Layered Necklaces Tutorial

Hello, 30 Days Readers! I’m so excited to share my Layered Necklaces Tutorial  with you today! I have always loved the idea of layered  necklaces, but I’ve never had any necklaces that worked well enough together to try it out.  So, of course, I decided to just make some.

I think these necklaces are just simple enough that they go together without being too match-y.  I love how they turned out.

If you look at current trends right now, you’ll see that layering necklaces is a big thing. Here are some ideas I found around the internet…

source1, source2, source3, source4

Most of the looks I shared here  include pretty dainty necklaces, but some looks I found (especially on celebrities) were a little out of control with too much going on when they included huge chunky/ornate necklaces and then layered more on top. I decided to play it safe  and create simple necklaces to layer this time around instead of using anything ornate. Also, since I teach kindergarten, a billion long necklaces flying around would drive me crazy, so I decided to go with layering short ones, instead.

I like using a pendant type of necklace as the focal necklace and then let the other two be just added details that make the look more interesting, but not cluttered. If you would like to make your own, read on!

First grab your jewelry tools.

Clockwise from left – Flat nose pliers, bent nose pliers, needle nose pliers, and wire cutters.

***All jewelry materials used in this tutorial (including my tools) can be found at any craft store (Michael’s JoAnn’s, Hobby Lobby), with the exception of the glass drop pendant used in the pendant necklace, which I ordered from the Etsy shop, Way to Bead  and the wishbone charm which was a gift. ***

First we’ll make the Wishbone Charm Necklace

Materials Needed: clockwise from left:

small link chain, lobster clasp, two tiny jump rings, and a charm (any small one will do!)

This is the easiest one to make.

First, cut a length of chain about 14 inches long. On one side attach one of the jump rings (and extra chain if you want to make this necklace adjustable). Do this by twisting open your jump ring with the flat and bent nose pliers, slide on one end of the chain, slide on another small length of chain (optional), and then twist the jump ring closed.

Then (not pictured) slide on the charm to the other end of the chain. Be sure it is facing the correct way.

Next, grab the other jump ring, twist it open with the bent and flat nose pliers, then slide on the other end of the chain and lobster clasp. Twist closed and you’re done with the Charm Necklace!

Now let’s make the Beaded Chain Necklace

Materials Needed-clockwise from left:

small link chain, lobster clasp, jump rings, wire (or eye pins-pictured below), and 5 small beads.

source

I ran out of eye pins so I made my own, but you can easily buy eye pins at the craft store. If you run out, like me, simply make a simple loop on a piece of wire big enough to create a two simple loops and hold a bead in between. Once you have one simple loop created, slide the bead on top just like you would the eye pin and then continue with the tutorial.  Buying your own is probably easier. :)

Next, you’re going to make simple loops above all the beads you add to the eye pins. Above you can see the bead on top of an eye pin. You will make a simple loop above this bead so that there will be two simple loops on each side of the bead. You will make 5 (double simple loop) beads for this necklace.

To make a simple loop, bend the wire directly above the bead at a 90 degree angle with the bent nose pliers, then place the round nose pliers as close to the bead as possible in that bend and wrap the wire over the top or the pliers.

Then re-position the round nose pliers and wrap the wire around the bottom  of the pliers, completing the loop. Cut off the excess wire with the wire cutters where the loop connects.

After all your simple loops are made, twist one open with your bent nose pliers  and hook it onto another, then twist it closed.

Continue this process until you have a beaded chain like this!

Then connect your beaded chain to a 14 inch length of chain cut in half, connecting a section of chain to both ends of the beaded chain as shown above. Use jump rings to attach closure as shown in the Charm Necklace Tutorial.

Now let’s make the Pendant Necklace!

Materials Needed-clockwise from left: small link chain, jump rings, lobster clasp, seed beads and another small-ish bead, and some sort of drop pendant. As stated earlier, I ordered this pretty glass pendant from the Etsy shop, Way to Bead. If you’re going to make a lot of jewelry, the Jewelry in Supplies section on Etsy is a great resource.

To  create the pendant necklace, you will first need cut a 18 inch length chain and set aside. Then you need to create simple loops above the two seed beads (not pictured) and a wrapped loop around the other small-ish bead. See below for how to create a wrapped loop.

You make a wrapped the same way you would a simple loop except instead of bending the wire directly above the bead, you leave a tiny bit of space between the bead and the bend. Then create a simple loop like always- bend the wire directly above the bead at a 90 degree angle with the bent nose pliers, then place the round nose pliers in that bend and wrap the wire over the top or the pliers. Then re-position the round nose pliers and wrap the wire around the bottom  of the pliers, completing the loop.

Then instead of cutting off the excess wire, grasp the loop with your flat nose pliers and grab the excess wire with the bent nose pliers and wrap the wire around itself under the loop. Cover the exposed wire under the loop and then cut off the excess. Tuck the loose end in with your bent nose pliers.

After all loops are created, open a jump ring and slide all three on it and then close the jump ring (first picture above). Then open a second jump ring and slide on the pendant and then the first jump ring with beads attached, then twist that jump ring closed. I placed my beads behind my pendant because I didn’t want them to detract from the pendant itself-as shown in the second picture above.  Sometimes, however, you may want them to sit on top of the pendant so you would place the jump ring in front. It all depends on what kind of pendant you are working with. This jump ring is the one you will slide your chain into (with the other jump ring behind the pendant) – as shown in the bottom picture above.

Then simply attach the closure using jump rings and you’re done with the last necklace!

Put them on and enjoy those gorgeous layers!

You could also go for an even simpler look, of course, with just layering two necklaces!

 I hope you loved this project! I can’t wait to try out this layering idea with other types of necklaces, too!

If you enjoyed this tutorial, be sure to check out my other jewelry projects on 30 Handmade Days or go check out my blog for LOTS more jewelry projects! Thanks for reading!

I linked this project up at some of these fun parties.