A Dozen Ways to End a Necklace - Fire Mountain Gems and Beads

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Beading Resources > EncycloBEADia > A Dozen Ways to End a Necklace

by Barbara, Marketing Administration Group

You know the old saying, don't you? ''The best place to start is at the beginning.'' Well, sometimes those old sayings have it wrong. You don't want to start at the beginning -- you want to start at the end!

Once you choose how you want to end a necklace, the design decisions will naturally fall into place. So here are fun ways to ''make an end of it'' on any necklace.

		1. Don't end it -- make a continuous (or endless) necklace The endless necklace slips over your head and has no visible beginning or ending. It's a timeless classic that's back in style!
		2. Get knotty with an adjustable-length necklace The adjustable knot video tutorial will show you step-by-step instructions for ending your latest creation with a little variety.
		3. Lariat The lariat necklace is held together by a flexible element such as a drop or ring -- you run one end of the necklace through the flexible element and drape, tie or loop it to hold in place. Make this amazing chain and Swarovski® crystal pearl lariat necklace project and video tutorial to rope in a little lariat magic into your life.
		4. Bead tips will tip the scales When you're stringing a necklace with thread, bead tips are the answer! They conceal knots and make a strong attachment place for clasps. The bead tips video tutorial offers ''tips'' on using these handy little findings with style and flair.
		5. Not with a knot but a crimper For jewelry made with Accu-Flex® professional quality beading wire, the most secure option is crimps. Whether you choose crimp clasps, crimp beads, crimp tubes or crimp ends, you'll keep the ends looking neat and professional. The crimping tutorial and crimp ends tutorial show you how to end your projects in ways that won't crimp your style.
		6. Don't Scrimp™ on this Do you wish you can have the durability of a crimp bead and the design flexibility of knotting? Scrimps™ findings give you that option. To change out a clasp or stationary component, simply loosen the screw, swap out the component, and put the Scrimp back in place. This Scrimps™ video tutorial shows you how to Scrimp -- and save your jewelry from repetitive reconstruction.
		7. One in a bullion, mon ami Thread creates jewelry with great drape and flow, especially for softer stones such as pearls and amber. To protect soft thread from the wear of harder components such as clasps, it's French wire to the rescue! The French Wire video tutorial walks you through the steps of finishing a necklace in true European fashion.
		8. On guard! Add an additional level of protection to pieces created with Accu-Flex® by using Accu-Guard™ wire guardians in your designs. Similar to French wire, Accu-Guards™ are pre-curved into a horseshoe shape. The Accu-Guards™ tutorial show you how to make your jewelry eternally beautiful.
		9. All in a-cord Cord ends, cord coils and cord tips require only a little glue to become design elements that really ''stick.'' They can be used with single cords or with multi-cord designs. The Glue-in Style Cord Endings video tutorial gives you a quick primer on how to use these findings -- and some unusual design applications for the techniques.
		10. Cone together, right now Available in multiple metals, finishes and decoration, cones are one way to bring multi-strand jewelry to a head. View this Cones video tutorial to see how to use these beautiful and convenient findings.
		11. Ring-a-ding-ding Jumprings and split rings are jewelry-making's universal connectors. Use just the rings to connect multiple strands of chain or use them to gather together bead tips or other ends with loops. The Jumpring and Split Ring video tutorial will show you how to use both of these ring types, and some specialty tools to make using them quick and easy.
		12. Good-natured ribbon Ribbon adds an elegant variation to beading and stringing. The Using Ribbon Ends video tutorial gives you the hands-on know-how to create jewelry with ribbon.