Crystal Ball Necklace

Learn how to make a sparkling little crystal ball necklace. We chose to make our necklace with Preciosa Bicone crystal beads, in Aquamarine colour to celebrate the birthstone of March. Or you could choose the birthstone colour of your choice, there are so many crystal colours to browse! Because this pendant is 3 dimensional, it moves around when it's being worn, all the facets of the crystal beads catch the light beautifully. This mini project is perfect for beginners to bead weaving and gives an introduction to right angle weave. Let's make a beautiful crystal beaded necklace!

Materials used

12 x 5mm Preciosa Aquamarine Crystal Bicone Beads (CPB560000-24)

8 x 3mm Preciosa Aquamarine Crystal Beas (CPB360000-20)

Reel of Beading thread, we used Turquoise Nymo, (NMD18-1), but you could also use KO beading thread (KO)

White Gold Plated 18" Trace chain (CHB18WG-1)

Tools Required

a size 15 beading needle (ND15)

a sharp pair of scissors (SCIMX)

Two pairs of chain nosed pliers (BEECN)

Instructions

Legend - A = 5mm crystal bead, B = 3mm crystal bead

Please note, we used different beads in our photos, because we found them easier to show the stitch/position of the beads (in comparison to shiny sparkling crystal beads!)

1. Thread your needle on to 1m of stretched beading thread. Leaving a 15cm tail, pick up 4A, circle around to pass back through the first A (Picture 1)

2. Pass through the next 2A (photo 2)

3. Pick up 3 A and pass through the bead your thread exited from to form a circle (photo 3)

4 Pass through 2A (photo 4)

5. Pick up 3A and pass through the bead your thread exited from to form a circle (photo 5)

6. Pass through 2A (photo 6)

7. Pick 1 A and pass through the very first A picked up in step 1 (photo 7)

8. Pick up 1A and pass back through the bead your thread exited from in step 7 (photo 8a), pull the threads from step 7 & 8 to form a ball (photo 8b) pass around all the beads again to make sure your beadwork is secure, and holding its form (photo 8b)

9. Exit a top A (photo 9), pick up 1B and pass through the next top A (photo 10), repeat around the top, so you have used 4B (photo 11)

10. Weave down to the bottom, and repeat step 9. Weave in and secure your thread

11. Take your trace chain, using chain nosed pliers, remove the end jump ring, so it can be threaded through your crystal ball. Thread the chain though the middle gap in your crystal ball. Then pop the end jump ring back on.