Introduction: 5 Layered African Style Bead Necklace

This is a 5 layered African style necklace made of sugar-beads and a big pendant. I have chosen green sugar beads according to my pendant color. This ornament goes well with saris as well as with casuals. You need a lot of patience to do the necklace since the beads are so tiny. Happy Beading!

Let's START!

Step 1: Step-1: Materials Required:

1. Pendant with multiple holes ( I have one with 5 holes)
2. Multi-holed metal.  (This is used to differentiate each layer.  I don't know what it is exactly called as. here I have chosen 1 with 5
     holes.) (See Fig.2)
3. Sugar beads of you favourite color ( should complement the Pendant you have taken).
4. Craft Wire
5. Gear locks
6. Necklace caps (It is a cup shaped metal piece used before inseting the necklace hook).
7. Necklace Hooks
8. Necklace Ring.
9. Scissors
10. Flat nose Pliers.
11. Candle (Optional)

Step 2: Step2: How to Start Making Layers?

1. Cut 5 pieces of Craft wire with following lengths: 68 cm, 62 cm, 56 cm, 50 cm and 44 cm.
    Note: 65 cm wire is for the outer most layer (Hole-5) and 45 cm for the inner most layer (Hole-1).

2. Tie 44 cm wire to 'Hole-1' ,50 cm to 'Hole-2', 56 cm to 'Hole-3', 62 cm to 'Hole-4' and 68 cm to 'Hole-5' of the pendant.


Step 3: Step 3: How to Use a Gear Lock to Tighten the Knot?

1. After making the knot, insert a locking pin to tighten the knot. You should insert the extra piece remaining after inserting the knot in to the gear lock to make the knot tight.

2. To lock the gear lock, press the gear lock using a flat nose pliers.  

Step 4: Step 4: This Is How Your Layers Would Look Like.

1. Bead 150 sugar beads in to smallest craft wire. After beading lock the beads using a gear lock. 
    Note: How to lock using gear lock? - Insert one gear lock at the end of the sugar-bead and press the gear lock using a flat 
               nose pliers. 

2. Bead 200 sugar beads in next craft wire which is attached to hole-2 of the pendant. After beading lock the beads using a gear
     lock.

3. Continue beading by increasing the number of beads for remaining craft wires attached to hole-3,4 and 5 of the pendant.

Here I have used a little bigger bead of the same color in between as a marker for me to find out that I have completed 50 sugar beads.

Step 5: Step 5: Differentiating the Layers Using a Multi-holed Piece.

1.Now take a Multi-holed metal.

2. Take the layers one by one and pull it across the Multi-holed metal. 

3. Now lock each wire using gear lock by pushing the maximum towards the Multi-holed metal. (I have explained this in Step-3 or you can refer to the figures given below.)

Now you have completed the main part of the necklace i.e. creating the layers!

Step 6: Step-6: What to Do With the Remaining Craft Wire?

1. Bead the remaining craft wire with sugar-beads leaving  behind 1-1.5 inch at the end of the craft wire to attach the necklace hook.

2. Lock the beads in each craft wire using gear locks. (refer Step-3)

You are half-way now... A little more to go to finish your beautiful necklace.

Step 7: Step-7: Attaching Necklace Hooks.

1. Insert all the 5 wires in to a 'Necklace Cap' and then attach the 'Necklace hook' and lock it using a gear lock.

      Now one end of the necklace is completed.


Step 8: Step-8: Other Side of the Necklace.

1.  Tie 5 craft wires of 15 cm length and tie it in to hole-6 of the pendant.

2.  Bead each craft wire with sugar-beads leaving 1-1.5 inch of the craft wire to attach the 'Necklace Ring.

3. Lock the beads in each craft wire using gear locks.

4. Insert all the 5 wires in to a 'Necklace Cap' and then attach the 'Necklace Ring' and lock it using a gear lock.


Step 9: Step-9: Optional Step!

If there is any extra piece of craft wire u can use a candle to melt it and stick all the 5 wires together for additional safety. But should be very careful while doing it, since it can damage your whole work. There are chances that the craft wire may get cut instead of melting depending up on the material.


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