Retired - Dragonflies at Dusk Necklace

Note: Components and tools listed within this INSTRUCTIONS box and the printer-friendly PDF, if available, may have been discontinued since this project was published. Refer to the PURCHASE COMPONENTS and TOOLS AND OTHER SUPPLIES sections for current availability.

1. Begin by cutting 8 pieces of Vintaj 24 gauge wire, 2 inches in length each. On the end of one piece of cut wire, create a simple wire loop, thread a 4mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead, then create a simple wire loop on the end. Cut off excess wire using your flush cutters. Repeat for the remaining 7 pieces of cut wire. Set aside.
2. Cut 2 pieces, 4 inches in length of Vintaj wire. Create a wrapped wire loop on one end of a wire, thread:
3. a 8mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead
4. Vintaj natural brass ornate 12mm filigree bead cap (with bead cap surrounding the 8mm bead you just threaded)
5. 8mm Austrian crystal black diamond ab rondelle
6. another Vintaj natural brass ornate 12mm filigree bead cap (this time with the bead cap facing away from your rondelle
7. ready to surround the next bead)
8. and finally another 8mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead.
Create a wrapped wire loop at the end. Each bead cap has 4 "petals" or "prongs" - gently press with your fingers two "petals" of each bead cap (ones on opposite sides of each other) around the 8mm interior bead, in an effect molding the filigree around the bead. For the remaining two "petals" on each bead cap, gently curve these outward using your round nose pliers. Just gently work these outward by grabbing the tip of the "petal" with the round nose pliers and rotating up and away from the interior bead. Repeat the above steps with your second length of cut wire.
9. Connect one of your already made 4mm Austrian crystal wire pieces (Step 1) to the end of the wrapped wire loop on the above larger bead ensemble piece you just made (Step 2). To attach, open the simple wire loop on the end of the 4mm bead as you would open and attach a jump ring. Repeat this so that each wrapped wire loop end has one 4mm Austrian crystal wire piece connected to it.
10. You are now going to take 4 Vintaj natural brass open scrolled filigree ring pendants and pair them up so that two are sandwiched together with the rounded side facing outward and the hollow portion facing inward. Make sure that they are lined up evenly at the edges. Now your 4 filigree pendants have just become 2 that will look great from the back and the front. To get these to stay together, open the simple wire loop at the end of the now long bead ensemble you just made above (Step 3) and thread it through one of the filigree scrollwork "holes" on the outer edge of the filigree ring, make sure to thread it all the way through both rings that are sandwiched together, in affect anchoring them together on one end. Close your simple wire loop back together. Move your fingers along the outer edge of the ring pendant until you are about 1" away from the spot you just anchored, take one of the pieces you made in step 1 (4mm round bead with a simple wire loop on each end) and open the simple wire loop and thread through an outer scrollwork hole, making sure to thread it through both sandwiched filigree pendants, and then close the simple wire loop like a jump ring. Move your fingers again about 3/4" along the outer edge and connect another one of the pieces you made in step 1. You do not want the three places your are anchoring to be exactly 1/3 distance from each other, you want it to be where the two "top" ones on the necklace (the ones which are just the small 4mm round bead connected at this time) are closer together and the long bead ensemble is further away from them, see photo. Repeat with another sandwiched pair of filigree ring pendants.
11. Sandwich together your remaining 2 Vintaj natural brass open scrolled filigree ring pendants so that they become 1 pendant that looks great from both sides. Using the same technique as above, attach it to the simple wire loop end of one of the long jewelry pieces you made in step 4. Move your fingers along the outer edge of the ring pendant until you are about 3/4" away from the spot where you just connected and then attach in the same way the other identical long jewelry piece you made in step 4. Move your fingers about 1 inch along the outer edge of the sandwiched ring pendants and thread a jump ring through the two pieces, close the jump ring. Move over to the very next "hole" in the open scrollwork and attach and close another jump ring. Set aside for a moment.
12. Cut 3 inches of 24 gauge wire. Start making a wrapped wire loop but before actually wrapping the wire, slide your dragonfly pendant into the loop and then finish your wrapping. Thread a 4mm round indicolite round bead, 8mm black diamond ab rondelle, and another 4mm indolite round bead. Create a wrapped wire loop at the end. Cut 3 more inches of wire, create a simple wire loop at the end and attach it to the wrapped wire loop you just made on the the beaded dragonfly pendant, then thread a 12mm filigree bead cap (Press with your fingers two of the petals of the bead cap inward, almost covering your interior wire loops and then gently bend up and outwards the other two petals like you did in step 2) and a 8mm black diamond ab rondelle, finish by making a wrapped wire loop at top. Attach a jump ring (LINK). Attach that same now connected jump ring to the two jump rings that are attached to the open scrollwork of the scrolled filigree ring pendant from step 5.
13. Cut 6 pieces of your figure eight chain, 3 inches in length each. Set aside to use during the following steps.
14. Looking at your necklace, you now have a dangling beaded dragonfly pendant hanging from a filigree ring pendant with beadwork connecting another filigree ring pendant on each side. Then connected to the outer filigree ring pendants, you have 4, 4mm Austrian crystal indicolite round beads with simple wire loops on the ends (2 on each side of the necklace). Attach a 3 inch length of chain to each of these wire loops (opening the wire loops like a jump ring).
15. Cut 2 pieces of 24 gauge wire, 3 inches in length each. Taking one piece of wire, start making a wrapped wire loop but before you do the actual wrapping, thread the ends of two of the chain lengths into the loop (the same chains that are attached to your main necklace). Finish making the wrapped wire loop. Now thread a Vintaj natural brass ornate scroll bead cap 7.5mm, 8mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead, Vintaj natural brass ornate 12mm filigree bead cap (with bead cap surrounding the 8mm bead you just threaded), 8mm Austrian crystal black diamond ab rondelle, and a 4mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead. Create a wrapped wire loop at top, making sure to thread through the loop one end of a 3 inch length of chain before you complete your wrapping. Repeat these steps with your other piece of cut wire.
16. Cut 2 piece of 24 gauge wire, 2 inches in length. Start creating a wrapped wire loop but before finishing the wrapping, thread the end of the length of chain from step 9 into the loop. Finish creating your wrapped wire loop. Thread a 4mm Austrian crystal indicolite ab crystal round bead, and create a wrapped wire loop on the end. Repeat these same steps using your other piece of cut wire on the opposite side of your necklace.
17. Take your clasp, and attach one part of it to each side of your necklace. To attach, gently open each side of the clasp like a jump ring and thread onto it the wrapped wire loop that you made in step 10.
18. Congratulations - you did it! This was a long project but you made it and now have a lovely piece to show off.

