SAFETY PIN NECKLACE
NOTE: Please read through before beginning.
MATERIALS:
Approx. 1 metre of black beading thread
56 coloured beads
About 180 tiny gold beads.
56 Gold safety Pins (just over 2cm long)
Clasp of choice ( I used a hook and ring)
Fine needle
Clear nail polish or glue.
Do not use cotton to thread the necklace...... it will rot and break.
Some people recommend fishing line, but it can become brittle and may break.
Beading thread is strong and will not rot or break.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Onto each pin, slide on 2 gold beads, 1 coloured bead, 1 gold bead, and close the pin. This was my arrangement, but you can experiment with your own ideas. The beads should leave just enough space to squeeze the pin closed, so none of the shaft shows. Continue until all the pins are filled.
Cut about 1 metre of beading thread and thread your needle onto it. If you don't have a needle fine enough to go through the tiny beads, stiffen BOTH ends of the thread with clear nail polish or glue. You will work from each end once the pins are threaded.
Putting 2 gold beads between each pin, thread on all the pins through the eyelet end of the closed pin. When all pins are threaded, put a piece of Blu Tak, plasticine or tape a few cms from one end of the thread, so the pins don't slide off while you work at the other end.
Now thread approx 23 gold beads onto the free end of your thread, and put another stopper around the thread to hold the beads close while you work the other end in the same way. Replace your stopper so that pins and gold beads are held on the thread with no gaps.
Now you can safely try on your necklace to test the length. It should fit around the base of the neck. Adjust the length by adding more gold beads to each end.......allowing about 1.5CM for the clasp.
Attach the clasp pieces at each end, using a blanket stitch or oversewing tightly and making sure there are no gaps between the beads and pins. Seal this stitching with clear nail polish or glue, then run the needle back through 6 beads. Cut the thread.
