photo
e). Experiment with the length to make
sure the ring slips over a clasp end and
fits snugly around your pearls.

Start a wrapped loop close to the

end bead and connect it to the first

loop. Complete the loop (photo f).
Trim the excess wire.

Slide the ring over the clasp’s toggle

end. Position the fob on the side or
center of the necklace (photo g).

earrings

Make a lark’s head knot

on the earring loop with 12 in.

(.3m) of thread. String three

round spacers.

String an alternating pattern

of pearls and spacers. Then string

three more round spacers

(photo h).

Go through the earring loop

and back through the first spacer.
Make two front-back-front knots

as before. Dab the knots with glue

and let them dry. Go through the

next spacer and cut the thread.

Make a second earring to match

the first.

w

Diane Jolie is managing editor of
Bead&Button magazine.

materials

all
• 5 16-in (.4m) strands of pearls, 3 colors,

various sizes

17-in. (.43m) necklace
• 6 2mm round spacer beads
• 2 5mm cylindrical spacer beads
• toggle clasp (Scottsdale Bead Supply,

see ad, p. 3)

• beading needles, #12
• Fireline B or Nymo D conditioned with

Thread Heaven

• G-S Hypo Cement
earrings
• 32 2mm round spacers
• 2 ear wires
• beading needles, #12
• Fireline B or Nymo D conditioned with

Thread Heaven

• G-S Hypo Cement
fob (optional)
• 5-7 4mm Swarovski crystals or

fire-polished beads

• 7 in. (.18m) 24-gauge wire
Tools: wire cutters (for fob)

B e a d

&

B u t t o n • J u n e 2 0 0 4

109

a

b

f

g

c

d

h

e

figure 1

figure 2

figure 3

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