Memory Wire Necklace Tutorial: Make a Statement

I’m playing with some memory wire today to make a beautiful focal necklace.  I was thinking that I hadn’t used memory wire in a long while so I would bracelet but then I decided that I should make a necklace instead.

Materials

To make this necklace you will need:

Tools

The tools I used to make this necklace are:

If you don’t have the pliers set you will need:

Instructions

Watch the video or read the instructions below:

Make the Dangles

Cut a piece of the 20 gauge wire.  Using the 1-step looper make a loop in one end.  Thread on the crackle bead, the stardust bead and the bicone, then make a loop in the other end.

If you don’t have a 1-step looper, use this technique to make the perfect loops.

Repeat until you have 11 dangles.

Join the dangles together in the following configuration.

  • Join three dangles x1
  • Join two dangles x 2
  • You will have four individual dangles left.

Adding the Jump Rings

Make sure that your jump rings are really well closed and sitting nice and flush.  It’s important for this project.

Open the top loop (closest to the bicone) of an individual dangle and thread on the jump ring.  Close the loop.  Repeat for the other dangles until you have one jump ring attached to the top of each dangle.

Threading the Necklace

Put the bead stopper on one end of the memory wire. Thread 22 beads on to the memory wire. Thread on the jump ring of one of the individual dangles.  Repeat.

Next thread on the jump ring of a double dangle, then a triple, a double and two more individuals. Your focal should look like this:

Thread on another 22 beads.  

Check the Length and Finish

Holding the end without the bead stopper very carefully, so the beads don’t fall off, put the necklace around your neck to check the length.  The part without the beads should cross over a little.  If you need to add more beads, do so now.  I was happy with mine crossing over with no beads.  

Put one end of the memory wire into the round nose pliers about half way up and make a reasonably large P loop facing in towards the curve of the necklace.  Repeat on the other end.

That’s all there is to it.  

Update

I decided after wearing this necklace that I needed to add a clasp. You can see how I did that here.

Now you have this stunning statement necklace.

I just love the colours I’ve used here.  The sea green of the crackle beads is stunning. This necklace would look amazing with a cocktail dress but you could also wear it with your shorts and a t-shirt to ramp up the look.

I Was Wrong

I've since posted an update on this project regarding how it sits. Make sure you check this out and find out what I was wrong about.

Jewellery I'm Wearing

The necklace I was wearing in the video was a vintage one of my mother’s so no tutorial for that one. I have been looking for the longest time for beads like these but I have not been able to find any.

I made the earrings as part of my 5-Minute Earrings Series last year.  The tutorial can be found here.

Spring Cage Earrings Tutorial

I have also done a tutorial on the bracelet which can be found here.

Wire Wrapped Orange and Red Bracelet Tutorial

I really hope that you enjoyed this foray into the world of memory wire and that you decide to make this necklace.  Please let me know in the comments section below.

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July 14, 2022