Making A Tri-Strand Beaded Necklace

If it's true that a cord of three strands is not quickly broken, this easy, tri-strand beaded necklace ought to last forever! The simple pattern is a dream to make, the perfect project for beginners, and yet it has an elegance and sophistication to it that beginner's projects typically lack.

To make the tri-strand beaded necklace, you'll need:

Craft thread (quilting thread works well if you don't have craft thread on hand)
A needle
A pair of sharp scissors
A necklace clasp, of any kind; I like to use the barrel closures
3 packages of 11/0 seed beads, or similar beads; I like 11/0 Rocaille beads, but any seed beads will work.

Once you've made the necklace, and gotten the hang of it, you may wish to experiment with different beads. For example, using three different sizes of seed pearls, with the smallest on top and the largest on bottom, gives a stunning layered look. Or, make two strands out of pearls and one out of cloisonn?. For now, however, stick to the simplest of beads forms; the seed bead, a fun, elegant, yet inexpensive choice.

A word about your needle: the eye should be large enough to thread easily, but small enough to slip through your beads. Always test the needle, by sliding it through two or three of the beads, to make sure that it fits easily through the hole.

To begin, cut three strands of your craft or quilting thread. One should be 21 inches, one should be 17 inches, and one should be 13 inches. You may wish to play around with these lengths once you've made this first necklace.

Gather the threads, with one end even, and attach the even ends to one half of your necklace clasp. I typically slip the threads through and tie them; a drop of glue on the knot adds strength. You should now have half a necklace clasp with three threads of three different lengths hanging from it.

Beginning with the shortest thread, the 13 inch, thread your needle and string your beads. Ideally, you should stop at least 2 inches short of the end of the thread; this will give you room to tie off your thread.

You want to be very careful at this stage. Without losing any of the beads, thread the end of the 13 inch strand through the second half of your necklace clasp, and tie it on. This will keep your beads from slipping off the smallest strand while you do the other two.

Repeat the procedure with the 17 inch and the 21 inch threads, again, stopping 2 inches short of the end and tying them onto the necklace clasp. Once each strand is finished, add a drop of glue to the second half of the clasp, just as you did to the first, to add strength to the knots.

When you're finished, you should have three swags of beads, roughly 18, 14, and 10 inches, respectively.

Because these necklaces are so simple and easy to make, they make great crafts for kids 8 and older, and great party favors or gifts. Teens can make and exchange these necklaces, and children will find they make great Mother's Day gifts. Children will probably want to work with larger beads, which are easier to work with. A nice 05/0 or 06/0 bead is generally best for kids 8-12, and some adults may prefer the larger sizes, as well! Tri-strand bead necklaces can be made with any kind of bead, in any kind of colors, and a pendant can be added to the lowest strand, making these the most versatile of all bead necklaces.

Article by webmaster of an information, advice and tips website about Charms and Things where you can be advised on how to choose different charms for your own charm bracelets