DIY Pearl Necklace with Silk Thread

DIY Pearl necklace with genuine freshwater pearls on silk thread

There are several different ways to make pearl necklaces. This guide shows you, step by step, how to make a pearl necklace using silk beading thread and one of the simplest types of clasp. At Smyks, you will find a wide selection of silk beading threads for pearls, available in a variety of sizes and colours.

For this pearl necklace you need the following DIY materials:

1 strand of beads. (One strand is approx. 40cm long. If you’d like the necklace a little longer, you can purchase 2 strands or attach a chain extendsion in the back.)
1pc. silk beading thread, black, 0.60mm
2pcs. gilded crimp ends
2pcs. gilded jumprings
1pc. gilded lobsterclaw clasp, 11mm
Additionally, jewellery glue.

The silk thread is made from twisted silk. Each packet contains 2 metres of thread and comes with a needle attached to one end. This makes it particularly suitable for threading pearls with small drill holes, such as freshwater pearls. Before you begin, carefully unwind the entire thread, starting from one end. This ensures that, when you cut the thread, you will still have a length of thread with the needle attached, which can be used later.

Start by tying a knot (or two knots, if preferred) approximately 10 cm from the end of the thread. Then feed the thread through the hole in the crimp bead cover. For the best results, gently stretch the thread before use, as this helps prevent slack from developing in the finished necklace over time.

Next, position the crimp bead cover so that the knot sits completely inside it. For extra security, you may apply a small dab of glue to the knot to help prevent it from loosening over time.

Snip off the excess thread close to the knot, then close the crimp bead cover around it. You can use a pair of flat-nose pliers to close the cover, but do so carefully to avoid flattening it and to maintain its rounded shape. You have now secured the crimp bead cover to one end of the thread.

Thread the pearls onto the thread. As the thread already has a needle attached to one end, this should be quick and easy to do.

Once you have threaded all the pearls onto the thread, pass the thread through the hole in the second crimp bead cover.

You now need to tie a knot at the other end of the thread. Make sure that the knot sits completely inside the crimp bead cover. One way to achieve this is to place the needle through the loop of the knot before tightening it. Carefully slide the knot towards the base of the crimp bead cover, tighten the knot, and only remove the needle once the knot is correctly positioned.

Ensure that the crimp bead cover sits close to the last pearl, but avoid pulling the thread too tightly. The pearls should have enough room to move naturally so that the necklace drapes beautifully when worn. If the thread is too tight, it may be placed under unnecessary strain and could break, for example if the necklace is folded or stored in a jewellery box.

A useful tip is to arrange the necklace in a gentle curve on a table while tying the knot. This helps you achieve the correct tension, ensuring that the necklace is neither too loose nor too tight.

Once the knot is positioned close to the pearls, you can apply a small dab of glue to help secure it and prevent it from coming undone. You can either trim the excess thread close to the knot before closing the crimp bead cover, or close the cover first and then cut away the excess thread.

You can now carefully close the loop of the crimp bead cover around the eye of the clasp. At this stage, you can either attach the clasp directly to the crimp bead cover or attach a jumpring first and then connect a lobster clasp to the jumpring.

Finally, attach a jumpring to the crimp bead cover at the opposite end of the necklace, using the same method as described above.

You can not close your pearl necklace.

If you would like your necklace to be adjustable in length, you can create an extension chain by connecting several jumprings together. Alternatively, you can attach a piece of cable chain to one of the crimp bead covers to use as an extender chain.

Congratulations, your pearl necklace is now finished and ready to wear or give as a handmade gift.