Handmade Gemstone & Crystal Link Necklace

This video will show you how to make a Handmade Link necklace with a wire wrapped pendant. The necklace made in the video has Blue Chalcedony Gemstones, Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals and an Agate Heart Pendant. You can switch the beads and pendant out and use anything you like!

Step 1: Watch My DIY Video or Follow the Easy Steps

This instructable shows you how I made a Handmade Link Necklace using Blue Chalcedony Gemstones, Freshwater Pearls, Swarovski Crystals and an Agate Heart Pendant. You can use any color and style beads that you like and you can also switch out the pendant!

Step 2: You Will Need:

50-60 Beads of choice

Lobster Clasp

22 Gauge Wire

Needle Nose Pliers

Bent Nose Pliers

Cutters

Gemstone Pendant Bead

Step 3:

Let's start by wire wrapping the Gemstone Pendant Bead.

Cut a piece of wire about 8" long.

Step 4:

Thread the wire through the Gemstone Bead and pull both sides of the wire upwards.

Grasp both wires with the needle nose pliers, right above the bead.

Step 5:

Now bend the wire towards you.

Open the pliers, keeping the wire in place, and turn the pliers towards you. Close the pliers back down onto the wire.

Step 6:

Bend the wire away from you. Open the pliers, keeping the wire in place, and turn the pliers away from you. Close the wires back down onto the wire.

Step 7:

Turn the back of the bead of to face you. Pull the wire down and around itself.

Step 8:

Like this.

Wire wrap down to the top of the bead, making sure to wrap tightly so the bead is nice and snug.

Step 9:

Make sure your wires end at the back of the bead, like this.

Step 10:

Now go ahead and cut off the excess wire with the cutters. Use your bent nose pliers to flatten and smooth the cut end of wire.

Step 11:

Now that you have your Gemstone Pendant ready to go, let's make a necklace to put it on!

Step 12:

Start by cutting a 3" piece of wire. Grab the end of the wire with the middle of the needle nose pliers.

Step 13:

Turn the wire 360 degrees to create a circle. This is called the "eye".

Step 14:

Bend the wire sticking out, called the "stem", down so it comes straight out from the center of the circle.

Step 15:

Flatten the eye. This also harden the wire, making your links stronger.

It should end up looking like a lollipop.

Step 16:

Go ahead and slide on your bead of choice.

Then grasp the wire above the bead with the middle of the needle nose pliers.

Step 17:

Like you did with the Pendant, bend the wire towards you. Then open the pliers, keeping the wire in place, and turn the pliers towards you. Close the pliers back down onto the wire.

Step 18:

Bend the wire away from you. Open the pliers, keeping the wire in place, and turn the pliers away from you. Close the pliers back down onto the wire.

You'll notice it's a "back and forth" kind of process. Once I got the saying "towards towards away away" in my head when first learning this process, I was able to make these links faster and faster. Once you get the process down you'll be able to make them in no time too!

Step 19:

Your link should look like this.

Step 20:

Now go ahead and create links with the rest of your beads.

Arrange your beads in the pattern you would like them in for your necklace.

Step 21:

To start the necklace, grab your first bead, the one that will be connected to the pendant. Take your second bead and slide it's stem through the eye of your first bead.

Now grasp the stem of the second bead with the middle of the pliers.

Step 22:

Wrap the stem down and under itself. Continue wrapping down until you reach the top of the bead, making sure to wrap tightly so the bead is nice and snug.

Step 23:

Trim off the excess wire use the bent nose pliers to flatten and smooth the cut end of wire.

Step 24:

Repeat this process until you've used half your beads for the first side of the necklace.

Then make your matching second side of necklace.

Step 25:

Now were going to make our own closures for the necklace. Normally the ends of necklaces and bracelets are finished with jump rings. This is a great and easy way to finish off your necklace but sometimes jump rings can open, causing your necklace to fall off. We've spent too much time on this necklace for it to just fall off right? Right! Wire wrapping our own closures will make sure the necklace will not fall off :) So let's get to it...

Cut 2 pieces of wire that are about 4" long and have your lobster clasp ready to go.

Step 26:

Grab a piece of the wire with the middle of your needle nose pliers. Bent both sides of the wire upwards.

Step 27:

Slide the eye of the last link on your necklace onto the wire.

Grasp the bottom side of the wire with your needle nose pliers.

Step 28:

Now bend one side of the wire down and around the other side of wire. Begin to wrap the wire up and around a few times.

Step 29:

Trim off the excess wire and flatten and smooth the cut end.

Step 30:

Grab the wire with the middle of the needle nose pliers right above the twist you just made.

Repeat the same process as before, bending the wire towards you and turning the pliers towards you. Then bend the wire away from you and turn the pliers away from you.

Step 31:

Wrap the end of the wire down and around just like before. Trim off the excess wire and flatten and smooth it with the bent nose pliers.

Step 32:

Repeat the same process for the other side of the necklace with the second piece of wire, making sure to slide the Lobster Clasp onto the eye this time before wire wrapping it closed.

Step 33:

Time to finish. Grab the end of one of the sides of the necklace. Slide the stem through the eye of the Pendant Bead. Grab the side of the stem and wrap the wire down and around just like before. Trim and flatten the excess wire.

Step 34:

Go ahead and wire wrap the other side of the necklace onto the pendant as well.

Step 35:

Tadaa!! A Handmade Gemstone & Crystal Link Necklace :) I would love to see what you create!