Page 5      Freshwater Pearl Beads Necklace Jewelry Making Project

Step 21:  Begin threading the beads in sequence.  The sequence can be viewed at right and is relatively simple.  First a freshwater pearl followed by a size 11 seed bead, then a 2x4mm bugle bead and a size 11 seed bead.  With the second size 11 seed bead, the sequence begins again.  Continue threading beads until you have about 24 inches of beads, ending with a freshwater pearl.  Whenever you are ready to set the strand of beads down, clasp the open end of the Soft Flex in your hemostat or other clamp.  This will avoid your playing follow the bouncing bead.  (In our house, we use the hemostat and still end up playing follow the bouncing bead all too frequently.  The hemostat won't prevent runaway beads, but it will help to minimize it.)

Step 22:  After threading the last freshwater pearl, then thread two 2x2mm crimp beads as we prepare to finish the necklace by adding the hook wire component.

Step 23:  Thread the remaining Soft Flex through the closed loop in your hook wire component.  As you can see at left, the closed loop is the loop that is wrapped closed by the fine gauge wire.

Step 24:  Now thread the remaining Soft Flex back through the two 2x2mm crimp beads.  You will want to pull the Soft Flex to remove all slack.  This process can be aided by using your bent chain nose pliers to grasp the Soft Flex as shown in the middle of this web page. 

Step 25:  Once you have the Soft Flex and crimp beads pulled snugly against the clasp, with no slack in the Soft Flex you are ready to crimp the crimp bead closest to the clasp.  After successfully crimping that bead, then crimp the second crimp bead. 

That completes your Freshwater Pearl Necklace.  Please consider making this necklace using a variety of colors of 2x4mm bugle beads and/or other colors of freshwater pearls.