Technique to Make a Twisted Bead Necklace.

Technique to Make a Twisted Bead Necklace.

by Judy
(Nixa, MO, USA)

How do you make a two (or more) strand bead necklace and keep them twisted? Mine just come untwisted.

I would love to hear from you.

Thanks, Judy

Answers:

Judy, Hi!

There's a little trick to this, which I'll explain below, using instructions I put together for a three-strand necklace. :-D

These instructions will work for any number of strands, just do for strand six what you did for strand two, etc., etc., et al. ;->

Twisting A Multi-Strand Necklace: Instructions

Lay your completed necklace out straight on a flat surface (not your bead board), with the strands horizontal to you.

Lay your right hand on the right end of the necklace, and keep it there! Hold this right end of the necklace flat, and--IMPORTANT!--
*Do Not Remove Your Hand Until Finished Twisting*!

Step 1:

With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right.

Near the right end, lay the left end down between the top strand (Strand 1) and the middle strand (Strand 2); let go.

Still with your left hand (your right is still holding the right end of the necklace flat), reach underneath the bottom strand (Strand 3) and Strand 2, grasp the left end, and pull it through.

Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks.

Step 2:

With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right. Near the right end, lay the left end down between Strand 2 and Strand 3; let go. Still with your left hand, reach underneath Strand 3, grasp the left end, and pull it through. Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks.

Step 3:

Repeat Step 1.

Step 4:

Repeat Step 2.

Step 5:

Continue repeating Steps 1 and 2 until your necklace is twisted to your satisfaction.

At this point... Voila! Your twisted strand necklace is done!

Judy, with your two-strand necklace, there would really only be a single step: just alternate the strands as you bring the left side over and under. But this will work just as well on two strands as it will on three, or six!

I hope this helps! Good luck, and happy beading! :-D

rory

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Technique to Make a Twisted Bead Necklace.

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Twisting A Multi-Strand Necklace
by: rory

Judy, Hi!

There's a little trick to this, which I'll explain below, using instructions I put together for a three-strand necklace. :-D

These instructions will work for any number of strands, just do for strand six what you did for strand two, etc., etc., et al. ;->

Twisting A Multi-Strand Necklace: Instructions

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Submitted by: rory

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Judy, Hi! There's a little trick to this, which I'll explain below, using instructions I put together for a three-strand necklace. :-D These instructions will work for any number of strands, just do for strand six what you did for strand two, etc., etc., et al. ;-> <h2>Twisting A Multi-Strand Necklace: Instructions</h2> Lay your completed necklace out straight on a flat surface (not your bead board), with the strands horizontal to you. Lay your right hand on the right end of the necklace, and keep it there! Hold this right end of the necklace flat, and--IMPORTANT!-- *Do Not Remove Your Hand Until Finished Twisting*! Step 1: With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right. Near the right end, lay the left end down between the top strand (Strand 1) and the middle strand (Strand 2); let go. Still with your left hand (your right is still holding the right end of the necklace flat), reach underneath the bottom strand (Strand 3) and Strand 2, grasp the left end, and pull it through. Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks. Step 2: With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right. Near the right end, lay the left end down between Strand 2 and Strand 3; let go. Still with your left hand, reach underneath Strand 3, grasp the left end, and pull it through. Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks. Step 3: Repeat Step 1. Step 4: Repeat Step 2. Step 5: Continue repeating Steps 1 and 2 until your necklace is twisted to your satisfaction. At this point... Voila! Your twisted strand necklace is done! Judy, with your two-strand necklace, there would really only be a single step: just alternate the strands as you bring the left side over and under. But this will work just as well on two strands as it will on three, or six! I hope this helps! Good luck, and happy beading! :-D rory

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Thank you rory!
by: Anonymous

Dear rory,

Thank you so much for taking your time to comment.

This sounds to me like weaving. I tried this once. but it seemed like it came untwisted.

You've given me the encouragement to try it again. I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again! Judy

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Thanks from me too!
by: Christine

Hey rory, you rock!

