Technique to Make a Twisted Bead Necklace

Judy, Hi!

There’s a little trick to this, which I’ll explain below, using instructions I put together for a three-strand necklace. 😀

These instructions will work for any number of strands, just do for strand six what you did for strand two, etc., etc., et al. ;->

Twisting A Multi-Strand Necklace: Instructions

Lay your completed necklace out straight on a flat surface (not your bead board), with the strands horizontal to you.

Lay your right hand on the right end of the necklace, and keep it there! Hold this right end of the necklace flat, and–IMPORTANT!–
*Do Not Remove Your Hand Until Finished Twisting*!

Step 1:

With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right.

Near the right end, lay the left end down between the top strand (Strand 1) and the middle strand (Strand 2); let go.

Still with your left hand (your right is still holding the right end of the necklace flat), reach underneath the bottom strand (Strand 3) and Strand 2, grasp the left end, and pull it through.

Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks.

Step 2:

With your left hand, take the left end of your necklace and bring it towards your right. Near the right end, lay the left end down between Strand 2 and Strand 3; let go. Still with your left hand, reach underneath Strand 3, grasp the left end, and pull it through. Bring it to the left side again, straightening any kinks.

Step 3:

Repeat Step 1.

Step 4:

Repeat Step 2.

Step 5:

Continue repeating Steps 1 and 2 until your necklace is twisted to your satisfaction.

At this point… Voila! Your twisted strand necklace is done!

Judy, with your two-strand necklace, there would really only be a single step: just alternate the strands as you bring the left side over and under. But this will work just as well on two strands as it will on three, or six!

I hope this helps! Good luck, and happy beading! 😀

Rory

Dear Rory,

Thank you so much for taking your time to comment.

This sounds to me like weaving. I tried this once. but it seemed like it came untwisted.

You’ve given me the encouragement to try it again. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks again! Judy

Hey rory, you rock!

Thanks for taking the time to post this answer. Very well laid out too.

I really appreciate it!

Christine ~how-to-make-jewelry.com

Hi,
I just thought I’d share how I keep my twisted necklaces twisted.

I make all of my strands..(I use bead stoppers to keep the strands from coming apart)

Then I attach one end of each strand to a small jump ring (beadalon makes crimp ends that have a ring incorporated. I suggest this be used)

I then attach the strands with the rings onto one side of my closing finding (clasp).

That completes one side and now depending on the # of stands you have this will vary a bit be aware of your pattern.

….I will use a 3 strand as an example.

I then take the two strands next to each other and bring one over the other to about 1/2 way down & then I take the remaining one and wrap around them.

At the 1/2 way point the 3 are together and I start a loose “braid” I them bring all 3 ends together, and using a larger crimp tube, close all 3 strands together in one tube onto the other side of the clasp.

I hope this is useful to you!

Marcia

I found this site while trying to figure out to make my necklace stay twisted, too. I modified the instructions somewhat to make it easier for me to follow (emphasis on ME!)

My necklace was 4 strands: Green, pink, purple & blue. I followed Rory’s directions through making the wrapped eye pin. From there, I attached all 4 strands to the ring of the eye pin using 2 crimp beads, with two strands going through each crimp bead. I placed bead stops on the other end of each strand

I placed the strands on a table with the eye pin to my right, and the bed stop ends to my left. I placed a weight on the right end to keep it in place.

My strands were then layed out in the order described above. I took the green strand and brought it towards myself over the top of the other three strands, and placed a finger on the right end to hold it in place while I straightened the rest of it…now on the bottom row…to the left. I then used my left hand to bring the pink strand over the other three strands, adjusting the finger on the right to hold it in place while straightening it to the left.

I did the same with the purple and blue strands, and kept repeating the pattern of green, pink, purple and blue, moving my right finger down the twisted necklace as it advanced. Once at the other end, I finished it in the same way with an eye pin and crimp beads.

Since each of my strands was a different color, it was easy to keep track of which should be brought across next. If I was doing strands that were all the same, I think I’d have labeled the bead stops with numbers or something.

