DIY Network

Stringing Pearls From "Jewelry Making" episode DJMK-206

After years of wear, your skin's acid can diminish the strength of pearls. Preserve your heirlooms by res-tringing.

Guest artist Marilyn Johnson demonstrates the technique for stringing your own pearls.

Materials:

Beads of choice
Thread
French wire
Clasp
Hypo cement glue
Beading tweezers and awl
Wire cutter

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Choose wire size to accommodate chosen thread and needle size (fine, medium, or heavy).




1. Cut two small pieces, between 1/4" and1/2" with a wire cutter.

   
   

2. Set aside 6 beads.

   
   

3. Thread three of these beads, leaving a 4" tail. Thread on one piece of French wire (very gently so as not to unravel it); thread on the clasp. Thread the needle back through the first bead (figure A), skipping over the French wire and pulling thread all the way through until French wire forms a loop over the loop on the clasp. Next, tie an overhand knot and pass the thread through the second bead, Tie another overhand knot and pass through the third bead (figure B); tie a knot using the tail and the thread. Use a dab of glue on the knot and on the "tail" and trim away the excess tail.

   
   

4. Now start adding a bead at a time and knotting by forming a loop for a knot and pulling it close to the bead. Put beading tweezers through loop and grasp thread coming out of bead; pull thread making loop smaller while continuing to grasp thread (figure C). Once this is done, holding thread with thumb and forefinger pull thread while pushing back on knot with beading tweezers.

   
   

5. Repeat this process until there are only three beads left.

   
   

6. Thread on the last three beads, the last piece of French wire and the end of clasp.

   
   

7. Thread needle back through the first bead, tie a knot, go through the second bead and tie your last knot.

   
   

8. Lightly glue the knot and a little of what will be the tail. When dry, cut all thread ends with flush-cutting scissors.

GUESTS :

Marilyn Johnson
MJ Design Studio
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