Project 202-2
Beading Lesson
Creating Illusion-Style Necklaces

By Katie Hacker

Sponsor:
Beadalon®

For tools and supplies
visit Beadalon.com


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Illusion-style necklaces are always popular and it's easy to make them yourself.

Illusion-style necklaces feature beads that seem to float on the neck. They're similar to knotted tin cup-style necklaces but you use crimp beads instead of knots to hold the beaded sections in place. They look especially great when used with gold or silver-plated beading wire.

To attach a crimp bead, you'll need a special crimping tool. The inner jaws make an indentation in the crimp bead or tube and the outer jaws fold the crimp bead or tube so that it is slightly rounded. The crimping tool makes crimp beads less noticeable in a design and gives you a more professional looking finish. It's important to use a crimping tool instead of regular pliers. When you use regular pliers, you can accidentally cut into the beading wire.

To use the tool, place a crimp bead inside the inner jaws and squeeze it hard. Remove the crimp bead, turn it 90 degrees and place it in the outer jaws of the tool. Squeeze it gently to fold the crimp bead in half.

String a bead onto the necklace, and then attach another crimp bead. The trickiest part of making an illusion necklace is maintaining even spacing for the beaded sections. We
recommend cutting a piece of rubber tubing or drinking straw to use as a guide.

Slip the rubber tubing onto the wire. String a crimp bead and position it next to the end. Use a crimping tool to crimp the crimp bead, and then remove the rubber tubing.

You can leave the crimp bead as-is, or you can add a crimp cover. Crimp covers are special sterling silver beads that hide the crimp bead and add a more decorative look.

To open a crimp cover, place it on the tip of the bead opener tool. Place it into the indentation in the top of the bead opener block. Press downward to open the bead. Turn it over and open the other end of the bead. Place the crimp cover over a crimp and use the outer jaws of a mighty crimp tool to close it.

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