This just seemed easier to me than bringing all the left end strands up and reaching under. The necklace came out really even. I had a brief moment of panic when it did mild untwist once i released it, but it was just relaxing a bit and otherwise held the twist.

Thank you, Rory, for pointing me in the direction to figure out how to make this work!

It worked. Thanks so much. I was in a big dilemma 🙂

I tried the twisting instructions of the original poster with a pre-made, three-strand necklace made with 6mm round beads (tigereye and pearl).

As I expected, as soon as you pick up the necklace by one end, it untwists. I tried it about six times with the same untwisting result.

Maybe the size of the beads does not allow the necklace to stay twisted?

No, the size of the beads should have nothing to do with whether the necklace stays twisted or not. The instructions ~do~ work, when performed as I’ve laid them out, but they have to be done *exactly* that way.

Sorry you’re having trouble! Perhaps I can be of help off-list, if you can get me your email addy…? (I’ve been considering taking some photos to sent to Christine, to add to the instructions… I may do that, also! What do you think, Christine?)

Regards,

rory

I’d like to know what is recommended-wire or silk thread for a twisted necklace.

I’m having trouble visualizing your instructions, I’m wondering if this page allows for posting of a picture for demonstration purposes?

Hi Blinger,
You asked,
“I’d like to know what is recomended: wire or silk thread for a twisted necklace.”

I’m not sure that it matters, as far as making a twisted strand necklace, but, for durability, I’ve always used multi-strand nylon-coated beading wire. It’s simply natural that more tension is involved with a twisted necklace as opposed to one that isn’t twisted, and using material that’s as strong as possible just makes sense to me. But it shouldn’t impact the necklace itself, or it’s ability to hold the twists, provided the necklace is put together correctly.

rory

Hello!
Anonymous asked,
“I’m having trouble visualizing your instructions, I’m wondering if this page allows for posting of a picture for demonstration purposes?”

If Christine would let us know, perhaps someone would volunteer to do a pictorial of the instructions? (If no one else volunteers to do the job, after Christine gives the OK–*if* she does!–I’ll try to get to it myself, in the very near future! But I’ve been a bit busy lately, and so can’t promise when that might be, I’m sorry to say.)

rory

Thank you for such a great explanation. I was asked to restring a three strand twist necklace and found these directions very helpful.

~Cait DeStefano
The Bridal Jewelry Store
http://www.TheBridalJewelryStore.com

I have driven myself crazy trying to get my strands to stay twisted.

I’m having trouble visualizing your instructions.

Can someone please help me with a pictorial? Pleaaseee.

This is really urgent. I’ve been at it for days now. 🙁

Hello, Anonymous!

Sorry you’re having such a hard time with this, because it’s really easy, once you get started!

If you want, you can contact me at my personal email at yahoo.com, (simply by adding my name, as signed, before the “at”), I’ll do my best to be of assistance!

Best wishes!

rory8535

I have tried using your instructions about 5 times and mine are always getting tangled up.

I can not follow your instructions to get it to come out right.

I have 4 strands that I would like to figure out how to keep twisted after I let go. Can you please explain your technique better so I can use it and get a finished product?

Dear Donna,
I’m really sorry that you’re having such a hard time.

Unfortunately, I don’t know how to explain this technique any better. I did it to the best of my ability the first time!

The only thing I know to do is to take some pics of each step…and I need another person to do that (I can’t hold the beaded strands, ~and~ a camera, at the same time!)

Once I manage to get some photos of the steps, I’ll get with our hostess, Christine, about how to post them or have her post them! But the explanations I’ve made with words are the best I know how to do.

You’re welcome, if you have a specific question, to contact me by email: the address is simply my name, as signed below, at yahoo.com (I’m sure you can translate that).

Regards,

rory8535

Instructions were very clear.

I did have trouble keeping my right hand down so I tried taping the three strands to the table top and from then on it was a breeze.

Thank you so much for these instructions. I had never made a twisted necklace before and someone asked me if I would try. Without your help I would have been lost.

Hi Anna,
It’s great that my instructions were of help to you! Thanks for letting me know!

Also, a couple of things:

To those who stated that this technique didn’t work for them, let me please add that the right side of the necklace should have all the strands fastened, say to one half of a toggle clasp.

