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Crystal dangle necklace

Connect chain, faceted beads, and even a fiber-optic component in varying shades of one color for a gorgeous look.

Here’s an opportunity to perfect your wrapped loops while creating a lovely necklace. Instead of purchasing a premade pendant, why not substitute a fiber-optic bead and crystals? Finish by attaching dangles to various links of chain. You will be pleased with your skills as well as with the results, so make a quick pair of earrings to match. The instructions can be found on the PDF!

SUPPLIES

necklace

10–12 10–12mm faceted glass beads
6-in. (15cm) strand 4mm round Czech fire-polished crystals
8 4mm bicone crystals
4–6mm fiber-optic bead
22–26 4–5mm flat spacers
28–34 in. (71–86cm) 24-gauge half-hard wire
10–14 in. (25–36cm) chain, 4mm links
36 1 1⁄2-in. (3.8cm) head pins
2 4–6mm split rings
toggle clasp
chainnose and roundnose pliers
diagonal wire cutters
split-ring pliers (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Don't forget to make matching earrings!

Use up your extra beads and whip up these matching earrings to complete your look. The instructions can be found on the free PDF.

1. Cut a 2 1⁄2-in. (6.4cm) piece of wire. Make the first half of a wrapped loop at one end. String: round crystal, flat spacer, 10–12mm bead, spacer, round. Make the first half of a wrapped loop at the other end. Make a total of ten to 12 bead units.

2. Cut nine 1-in. (2.5cm) pieces of chain. Attach a loop of a bead unit to a chain.

Continue attaching the remaining bead units and chains until you have connected all the bead units. (My necklaces are 16 in./41cm.)

End with a bead unit. Check the fit and add or remove chain units or bead units if necessary. Complete the wraps.

3. To make a bead dangle: Cut a 2 1⁄2-in. (6.4cm) piece of wire. Make a wrapped loop at one end. String: bicone crystal, spacer, fiber-optic bead, spacer, bicone. Make the first half of a wrapped loop above the top bead.

4. String a bicone on each of three head pins. Make a plain loop above each bead. Cut a 1⁄2-in. (1.3cm) piece of chain. Open the loop of a bead unit and attach it to a chain link. Attach the remaining bead units to the chain. Repeat to make a second chain dangle.

5. Attach each chain dangle to the loop of the bead dangle. Attach the loop to the center link of the necklace. Complete the wraps.

6. String a round crystal on a head pin. Make a plain loop above the crystal. Repeat with the remaining head pins and round crystals. Attach three bead units to each chain segment.

7. Use a split ring to attach half of the clasp and the loop of one end of the necklace. Repeat on the other end.