Make a Triple Strand Necklace with these easy steps

It’s spring here in New Zealand, it’s always lovely and green in the spring time here. That’s what inspired today’s tutorial – the green colours of spring.

This triple strand necklace uses a connector in an unexpected way to join the three strands together. The techniques I’m using are opening and closing jump rings, basic loops and wire wrapped loops to make this.

Materials

To make this necklace you will need:

Tools

The tools I used to make these earrings are:

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below.

Open the Jump Rings

Before you start open all of the 6mm jump rings. This will make it much easier to attach them as you won’t have to put your work down when joining the rings together. Make sure that all the 4mm jump rings are closed.

Make the Bead Frame Components

Cut a piece of wire and make a basic loop in one end. If you’re new to jewellery making and would like to watch a video on how to do this, here’s my video on making simple loops.

Thread a 3mm spacer bead onto the wire, then thread the wire through one of the holes of the bead frame, bringing it above the other hole.

Thread on one of the 6mm Electroplated beads, then another 3mm spacer bead.

Now gently pull back on the wire until it pops inside the bead frame. Thread it through the other hole. Bend the wire over at a right angle, then make a loop.

Repeat eight more times. You need nine of these bead frame components.

Once you have made all nine, take each loop in a pair of chain nose pliers and rotate until the loops are facing the same way.

Make the Druk Components

We are going to make the Druk components next using wire wrapped loops. If you haven’t made them before you can watch this video all about making wire wrapped loops.

The best piece of advice I can give you when making a wire wrapped loop is to give yourself plenty of room on the wrapping end.

If you want my best tip for tucking in the end of the wire, and how I used my crimping pliers here, please watch the video for this tutorial.

Make a wire wrapped loop in one end of the wire, feed on the druk, then make another wire wrapped loop on the other end.

Repeat until you have eight of these druk connectors.

Using the same method as before, make sure that the loops on each component are facing the same way.

Make the Rondelle Components

Using the same process as for the Druk component, make six of the rondelle components.

Strand One

Lay out the components for strand 1 using the layout diagram below. Make sure that all the bead frame components are facing the same way.

Each component is joined with a group of three jump rings, one 6mm, one 4mm and another 6mm. If you’ve never worked with jump rings before you can watch this video all about jump rings.

Take the first 6mm jump ring and add on the first druk component and a 4mm jump ring. Close the jump ring.

Take another 6mm jump ring and add on the 4mm one you just added, along with the loop of the next bead frame – make sure you add the loop on the side with the small bead inside. Close the jump ring.

Carry on and join all the of components using the same technique with the three jump rings between.

Strand Two

Next layout out the components for strand two using the diagram below. Ensure the bead frames are facing the same was as the previous strand.

Notice that there are two additional jump rings between the first druk component and the bead frame component.

Join the components in the same manner as before.

Strand Three

Lay out the components for strand three following the diagram below.

Join in the same manner as before.

Add the Connector

Now it’s time to join all the strands together using the connector. Use 4mm jump rings to connect each strand to the connector. It’s best to lie the necklace back down between each addition to check that everything is still in the correct order.

Repeat for the other side.

Add the Chain

Cut two pieces of chain 13cm long. This should leave you apiece of about 5cm. Put this piece aside. Open a 4mm jump ring and thread on the final loop of the connector as well as the end of one of the 13cm pieces of chain. Close the jump ring.

Repeat for the other side.

Add the Clasp and Extender

This lobster clasp comes with a 4mm jump ring on either side. We will use one of those jump rings.

Open a 6mm jump ring and thread on the 4mm jump ring from the clasp, as well as the end link of the 5cm piece of the chain. Close the jump ring.

Open another 4mm jump ring and thread on the other end of the 5cm piece of chain as well as the teardrop dangle. Close the jump ring.

Open another 6mm jump ring and thread on the end link of the other end of the necklace. Close the jump ring. Discard the 4mm jump ring from the opening end of the clasp.

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