Then, once finished with the twisting procedure, the left side needs to be affixed also, say to the other half of the clasp. If nothing else, bead stoppers, or even tape to hold the ends together until you add the clasp, will work.

(Sorry I didn’t add that bit to my original instructions, folks! It just seemed obvious to me, but I sometimes forget that other people don’t live inside my head too!)

And, to the persons who suggested setting a weight on the right strand ends, instead of holding with your right hand… Cool!

Thanks for the help on that: I can miss the obvious, sometimes! (Duh!)

Regards,

rory8535

I assume this shortens a necklace.

If I want a 16-inch 3-strand necklace, should I start with each strand longer, maybe 18 inches long?

Hey,

I also wanted to make a 2 strand necklace, and tried to adapt the instruction to that, but got very muddled.

My several attempts ended in a beaded disaster followed by tears!

When the instructions say to lay out all the strands horizontally, does this mean that that you have 2 (or however many) separate strands or are all the strands joined together at the end with a crimp for example)?

I tried both ways, but managed only one twist, which I somehow unraveled each time I tried step 2.

Any clarification would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mazi

Greetings!

Yes, I would think that the twisting shortens a necklace, but I don’t know by how much.

I think you’ll need to play with these until you get the length you want, if it’s specific.

Also, I can’t see that you would need these instructions to twist a 2-strand necklace, since you could simply twine the strands together, and then fasten them. These will only work for necklaces of 3 or more strands. But yes, the strands are fastened at the ends before twisting.

Folks, I don’t know how I can make this any clearer, sorry.

Regards!

Rory

I have at least 80 twist bead necklaces.

It is simple to twist them and I have also found some clips to hold them this past summer in CO, and in Conroe, TX. at Sam Moons.

I have had LOTS of compliments regarding my necklaces. Most of the time, I use four strands of beads, sometimes three strands.

I would like to know where I could find more colors; white is most difficult to find.

Do you mean, more colors of beads?

I’m sure most people use different types, from glass to semiprecious gemstones beads, so I’m not at all sure what you mean.

The variety of materials–and colors–is almost unlimited.

rory8535

The problem continues if you do not describe how the 2-6 strands are finally attached.

When I use small jump rings to attach wire to each end of each strand and then attach the jump rings to a chain, a twist of the chain unravels the necklace.

What do you suggest crimping each end of each strand of wire to to prevent this?

Hi,
Interesting comments. I can’t get this to work for a 2 strand necklace.

I have crimped one end, twisted the strands then crimped the other end and attached the cone,2 small beads and a toggle with another crimp.

It stays twisted somewhat but unravels a lot.

What am I doing wrong?

Help!

Hi, I am just learning how to make my own jewelry, and always loved those multi-strand necklaces.

Tonight,, thank to you, Rory, I made my first ever three strand necklace. Good that I read your clarification about having them attached all together to a jump ring (in my case) or something and keeping my right hand there.

Thank you so much for such a great gift!

Is there a chance that you could send photos on how to do this. I’m 87 yrs old and pictures would help.

Edythe Stephens

Thank you.

Hi, Edythe!

I’m more than happy to help, if I can. With that said…

Are you able to look at pictures online, and upload them to your computer? Or do you have someone that could help you with this, if it’s difficult for you–a friend, family member, or even someone at your local library, where they usually have computers?

It’s pretty simple, and I could take some photos, and upload them to a special online photo album, and send you–and your helper!–info on how to get them!

This is something I likely should have done before, since I’ve been asked for pics, but, while my intentions have been good, my time has been short! However, I’ll make a point to see about doing this, ASAP!

Be safe, be well, and…

…be creative! 😀

rory

Oh wow Roroy!! Thank you so much you make it so simple. I can’t tell you how long I have been fighting this.

Your instructions make for a braided twist. Do you have any help for an elegant twist?

I am repairing a necklace that was twisted, single clasp, three strands. The clasp broke. I had to re string it to fix. Now I cant get it to twist. Tried this technique, but it doesn’t look the same. Any help would be appreciated.