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Jewelry Making - Illustrated instructions for making
jewelry
This is a tutorial for beginner's which
includes a few simple jewelry pieces to give you an idea of how it is done. If
you find you have a natural talent for it or an interest in creating more
complicated pieces as a hobby or business, we suggest that you purchase a book
on jewelry making to obtain more in-depth knowledge of the art. The gems, tools,
and materials are all very involved and require much study to master the
artistic skill of true jewelry making.
Imported glass jewels, in a rainbow of colors,
include cuts such as prism cubes or fan facets and flat or pointed backs. Hand
painted mosaics and striped moonstones are two choices in a category which also
offers fancy agate, carved matrix and carved scarab.
Handmade glass and ceramic beads feature such
a wide offering of colors and shapes that a jewelry designer’s only problem is
settling down to actual decisions of which to purchase.
What to buy can be influenced by the items to
be made and the technique to be used. Stringing cord, chain by the foot, clasps,
bead caps, earring backs, pin or ring mountings—all are available in many
styles.
Three techniques were used in making necklaces
illustrated:
STRUNG BEADS: With
needle and stringing cord, beads and pearls were strung in order desired.
CROCHET NECKLACE: Made
of 22 gauge brass wire, African trading beads, and aluminum crochet hook size H.
To Make—String beads on wire in desired order. With crochet hook, make a
chain, working in each bead at desired position (slip bead up wire next to hook,
make chain stitch around bead). Fasten ends of completed necklace together with pliers.
LINK NECKLACES: In
one necklace, beads were linked to beads. In the other, beads were linked also
to lengths of chain. Both require glass beads, eye pins and pliers. To Make—Thread eye pin through bead.
Hold eye of pin firmly against bead
with thumb. Leaving % inch of wire for a loop, cut off excess.
Bend pin down to bead. Place pliers at end of wire; turn
wire to form a loop. (Loops on ends of eye pin should be
opposites—one lying horizontally, one standing vertically—so, that loops
form a chain link and necklace lies flatter when completed.
Thread another eye pin in another bead. Trim end of wire as
before. Turn end to make loop; but before closing loop completely, thread into
eye pin of previous bead. Continue with each bead in the order of planned
design.
If you use lengths of chain, join a chain-end
in same way as eye pin.
EARRINGS: Earring clips or hoops, beads, head
pins, eye pins and pliers are needed. To Make—Thread a head pin in bottom
bead.
Thread an eye pin in a smaller, bead. Make a
loop in head pin and thread into eye pin loop of smaller bead. Partially make
loop on eye pin and thread through loop provided on earring hoop or clip. Close
loop
All items used for the above projects are available at most any
craft stores.
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