UR Charmed Mother’s Necklace
Beading Help Web’s popular pendant charm holder inspired a necklace you can personalize for mom, grandma, or great-grandma. Hung on a delicate chain, this “charming” necklace makes a great gift that will be cherished for years to come.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Materials and tools
Four inches 18g sterling silver round wire, half hard
Sterling silver headpins
4mm Swarovski crystals (or small genuine birthstones)
Two 5mm sterling silver jump rings
Light sterling silver chain (length depends on preference)
Stepped round nosed pliers
Flush cutter
Round nosed pliers
Chain nosed or bent nosed pliers
Crimping pliers (optional)
File or burr cup
Use file or burr cup to smooth ends of 18g wire. Use stepped pliers (smallest step) to create a loop on one end only.
Determine birthstones needed using a birthstone chart. Line up crystals in birth order (oldest child on left to youngest child on right).
Make wrapped loop dangles using crystals and headpins. After all dangles are done, thread through the 18g wire in birth order.
To make a wrapped loop: Thread crystal or stone on headpin. Grasp the headpin with the smallest end of the round nosed pliers about 2mm above the top of the bead. This creates a short “neck” that you will wrap wire around. Bend the top of the pin away from you at a 45 degree angle. Using a chain nosed or bent nosed pliers, grasp the very end of the headpin (that is facing away from you), bring around the round nosed pliers, forming a loop. Wrap the headpin around the “neck” 2-3 times, taking care that each wrap is close to the previous wrap. When you reach the bottom of the “neck”, stop winding and clip excess wire close to the last wrap. If a small tail sticks out, use the round hole in the crimping pliers to bring the tail in close to the last wrap.
Make another loop on the 18g wire at the end — it should be on the same side of the wire as the first loop.
Use the chain nosed pliers to create a tight swirl around each loop, about 2 rotations.
Attach jump rings to each swirl, and thread chain through jump rings.
– L. Kvigne
