Magnifying Necklace

Intro: Magnifying Necklace

This is an entry for the Etsy & Instructables SewUseFul contest. This beautiful and easy to make necklace provides the wearer with a great magnifying glass to see fine print, beads, electronic or anything! This item is currently for sale on Etsy, check it out and my other items:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6282204

To make this item you will need a magnifying glass, sterling silver wire (I used 22 gauge but you can use thicker if you have heavier beads), jade, glass and pearl beads, and sterling silver chain. Tools required are a pair of round needle noise pliers, flat pliers and wire snipers.

STEP 1: Creating a Link Step 1

To make this necklace you simply need to make links for your beads. Cut a piece of wire, the length with depend on the size of your bead. Here I used about a 4mm length.

Picture 1: Hold the piece of wire near one end with your needle noise pliers.

Picture 2: Then use your fingers to hold the longer end (bottom) of wire and bend it slightly back, then take hold of the short end (top) and bend it around the piers.

Picture 3: Once you have bent the wire around the pliers it will form a loop.

STEP 2: Creating a Link Step 2

Remove your wire from the pliers and hold the loop sideways with your pliers (picture 1).

Use your fingers or the flat pliers to wrap the remaining wire used to form the loop, around the longer piece of wire (pictures 2 & 3). I suggest wrapping 2 to 3 times around for security.

STEP 3: Creating a Link Step 3

Now if you have wrapped the remaining wire 2 or 3 times and there is still some excess left, use your wire cutters to snip off the excess (picture 1) and the flat pliers to push the cut end flat (picture 2). This last step helps prevent a rough edge that could catch on fabrics later.

STEP 4: Creating a Link Step 4

Now that one side of your link is complete, simply slide your bead on and repeat each step on the other side. Make sure your bead is firmly against the finished when starting your next loop.

If this is your first link then finish the second end just as you did the first end. However if this is a link that needs to be added to chain or other beads then stop once you have made a loop but before you begin wrapping the excess wire.

STEP 5: Adding a Link to Chain

Once you have created a loop, slip the chain onto the wire and into the loop. This is the same for any link you want to add.

Then finish off your link just as you did in previous steps:
1. Wrap exess 2 or 3 times
2. Snip remaining wire
3. Use flat pliers to flatten cut edge

Now just cut your chain whatever length you want and continue to make links adding any bead or chain you like.

STEP 6: Enjoy!

Now enjoy! You can use this technique to make necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other jewelry or crafty items. You can also use gold plated or other wire. Remember that a lower number gauge means a thicker wire (ex: 18g is thicker than 24g) and thicker wires will be more difficult to bend so you may need to use your tools more.

Last, remember to measure. Check the length of your necklace making sure it is long enough to be used comfortably.

Best of Luck!

Comments

[crowsfolly]

I've made a few pendants similar to this for friends that buy vintage jewelery and use it to see hallmarks and other markings. Harbor Frieght sells a set of two magnifying glass in a black plastic holder for $1.99. Use a wire cutting tool to easily snip the plastic framing the glass and voila! Perfect bit of glass to use for a pendant.

[typingmonkey]

Pretty necklace.  Unfortunately this instructable is very generic and simply shows how to make a link for a bead.  It doesn't say how the magnifying pendant was made.  The focal piece is the most interesting part. 

[air4]

Very nice, i'm definitely gonna try to make it for for my mom who has difficulties reading small prints and stuff. but where did you get the magnifier glass with jade? do you buy regular magnifying glass and glued it with the jade?

[rosanna]

Where can you buy the magnifier and the knitting needles. It looks fab pity its sold out. Thanks for sharing

[kaytracy]

Wondrous return of the Quizzinglass! nicely made! I like the instructions for the bead chain, very clear and concise! k

[awoodcarver]

Very nice for those of us with old eyes....uhhhh errr those of us that have trouble with print that they make smaller and smaller that is . I will have to try and do this as a watch fob and get my magnifying glass off my key chain .......Gold wire and what would look good with Mickey and Grumpy?

[robodud3]

now all we need is salvester and tweety