Retired - Winterberry 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 watching our video on how to do a flat right angle weave. You'll be using a variation of this stitch in this necklace.
2. Cut a length of Fireline thread as long as you are comfortable working with (you'll need about 5 feet for this project) and thread a size 12 beading needle. You may need to tie off and add new thread as you work.
3. Pick up one 4mm crystal bicone, one gray seed bead, one 3mm bicone, one gray seed bead, and repeat this pattern three more times so you have 16 beads strung. Bring the thread around so the beads form a loop and tie an overhand knot, leaving an 8 inch tail on the end of the thread.
4. Sew through half of the beads in the loop again so your needle is exiting a 4mm bicone on the other side of the loop. String one Austrian crystal crystal iridescent red pearl. Sew into a 4mm bicone on the opposite side of the loop, so the pearl bead is sitting in the center of the beaded loop. Keep sewing through the beads in your loop to reinforce it. This will be the central beaded loop in your necklace focal.
5. Exit the 4mm bicone at the right side of the loop with your needle. String one gray seed bead, one 3mm bicone, one gray seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and repeat that pattern two more times. Then string one gray seed bead, one 3mm bicone, and one gray seed bead. Sew through the 4mm bicone from the beginning of this step, creating another beaded loop.
6. Repeat step 4, adding an iridescent red pearl in the middle of this loop.
7. Sew around through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 4mm bicone at the top of the central beaded loop. Repeat steps 5-6, creating a third beaded loop with a pearl in the middle.
8. Sew around through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 4mm bicone at the left side of the central beaded loop. Repeat steps 5-6, creating a fourth beaded loop with a pearl in the middle.
9. Sew around through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 4mm bicone at the bottom of the central beaded loop. Repeat steps 5-6, creating a fifth beaded loop with a pearl in the middle.
10. You will now connect the "corners" of the beaded focal. Sew around through the last beaded loop you added, at the bottom of the focal, so your needle is exiting downward from the 3mm bicone at the top left corner of the loop. Pick up one gray seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and one gray seed bead. Sew into the 3mm bicone at the bottom right corner of the beaded loop on the left, creating a beaded bridge between the bottom and left-hand loops. Then add one gray seed bead on either side of the adjacent 3mm bicone in the central loop, completing a small loop in this corner of the focal.
11. Sew through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 3mm bicone at the top right corner of the left-hand loop. Pick up one gray seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and one gray seed bead. Sew into the 3mm bicone at the bottom left corner of the beaded loop at the top of the focal. Then add one gray seed bead on either side of the adjacent 3mm bicone in the central loop.
12. Sew through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 3mm bicone at the bottom right corner of the top beaded loop. Pick up one gray seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and one gray seed bead. Sew into the 3mm bicone at the top left corner of the right-hand beaded loop. Then add one gray seed bead on either side of the adjacent 3mm bicone in the central loop.
13. Sew through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 3mm bicone at the bottom left corner of the right-hand beaded loop. Pick up one gray seed bead, one 4mm bicone, and one gray seed bead. Sew into the 3mm bicone at the top right corner of the bottom beaded loop. Then add one gray seed bead on either side of the adjacent 3mm bicone in the central loop. Sew through this small corner loop again to reinforce it, and then weave in your thread tail. Set this piece aside.
14. Using flush cutters, cut two 8 1/2 inch lengths of gunmetal chain.
15. Move to the original thread tail from step 3. Sew through your beadwork so your needle is exiting the 4mm bicone at the top of the topmost beaded loop.
16. Sew through the first link of one piece of chain and then sew back through the 4mm bicone, attaching the first length of chain.
17. Sew through the first link of the second piece of chain and then sew back through the 4mm bicone again, attaching the second length of chain.
18. Reinforce the join on both sides, then weave your thread tail into your beadwork.
19. Using pliers, open a jump ring. Slide it through the last link of chain on one side of the necklace, and also slide on the loop of your clasp. Close the jump ring.
20. Open another jump ring. Slide it through the last link of chain on the other side of the necklace. Close the jump ring.
21. Enjoy your necklace!

• SWP-8036 - Austrian Crystal, 5810 Round Faux Pearl Beads 8mm, 25 Pieces, Iridescent Red
  Project uses 5 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWBI-14077 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 4mm, 24 Pieces, Burgundy
  Project uses 20 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• SWBB-13077 - Austrian Crystal, 5328 Bicone Beads 3mm, 25 Pieces, Burgundy
  Project uses 20 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• JSH-0214 - Toho Round Seed Beads 8/0 29BF 'Silver Lined Frosted Gray' 8 Gram Tube
  Project uses 1 tube. You will need 1 package.


• XCR-1285 - FireLine Braided Beading Thread, 4lb Test and 0.005 Thick, 15 Yards, Smoke Gray
  Project uses 5 feet. You will need 1 package.


• CHA-0451 - Gun Metal Plated Bulk Chain, Fine 2x1.5mm Cable Links with 2mm Ball, Sold By The Foot
  Project uses 17 inches. You will need 2 packages.


• FJR-5453 - Gun Metal Plated Open Jump Rings 4mm 22 Gauge (50)
  Project uses 2 pieces. You will need 1 package.


• FCL-2511 - Gunmetal Plated Curved Lobster Clasps 8mm (10)
  Project uses 1 piece. You will need 1 package.

• XTL-0109 - Beadsmith Extra-Fine Thread Snips - Cuts Textiles, Yarn, And More!
• XTL-3006 - Beadsmith English Beading Needles Size 12 (4 Needles)
• XTL-5511 - Beadsmith Jeweller's Micro Pliers Chain Nose Flat Nose
• XTL-5514 - Beadsmith Jewelry Fine Round Nose Micro Pliers