Desert Moon Necklace

Additional Images:

Project details:

I usually see these fringed focals used as earrings, so I decided to try them in a necklace design instead. The fringy paddles frame the neck beautifully. Black lip shell coins add soft iridescent shimmer between the pacific blue apatite.

↓ Step-by-step

↓ Buy the supplies

Supplies you’ll need:

You will need 3 graduated paddle sets in antique silver, 1/2 strand of pacific blue apatite faceted 4mm rounds, 11/0 seed beads, antique silver eye pins, 3' of 2mm leather cord, 4 antique silver jump rings, silver wire, 2 stainless steel ribbon crimp ends, and a lobster clasp. Optional, if you like the look of the Chinese knotting or waxed linen cord wrapped around the leather cord you will need that as well.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Step 1

Slide your beads onto the head pin in the order shown. Create a loop with pliers on the oposite end and wrap the excess wire around the base of the loop. Follow the tip below to learn how to create a wire wrapped bead link. You will need to make three of these.

See Tip: Wire Wrap a Bead Link

Step 2

Open the loop on the fringe focal and slide on the bead link. Close the loop with your pliers. You can always use jump rings to connect these components instead.

Step 3

This is what it should look like when all links & focals are connected. Add a jump ring onto each end of the last link on both sides.

Step 4

Cut (2) 7" pieces of cord. You may want to place the focal piece on your neck to see where you would like it to lay. Then you can decide how much cord to use. Loop your leather cord through the jump ring. Take another jump ring and open it, take the cord and place it in between the jump ring tighten the jump ring closed. The jump ring should be coiled around the cord tight. You could just wrap wire around the cords instead for a smoother finish. Trim one tail of the cord down to the jump ring/wire.

Step 5

Tie on the knotting cord around the jump ring.

Step 6

Start wrapping the knotting cord around until the jump ring is covered. Knot the cord and add a dot of super glue to keep it in place.

Step 7

For the shorter layer of the necklace I cut 14.5" of cord. Measure your neck to see how long your cord needs to be. Cut a 6" piece of wire. String the beads onto the wire in the order shown. Take one side of the wire over the front of the cord and wrap around 3 times. Trim the wire. Do the same on the other side.

Step 8

Trim your cords on bothe necklaces as needed so they lay nicely together. Take your ribbon crimp ends and add a dot of glue inside, then crimp it onto both ends of the cord. Attach your jump rings and clasp.