Thanks for taking the time to post this answer. Very well laid out too.

I really appreciate it!

Christine ~how-to-make-jewelry.com

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A Simple Tip
by: Libelle Designs

Hi,
I just thought I'd share how I keep my twisted necklaces twisted.

I make all of my strands..(I use bead stoppers to keep the strands from coming apart)

Then I attach one end of each strand to a small jump ring (beadalon makes crimp ends that have a ring incorporated. I suggest this be used)

I then attach the strands with the rings onto one side of my closing finding (clasp).

That completes one side and now depending on the # of stands you have this will vary a bit be aware of your pattern.

....I will use a 3 strand as an example.

I then take the two strands next to each other and bring one over the other to about 1/2 way down & then I take the remaining one and wrap around them.

At the 1/2 way point the 3 are together and I start a loose "braid" I them bring all 3 ends together, and using a larger crimp tube, close all 3 strands together in one tube onto the other side of the clasp.

I hope this is useful to you!

Marcia

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Slight modification on directions
by: Anonymous

I found this site while trying to figure out to make my necklace stay twisted, too. I modified the instructions somewhat to make it easier for me to follow (emphasis on ME!)

My necklace was 4 strands: Green, pink, purple & blue. I followed Rory's directions through making the wrapped eye pin. From there, I attached all 4 strands to the ring of the eye pin using 2 crimp beads, with two strands going through each crimp bead. I placed bead stops on the other end of each strand

I placed the strands on a table with the eye pin to my right, and the bed stop ends to my left. I placed a weight on the right end to keep it in place.

My strands were then layed out in the order described above. I took the green strand and brought it towards myself over the top of the other three strands, and placed a finger on the right end to hold it in place while I straightened the rest of it...now on the bottom row...to the left. I then used my left hand to bring the pink strand over the other three strands, adjusting the finger on the right to hold it in place while straightening it to the left.

I did the same with the purple and blue strands, and kept repeating the pattern of green, pink, purple and blue, moving my right finger down the twisted necklace as it advanced. Once at the other end, I finished it in the same way with an eye pin and crimp beads.

Since each of my strands was a different color, it was easy to keep track of which should be brought across next. If I was doing strands that were all the same, I think I'd have labeled the bead stops with numbers or something.

This just seemed easier to me than bringing all the left end strands up and reaching under. The necklace came out really even. I had a brief moment of panic when it did mild untwist once i released it, but it was just relaxing a bit and otherwise held the twist. Thank you, Rory, for pointing me in the direction to figure out how to make this work!

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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I found this site while trying to figure out to make my necklace stay twisted, too. I modified the instructions somewhat to make it easier for me to follow (emphasis on ME!) My necklace was 4 strands: Green, pink, purple & blue. I followed Rory's directions through making the wrapped eye pin. From there, I attached all 4 strands to the ring of the eye pin using 2 crimp beads, with two strands going through each crimp bead. I placed bead stops on the other end of each strand I placed the strands on a table with the eye pin to my right, and the bed stop ends to my left. I placed a weight on the right end to keep it in place. My strands were then layed out in the order described above. I took the green strand and brought it towards myself over the top of the other three strands, and placed a finger on the right end to hold it in place while I straightened the rest of it...now on the bottom row...to the left. I then used my left hand to bring the pink strand over the other three strands, adjusting the finger on the right to hold it in place while straightening it to the left. I did the same with the purple and blue strands, and kept repeating the pattern of green, pink, purple and blue, moving my right finger down the twisted necklace as it advanced. Once at the other end, I finished it in the same way with an eye pin and crimp beads. Since each of my strands was a different color, it was easy to keep track of which should be brought across next. If I was doing strands that were all the same, I think I'd have labeled the bead stops with numbers or something. This just seemed easier to me than bringing all the left end strands up and reaching under. The necklace came out really even. I had a brief moment of panic when it did mild untwist once i released it, but it was just relaxing a bit and otherwise held the twist. Thank you, Rory, for pointing me in the direction to figure out how to make this work!

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