Moonlit Multi-strand Necklace

The multi-strand necklace was the very first beading/jewelry technique that I ever learned. I was working at a bookstore at the time, and a beading kit ended up on the clearance table for 75% off. I scooped up two of them, with the idea of using the beads for crafts.

I didn’t expect the actual project to be so appealing until I opened the kit and saw how easy it could be. That year, nearly everyone received multi-strand necklaces for Christmas.

The Inspiration:

Multi-strand necklaces are wonderful because it’s almost like bathing yourself in beads. The way the strands flow and drape is unlike any other style of necklace there is. I haven’t made any multi-strand pieces since giving up metals, and I’ve really been missing them. So I set out to find a way to create a lovely shower of beads without the use of eye pins.

The Beads:

For this experiment I threw together a mixture of interesting shapes and colors to inspire a really unique multi-strand necklace. I chose heavy metal rainbow mix seed beads, gunmetal twisted bugles, jet black Czech druks, and gold lined black diamond 15o’s.

The Beadwork:

I replaced the traditional eye pin, bead cone and clasp necklace ends with short herringbone tubes. These became the base for a beaded clasp as well as the individual bead strands. For fun, I used brick stitch to turn the black druks into tiny little flowers, adding some green fringe for leaves.

I’m pretty happy with the results of my experiment. I can see using larger beads for the herringbone tubes, allowing for even more bead strands without increasing the size of the tubes too much. I really prefer the beaded clasp, since it means there are no wires to bend or jump rings to fiddle with. Simplicity is good.