Jewelry Making Techniques & Skills
You'll find information ranging from opening/closing jump rings to executing advanced offloom bead stitches.
How to Add a Tension or Stopper Bead
A tension or stopper bead keeps your beads from falling off the thread and maintains the structure of a piece of beawork. Learn how to do this essential beading technique.
How to Close a Bead Tip
Use the proper technique for closing your bead tips to avoid breakage or snagging.
How to Close a Crimp Bead
Crimping is a technique used to secure beading wire. It's commonly used to connect clasps, although it can also be used as a design element, too. Basically, it involves crushing a metal bead or coil onto the wire, to hold it in place. Here's how you do it...
How to Dye Pearls
Can't find pearls in just the right color? Learn how to dye pearls and other porous materials, such as shells or bone, using storebought dyes or colors that you mix yourself.
How to Make a Beaded Spiral Rope Chain
This easy beading stitch results in a flexible rope of beads. The spiral rope looks lovely by itself, but it is also easy to embellish either during the beadweaving or after the rope is complete.
How to Make an Illusion Necklace
Pearls or other beads strung on clear cord make delicate illusion necklaces, but it can be difficult to handle the knots, glue, or crimps required by many designs. Here's an easy and beautiful alternative technique!
How to Make Beaded Stars or Mandalas
Learn circular peyote (gourd) stitch and netting! These beaded stars or mandalas are easy to stitch and make great earrings, pendants, or small ornaments. You can adapt these instructions to make stars of other sizes or with more/fewer points.
How to Make a Beaded Ladder
The ladder stitch is used to make chains and to serve as the foundation for embellishments. Here are instructions for the single and double needle methods of doing this versatile beadwork stitch. In addition to beading thread, try this stitch with wire or jewelry elastic.
How to Make a Chain Maille Necklace
Call it chain maille or call it jump ring jewelry - either way, the technique is easy and the results are stunning! This necklace, based on a Japanese motif, is a great beginner project. It doesn't take too long to complete, yet uses several techniques that you can apply to make lots of different designs.
How to Make a Clasp
It's really easy to make your own clasps using nothing more complicated than wire, cutters, and a pair of pliers!
How to Make a Coiled Wire Dangle
Wire coils look cool and are easy to make. These instructions will show you how to make a flat coil, which I have used to secure a bead to make a decorative dangle.
How to Make Earwires
It's easy to make your own earwires using roundnose pliers or a jig. Why would you want to make earwires? You can choose your own metal, style, and gauge. This gives you more design options than you would get ordering pre-made earwires, plus it's a great way to save money.
How to Make Jump Rings
Jump rings are great all-purpose connectors, although you can also use them as primary components for chain maille and other types of jump ring jewelry. They are easy to make, but there are a few tricks to making them right! Don't limit yourself to round rings - try triangles, hexagons, squares, and ovals.
How to String Beads
Stringing is a fundamental beading and jewelrymaking technique. If you're unclear on what stringing means, here's a diagram and a descirption for you.
How to Tie a Half Knot
Alternating right and left half knots make a square knot. Lots of half knots make a spiral. Learn how to tie this basic macrame and hemp knot.
How to Tie an Overhand Knot
I bet you already know how to tie this knot, even though you might not have been sure about its name! Easy and essential.
How to Open & Close Jump Rings
This is a basic technique, but it's important to do it right. Find out how to open and close jump rings correctly.
How to Set a Heart Stone in a V-Prong Setting
Or set a marquis, princess, or pear stone! Learning to set your own stones will save you money and give you a sense of satisfaction. It isn't too difficult, but you need to have patience to do the job right.
How to Solder Sterling Silver Jump Rings
Whether you make your own jump rings or purchase them, sometimes you will need to make them into solid rings. Don't be intimidated by soldering - it's easy!
How to String Jewelry Using Bead Tips
Make strong and beautiful strung beaded jewelry using bead tips. I've included instructions for knotting your cord, so you can hand-knot your own pearls, too.
How to Wear a Lariat or Rope Necklace
There's no right or wrong way to tie or wear a lariat. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing!
Free Beadwork Tutorials
Paula Morgan has tutorials for the main bead stitches and several other jewelry making techniques.
Lapidary Journal: In the Workshop
These articles cover several jewelry making techniques. Numerous articles are devoted to soldering.
