Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace, Contemporary Wire Jewelry. Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop. This striking bead and wire chain necklace is a snap to make and assemble.
Celtic Carnelian Necklace
by Jennifer VanBenschoten
  • Category: Contemporary
  • Technique(s): Chain Making, Making Loops
  • Skill Level: Beginner
This striking bead and wire chain necklace is a snap to make and assemble. The chunky carnelian nugget beads take center stage and are nicely accented by the copper Celtic pendant. Mixed metals of copper and brass create a contemporary color palette with the carnelian beads. The best part about this necklace? You can always adjust the length by adding or removing links, and you can mix it up by adding other gemstone links in between the chunky carnelian nugget beads. Experiment with the design and have fun!

Materials

20 Gauge Round Half Hard Copper Wire
H11-20H
  • Lesson Quantity: 10.00 feet
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 1FT
  • Price: $0.50
  • Gold Club Price: $0.37
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20mm carnelian rough cut beads
  • Lesson Quantity: 18.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 18.00 each
26mm Tierra Cast Celtic charm
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
3mm brass spacer beads
  • Lesson Quantity: 38.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
16-gauge 5mm ID round Copper jump rings
  • Lesson Quantity: 3.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
20mm copper toggle clasp
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
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Tools

C.H.P Milano Italian Flush Cutter, 5 1/2 Inches
PLR-487.00
  • PLR-487.00
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $16.97
  • Gold Club Price: $12.73
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Round Nose Wire Pliers
G2-507
  • G2-507
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Chain Nose Wire Pliers
G2-508
  • G2-508
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $32.95
  • Gold Club Price: $24.71
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Instructions
Step 1
You can work directly off your spool of wire. If you choose to do this, you can string all the beads beforehand to minimize wire waste. Start by stringing on one 3mm brass bead, 1 carnelian bead, and two 3mm brass beads. Repeat until you’ve added all the carnelian beads, with two 3mm brass beads between each carnelian bead. Alternatively, you can add the 3 beads each time you begin a new link,
Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, string the beads onto the wire
Step 2
Make a simple loop at the end of the wire, and slide down a 3mm brass bead, a carnelian bead and another 3mm brass bead. Snug the beads up against the loop.
Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make a loop and slide down the beads
Step 3
Make a 90 degree bend in the wire up against the last 3mm brass bead, and make another simple loop. Trim the loop to remove the link from the wire, and then adjust the size and shape of the loop as desired using your chain nose pliers.
Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make another simple loop
Step 4
Make a wire loop at the end of the wire, and slide the next trio of beads up against it: 3mm brass bead, carnelian bead, 3mm brass bead. Make a 90 degree bend in the working end of the wire and make a wire loop. Trim the loop and remove the unit from the wire. Repeat until you’ve completed all 18 links.

Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, make 28 links
Step 5
Time to assemble your necklace! Using your chain nose pliers, open a loop on one of the carnelian bead links and attach it to another link and close the loop. Make two 9-link chains for the two sides of the necklace.
Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, connect the links
Step 6
Open one of the 5mm copper jump rings and attach the toggle end of the clasp and the last carnelian bead link. Close the jump ring. Repeat on the other side with the toggle loop, using a jump ring to attach it to the last carnelian bead link on that side. Add another jump ring to the pendant and attach the other sides of the chains to the jump ring, so the pendant hangs in the middle.
Jennifer VanBenschoten's Celtic Carnelian Necklace - , Contemporary Wire Jewelry, Making Chain, Chain Making , Loops, Wire Loop, Wrapped Wire Loop, attach the clasp