CONFESSION: I hate seed beads. Usually I avoid working with them because they get EVERYWHERE, they’re way too dang small to see, and THEY GET EVERYWHERE.
However, I do love the look of a seed bead necklace. I’m not one to shy away from color and seed bead necklaces are a fun and colorful accessory for summer…so I decided to give seed beads another try…
I still hate them.
Granted this was a fun project to make and I really like the way it turned out (I love the colors!), but DAMN! those beads are so freaking tiny. It took WAY too long to actually finish this necklace and I’ll probably just resort to the creatives at Charming Charlie to create future seed bead accessories for my person, but if you’re looking for a fun jewelry project to make for the summer and are crazy bored one lazy, rainy weekend, jumping into a seed bead project will certainly help pass the time!
Braided Seed Bead Necklace
Materials:
- 2 strands of seed beads in the colors of your choice
- Needle
- Thread
- Scissors
- Tape
- E6000 Glue
- 2 ribbon clamps
- 2 jump rings
- 1 clasp
- Jewelry pliers
- PATIENCE
Instructions:
- Using a needle and thread, restring seed beads so you have 16 to 18 long strands of beads. If the seed beads you buy come on a string long enough to braid, you can omit this step, but my beads were on small strings. Whomp whomp! Make sure you leave long ends at the beginning and end of each strand.
Helpful Hint: I discovered this AMAZING trick to help you string your seed beads. If you’re stringing with your right hand, wrap your left index finger with a piece of masking tape, sticky side out. Use the tape to pick up seed beads and just slide the needle through the beads on your finger! This saved me SO much time in making this necklace.
2. Once all your beads are strung, tie all the strings together with a knot at the top of the strings. Tape your beads down on a flat surface and divide your strings into four equal groups of strings (I actually had two more strings than I needed, so mine were not even, but whateve’s!).
3. Braid your beads in a 4-strand braid. I found this video helpful if you don’t know how to braid with four strings:
4. Once your braid is complete, tie strings together like you did at the top of the necklace.
5. Secure each knot with a small drop of E6000 glue.
6. Clasp the ribbon clamps on each knot. The E6000 glue will also help keep these clamps secure.
7. Attach one jump ring to one end and a clasp and jump ring to the other.
Show off your new braided necklace!
Celebrate creativity every Wednesday with a “Creativi-bee” post, where I share easy craft tutorials, project ideas, and craft collections.
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