Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace

Celtic Carnelian Necklace

by Jennifer VanBenschoten

Category: Contemporary
Technique(s): Chain Making, Making Loops
Skill Level: Beginner

This striking bead and wire chain necklace is a snap to make and assemble. The chunky carnelian nugget beads take center stage and are nicely accented by the copper Celtic pendant. Mixed metals of copper and brass create a contemporary color palette with the carnelian beads. The best part about this necklace? You can always adjust the length by adding or removing links, and you can mix it up by adding other gemstone links in between the chunky carnelian nugget beads. Experiment with the design and have fun!

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Copper Wire

H11-20H

Lesson Quantity: 10.00 feet
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
Price: $0.41
Gold Club Price: $0.31

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20mm carnelian rough cut beads

Lesson Quantity: 18.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 18.00 each

26mm Tierra Cast Celtic charm

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

3mm brass spacer beads

Lesson Quantity: 38.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

16-gauge 5mm ID round Copper jump rings

Lesson Quantity: 3.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

20mm copper toggle clasp

Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each

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Tools

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches

PLR-487.00

PLR-487.00
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $14.97
Gold Club Price: $11.23

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Round Nose Wire Plier

G2-507

G2-507
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Chain Nose Wire Plier

G2-508

G2-508
Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
Price: $32.95
Gold Club Price: $24.71

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Instructions

Step 1

You can work directly off your spool of wire. If you choose to do this, you can string all the beads beforehand to minimize wire waste. Start by stringing on one 3mm brass bead, 1 carnelian bead, and two 3mm brass beads. Repeat until you’ve added all the carnelian beads, with two 3mm brass beads between each carnelian bead. Alternatively, you can add the 3 beads each time you begin a new link,

Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, string the beads onto the wire

Step 2

Make a simple loop at the end of the wire, and slide down a 3mm brass bead, a carnelian bead and another 3mm brass bead. Snug the beads up against the loop.

Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a loop and slide down the beads

Step 3

Make a 90 degree bend in the wire up against the last 3mm brass bead, and make another simple loop. Trim the loop to remove the link from the wire, and then adjust the size and shape of the loop as desired using your chain nose pliers.

Step 4

Make a wire loop at the end of the wire, and slide the next trio of beads up against it: 3mm brass bead, carnelian bead, 3mm brass bead. Make a 90 degree bend in the working end of the wire and make a wire loop. Trim the loop and remove the unit from the wire. Repeat until you’ve completed all 18 links.

Step 5

Time to assemble your necklace! Using your chain nose pliers, open a loop on one of the carnelian bead links and attach it to another link and close the loop. Make two 9-link chains for the two sides of the necklace.

Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, connect the links

Step 6

Open one of the 5mm copper jump rings and attach the toggle end of the clasp and the last carnelian bead link. Close the jump ring. Repeat on the other side with the toggle loop, using a jump ring to attach it to the last carnelian bead link on that side. Add another jump ring to the pendant and attach the other sides of the chains to the jump ring, so the pendant hangs in the middle.