• WCR-4348 - Vintaj Brass Bronze Colored Copper Wire 24 Gauge 90 Feet (1 Spool)
  Project uses 16 inches. You will need 1 package.


• FJR-5340 - Vintaj Natural Brass Jump Rings 4mm Open 21 Gauge (25)
  Project uses 5 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FCL-4641 - Vintaj Natural Brass Wire Spiral Swirl Hook & Eye Clasps (2 Sets)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• CHA-9643 - Antiqued Brass Figure Eight Chain 2mm Bulk By The Foot
  Project uses 2 feet. You will need 2 packages.


• BMB-4254 - Vintaj Natural Brass Ornate 12mm Filigree Bead Caps (4)
  Project uses 7 pieces. You will need 2 packages.


• BMB-4257 - Vintaj Natural Brass Ornate Scroll Bead Caps 7.5mm (4)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• PND-7107 - Vintaj Natural Brass Open Circle Scrolled Filigree Ring Pendant 28mm (1)
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 6 packages.


• PND-7134 - Vintaj Natural Brass Queen Dragonfly Pendant 35mm (1)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.


• SWC-0851 - Austrian crystal Crystal, 5000 Round Beads 8mm, 8 Pieces, Indicolite AB
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWC-5819 - Austrian crystal Crystal, 5040 Rondelle Beads 8mm, 8 Pieces, Black Diamond AB
  Project uses 6 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWC-0453 - Austrian crystal Crystal, 5000 Round Beads 4mm, 12 Pieces, Indicolite AB
  Project uses 14 pieces. You will need 2 packages.

• XTL-5600 - Xuron Sharp Flush Cutter Pliers - Wire/Soft Flex
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers