Retired - Lady Isabella 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. Thread onto your beading needle as long of a length of Wildfire thread as you are comfortable working with. You will definitely need to tie off and add threads as you go. To see how to do this, please watch the video: How to Tie Off and Add New Thread in Bead Weaving.
2. Next, please watch the video: How to Bead Weave the Isabella Collar Necklace. This video was created especially for this design and will show you how to make a big portion of the centerpiece for this necklace.
3. Start by bead weaving a base row of 23 units of right angle weave. This will then result in you having 6 bugle bead dart units (see photo). Complete this entire segment as seen in the video complete with the bugle darts and little bicone swags at their tips.
4. Now to add the extra swag embellishments. Unless you have at least 20 inches of thread left, tie off your thread and add a new one. Either way, make it so your needle and thread go down through the end bugle bead on one side of your beaded piece and then run it through the 2.5mm round bead next to it as well as the 3 delicas and the next 2.5mm round. Exit that last round and string onto your thread: 3 delicas, 1 4mm bicone, 3 delicas, 1 3mm round, 1 4mm bicone, 1 6mm bicone, 1 4mm bicone, 1 3mm round, 3 delicas, 1 4mm bicone, and 3 more delicas. Swag this piece past the second 6mm bicone on the main beaded piece as well as the 2.5mm round next to it and the delica next to it. Enter through the next 2.5mm round and then run your needle and thread through all the beads along that line until you go through the large 6mm bicone as well as the delicas and next 3 round beads. Exit that third round bead. String onto your thread the same sequence of beads that you did for the last swag you made. Swag this piece and reenter your beadwork on the second to last 2.5mm bead. Two swags down, 1 to go!
5. Run your needle and thread through the remaining 3 delicas and last round bead on that line of bead work. You should now be at the end of the beaded piece. Run your needle and thread through the small swag of delicas and single bicone beneath the bugle bead dart and then work your thread into the main straight line of beads until you can exit the round bead just before the 2nd 6mm bicone from the end. String onto needle and thread: 7 delicas, 1 4mm bicone, 3 delicas, 1 3mm round, 1 6mm bicone, 1 briolette, 1 6mm bicone, 1 3mm round, 3 delicas, 1 4mm bicone, and 7 delicas. Now renter your beadwork going through the round bead to the left of the 4th 6mm bicone on that main line of beads. Run your thread and needle through a number of beads, however you like, and tie off your thread.
6. The main beaded piece is now done!
7. Add a new piece of thread so that you exit one of the top left 3mm round beads. Using this 3mm bead as bead 1 in a right angle weave unit, complete the unit using 3 2.5mm round beads. Right angle weave another 41 units using 2.5mm beads.
8. Repeat the previous step on the other side of your necklace.
9. The clasp on this necklace is a little beaded bead and loop. To see how to make the beaded bead, please watch the video: How to Make a Beaded Bead. Create a beaded bead using your Wildfire thread and Miyuki 11/0 Delicas in black.
10. Once you have finished your beaded bead, watch the video How to Attach a Button and Loop Clasp to Your Bead Weaving. This video will show you how to attach the beaded bead to your beadwork and also how to make and attach the loop. Make your loop and attach your beaded bead. Attach your beaded bead and make a loop for it.
11. Your necklace is now technically done but if you want to make the main focal piece a little stiffer and lay straighter, cut 5 inches of black wire and run it through the top round beads on your bead woven centerpiece. Also add a little 11/0 Miyuki delica bead between the round beads to hide the fact that there is wire in there. To do this, start on one end, insert the tip of the wire through the end round bead, place a delica on the wire, run it through the next round bead, place another delica on the wire, run it through the next round bead, etc. Do this until you reach the end of your centerpiece.
12. Place a dab of GS Hypo Cement onto the wire, between the last delica and last round bead on one end. Repeat this on the other end. Let dry. Snip off any wire that sticks out of your necklace.
13. Enjoy!

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• JSB-2032 - Toho Bugle Tube Beads Size 3 2x9mm Opaque Jet 10 Grams
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• XCR-8936 - Wildfire Thermal Bonded Beading Thread .008 Inch - Black- 50 Yd
  Project uses 1 spool. You will need 1 package.


• DB-010 - Miyuki Delica Seed Beads 11/0 'Black' Opaque DB010 7.2 GR
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• SWC-4615 - Austrian Crystal, 6010 Briolette Pendants 13x6.5mm 2 Pieces, Jet
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• WCR-2403 - Artistic Wire, Copper Craft Wire 24 Gauge Thick, 10 Yard Spool, Permanent Black Color
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• XTL-1001 - G S Hypo Cement Precise Applicator Essential!
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• XTL-5700 - Fiskars 5 Precision Tip Scissors - Super Sharp
• XTL-3006 - Beadsmith English Beading Needles Size 12 (4 Needles)