How to make a necklace with your own hands: from pearls, amber, leather and other improvised materials

Any girl knows how one bright accent can transform even the most ordinary everyday outfit.

Original, appropriately selected jewelry plays an important role in creating unique fashion ensembles. To look elegant, you don’t have to buy an expensive necklace – you can make it yourself, spending a minimum of time and money.

Having mastered simple patterns for making necklaces with your own hands, every woman will be able to add exclusive designer jewelry to her collection of accessories.

How to make a necklace from beads or pearls with your own hands

Faux pearl jewelry looks beautiful in almost any setting. A light, airy necklace of small width is suitable for the office; for an evening out, you can make a necklace of garnet and pearls or combine pearls with small beads. Creative thinking and a harmonious color scheme will allow you to isolate the image, set it apart from the crowd and focus attention on a beautiful neck or well-groomed décolleté area.

Silver necklace with pearls (go to SUNLIGHT catalogue)

Making a simple pearl necklace with your own hands is not difficult; it is important to have the necessary materials available. It can be either the same type of pearl or a variety of pearls. Beginners can start with the simplest techniques and patterns, and then, expanding their horizons, replenish their piggy bank with more complex weaving patterns, creating new interesting jewelry. By analogy with pearls, you can make a necklace from beads with your own hands.

You can find a wide variety of master classes of varying degrees of difficulty online. The selected version of the training material allows both a novice craftswoman and an experienced craftswoman to create a beautiful product. By changing the width of the decoration upward, you can create a more complex version.

Master class on making a pearl necklace with your own hands

The image shows that the necklace consists of several patterns, the weaving is done from top to bottom, but can be complemented by an “inner” and “top” pattern. Inexperienced needlewomen can limit themselves to the option of a thin necklace consisting of 1-2 rows. More experienced ones are allowed to add new, more complex weaving options. The number of beads, seed beads, and fishing line varies depending on the individual size of the product.

Necessary materials:

• Czech beads of light shades;
• beads with a gold or silver core;
• beads with an offset center;
• artificial pearls with a diameter of 4 mm;
• fishing line of a suitable color;
• a ready-made lock of a suitable color (gold or silver);
• a needle having a smaller diameter than the holes in beads and pearls;
• pliers.

You can independently select brighter monochromatic or contrasting beads and pearls.

Prepare the necessary materials: sort the beads and pearls into shallow containers, cut the fishing line with some reserve. If you are working with light beads and pearls, use a dark-colored fabric or craft mat for the work surface and vice versa.

First stage

Legend : white color - Czech beads of light shades; yellow color - beads with a gold or silver core.

1. Place eight white beads on the fishing line, starting from the element with the core, and close them by threading the end of the fishing line into the beads with the core, forming a ring.
2. Continuing the set, add two Czech beads to the fishing line, one with a core and two Czech beads (five elements in total). Close the beads into a ring, passing the fishing line through the second bead of the previous cycle (see diagram). You get two adjacent closed loops.
3. Next, collect five Czech beads and pass the line through the element with the core, closing the second lower loop, as shown in the diagram.
4. Repeat the operation from step 2 until you create a chain of eights of the required length.

Second phase

New symbols have been added: small red - Czech beads of light shades; red large - artificial pearls with a diameter of 4 mm.

You begin to form the bottom row with pearl pendants.

1. On a separate fishing line you collect three Czech beads, one pearl, one bead with a core (5 elements in total). Fasten the bead to the core (see diagram).
2. Then you collect three Czech beads and secure the resulting pendant loop to the seventh Czech bead of the top row, as shown in the diagram.
3. Repeat the operation along the entire bottom of the previous row.

Before work, you need to correctly calculate the number of eights of the base row (see point 1) so that the pendant pearls are symmetrically located in relation to the ends of the product.

For beginners, you can finish the job here by securing the finished lock.

Those who want to complicate the course perform further more complex weaving.

Third stage

New symbols: small lilac - Czech beads of light shades; lilac drop-shaped - beads with an offset center.

The top row of the product should be supplemented in accordance with the arrows indicated in the diagram.

Fourth and fifth stage

The last two stages are designed for experienced needlewomen and are performed according to the presented schemes. Below is a breakdown of the new designations.

Small blue – Czech beads of light shades; blue large - beads with a gold or silver core.

Green small - Czech beads of light shades; green drop-shaped - beads with an offset center.

Sixth stage

We decorate the ends of the product with a ready-made lock. It is important that it harmonizes with beads that have a metal core (silver or gold).

What to consider when choosing pearls

When planning to buy jewelry, you need to realize that the mining of natural ocean pearls has been prohibited for almost 70 years.

1. Natural material available for free sale - river or sea cultured. It's not cheap. The most prominent representative of this segment is the Japanese brand Mikimoto, whose products sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
2. When choosing, they evaluate the shine: the natural shine of natural pearls comes from the inside, and is not distributed superficially. Only a real pearl or a high-quality cultured analogue can reflect light in this way.
3. The jewelry of the Spanish company Mallorca is famous for its high level and more affordable prices. In its products, the shine of the beads is hardly distinguishable from natural, but the material is stronger, more varied in shape and color. The technology is such that the final product is not considered a fake.

This brand requires attention: there is an abundance of jewelry with artificial “Majorka” on sale. Manufacturers almost always indicate this, so you need to read the label and estimate the cost.

Zodiac sign	Compatibility (“+++” – fits perfectly, “+” – can be worn, “-” – strictly contraindicated)
Aries	+
Taurus	+++
Twins	+
Cancer	+++
a lion	—
Virgo	+++
Scales	+
Scorpion	+
Sagittarius	+
Capricorn	+
Aquarius	+
Fish	+

Amber necklace

Baltic transparent or matte amber is beautiful in jewelry, emphasizing the national color of the Baltic peoples. Combined with metal trim or other ornamental stones that match in color and size, it conveys all the beauty of the Baltic nature and also has healing properties.

See all amber necklaces in the SUNLIGHT catalog

Of course, this type of necklace cannot be made by an amateur; the hand of a professional craftsman is required. But even novice needlewomen can make simple necklaces from natural stones with their own hands.

We offer you several options for easy-to-make products.

Necklace “Amber Tale”

Necessary materials:

• Czech beads in beige color;
• amber transparent beads with a diameter of 4 mm;
• fishing line;
• ready-made lock;
• needle;
• pliers.

The technique of making a necklace is similar to the making of beads and pearls described above. It is important to choose the right weave pattern. Varying the width and color of the necklace will allow you to create an exclusive product.

Necklace “Amber drops”

Silver necklace with amber (go to the SUNLIGHT catalog)
Required materials:

• processed plates of opaque amber of similar size with through holes;
• amber or artificial beads, similar in color, with a diameter of 3-5 mm;
• fishing line;
• needle;
• ready-made lock;
• pliers.

A plate of amber + 1 bead is sequentially put on the fishing line, alternating, until the required length of the product. Attach the lock and the decoration is ready!

Since amber is a soft material, it is recommended to use plates with ready-made holes.

Without certain skills, experience and special tools, you should not make holes yourself; you can split or damage the plate.

Necklace "Lime"

See all amber jewelry in the SUNLIGHT catalog
Required materials:

• small multi-colored plates of amber;
• several metal flat hollow beads with a hole equal to the diameter of the double cord;
• lock to match the color of the beads;
• special polymer lace;
• pliers.

Decorating in ethnic style can be done yourself quickly and easily.

1. We measure the required length of the lace and fold it in half.
2. We string the plates in any order or alternating colors and sizes.
3. We put metal beads on both ends and lightly clamp them to fix the position of the amber plates.
4. We repeat step 3, placing the fixing bead clips in the middle between the ends of the lace and the amber plates.
5. We install the lock.

Step by step creation

You need to select a strip that matches the diameter of the bead. You need a needle with a narrow eye. A color-matched thread can serve as a substitute for fishing line.

We unwind the fishing line, the length of which is 18-21 cm. The entire length is not useful; the remaining length is needed in order to conveniently string our ribbons and beads. We thread the fishing line through a needle and tie a double knot at only one end. We take a segment of 45-55 cm. Stepping back 20 cm from the free tip, we thread it with a needle.

Next, use a regular stitch to make 2 stitches (1.5 cm each). Its length directly depends on the size of the beads you choose.

String the bead onto the fishing line and thread the needle through the ribbon downwards, vertically to the extreme point.

Back off 1.5 mm, bring the needle up, and thread again. Similarly, 8 more pieces. The future bracelet is already visible.

At the end, make 2 simple stitches exactly the same as at the beginning. Hold the knot at the beginning and pull the beads towards each other. Straighten the resulting accordion

When the result is visible, tie the tip of the fishing line to the 2nd knot and cut off the unnecessary tip.

You need to hide the fishing line knots, so in their place, tie knots on both sides. Do not tighten too much; it is necessary to preserve the visual lightness of the product. This kind of nodules are necessary in order to hide small imperfections.

We cut off the ends and burn them. As a result, you get an original bracelet made by yourself.

DIY leather necklace

This type of neck decoration goes well with other leather accessories (bag, gloves, belt) and looks beautiful both on a white shirt-type blouse (office option) and on a turtleneck.

Complex multi-component floral or other patterns can only be made by professionals who have certain skills in working with leather.

In order for a beginner to make a necklace with his own hands, you need to use an easy-to-make ready-made template.

Necklace made using stained glass technique

Necessary materials:

• a piece of thick genuine leather of the required size and color;
• small but sharp scissors;
• decoration template on thick paper;
• leather glue "Moment" colorless;
• 2 blocks;
• 2 rep or satin ribbons of the required length, 2 cm wide;
• marker;
• awl.

Before you start working, practice translating the diagram and working with leather.

Transfer the template to the wrong side of the product using a special marker or chalk pencil.

Starting from the center, start carefully, without making unnecessary cuts, to cut out the design. Start from the inside and end with the outer outlines.

Use an awl to make two holes at the upper ends of the necklace and insert the blocks. Thread the ribbons through the holes.

Carefully secure the ends of the ribbons in the blocks on the wrong side with glue.

The decoration is ready! The necklace is tied with a bow at the back.

Classic decoration

Looking at the photo of a homemade necklace in a classic style, you can note its sophistication, sophistication, and tenderness. The classic necklace suits any look and goes well with any colors and shades.

The accessory can be made of beads, glass beads with the addition of pearl beads and a small pendant.

Tatting schemes

Tatting is a type of lace that is made using a special shuttle and a hook/needle with a blunt end.

Beads, beads, pearls, and natural stones can be used as additional materials in necklaces made using the tatting technique. The technique is difficult to master and will require perseverance and patience from the beginning needlewoman. You need to start getting acquainted with tatting with simple knots and patterns, gradually complicating the task.

Patterns for creating handmade necklaces can be found in large quantities on the Internet, on specialized websites and forums. Printed publications will also tell you in detail and step by step all the stages of the process on which weaving a necklace is based. Below, as an example, are diagrams of a tatting necklace with a description. But this information will only be understandable to experienced lace makers.

It is better for beginners to master the basics of technology with the help of video master classes or special literature.

By creating necklaces using this technique, you will always be irresistible!

Flat shell

To make the dough colored, add food coloring or a spoonful of gouache paint of the selected color when kneading. You will have to knead the dough a little longer to get a uniform color. Once the dough is prepared, start making the shell. This sample is made flatter, so the work will take less time to dry.

Making such a shell is easy. Flatten the dough ball with your palm into a pancake. Then, using a round stick, apply the center stripe first. From there, further notches are made to the left and right.

Dry the crafts either for several days in a warm place, or for several hours in the oven with the door open. After drying, dough products become hard and can be stored for a long time, and can also be painted with acrylic paints or varnished.

Making a necklace with your own hands in Boho style

The Boho style is characterized by complete freedom in the choice and combination of materials: textiles, stones, wood, beads, etc. It would seem that the combination of incongruous things should introduce disharmony into the image and openly show a lack of taste and sense of style, but this is not true. Massive voluminous neck jewelry is perfect with clothes and other accessories that match the texture and overall style.

Necklace “Pearls on the Sand”

Beginning craftswomen can make a simple necklace in the Boho style using ordinary rope, pearls and their own imagination.

Necessary materials:

• beige pearls - 16 pcs. large, diameter 4 mm;
• beige pearls - 15 pcs. small, diameter 2 mm;
• rope;
• scissors.

Prepare 13 identical threads from a rope equal to the length of the necklace + 10-15 cm. Form a large loop from 12 rope threads and process it with the 13th thread, as shown in the photo.

On 6 of the 12 threads, place 1 pearl of different sizes in random order, then secure the section with a knot. Complete 5 sections, leaving the fifth open. The sections should be approximately equal in size.

Make the last large knot, leaving the ends of the threads 3-4 cm long. You need to put a large pearl on one of the remaining threads and then tie all the end threads with another knot under the pearl. We received the opposite end of the fastener, which will be threaded into the loop.

Beach necklace "Lagoon"

You can make a boho shell necklace. It will be appropriate both on the beach and during a summer cocktail party. Varying, combine shells with beads or use only natural material.

Neck decoration with shells (go to the SUNLIGHT catalogue)

To make jewelry, cowrie shells are used, which are pre-coated with colorless varnish.

Necessary materials;

• cowrie shells with or without through holes;
• thin leather lace or strong thread similar in color;
• ready-made lock.

“String” shells onto a string, passing it through an internal cut along the entire length of the shell. Connect the ends of the lace with a lock.

twisted shell

The next plasticine shell is created by twisting. This is a small craft made from one selected color. In the photo below you can see the step-by-step execution of the work. First of all, roll out a thin stick from a piece with one thickened edge, reminiscent of a carrot. Then roll the part around its axis, starting from the pointed edge.

Pull out the thickened part additionally with your hand and use a rounded stick to push through several parallel folds. It will remain on the outer part of the shell to draw out 5-6 pointed cones with your fingers. The shell turns out incredibly beautiful, looks like a real one.

How to make a scarf necklace

An elegant neck decoration worn over a summer coat, cardigan, jacket, or blouse adds style and completeness to the look. The product, made in mixed technique, combines natural stone, pearls, beads, metal elements with fabric (silk scarf, light cashmere stole, etc.).

An interesting design of a scarf/shawl is complemented by ready-made or self-made sections made of stones, beads and other materials. Using special clips, they are fixed at the ends of the product or dominate, located in the center.

When creating a scarf-necklace with your own hands, it is important to focus on the clothes with which it is intended to be worn, the shape of the neckline, and additional accessories. The combination of the material structure of the scarf-necklace and the clothing is also important. By experimenting with additional elements, colors and texture of the scarf/shawl material, you can create a large number of different looks.

Handicraft in the field of creating neck jewelry from a variety of materials allows each representative of the fair sex to become one and only, to stand out from the crowd. Dare, create, create a wonderful image with your own hands!

16.04.21