Make a Floating Illusion Necklace

This necklace fits closely about the neck and gives the illusion of beads floating around your neck. The success of the illusion depends on the material you use to string the beads on. Monofilament is the same as fishing line. It is nearly transparent but it stretches and breaks easily. I have seen necklaces made with monofilament, but I would not recommend it. Tigertail is thin nylon-coated steel cable. It is strong, durable, and stiff. It is subject to kinking, so be careful when you handle it. Softflex is similar to Tigertail but is softer and less prone to kinking.

Supplies tigertail and 18 crimp beads clasp wire cutters round nose, chain nose, or crimping pliers 8 4mm beads of your choice

More information Working with Tigertail Types of Clasps Tigertail Supplies Sources of Beading Supplies

Directions

Cut a piece of tigertail that is the length of the finished piece plus 5 inches (about 20 inches total). Slide a crimp bead and one part of the clasp onto the tigertail. Slide the tigertail back through the crimp bead, pull it tight, and then flatten the crimp bead with pliers so it stays. Trim the excess wire. Note: Crimping pliers make the crimp bead look much nicer.

Decide how much space you want between the beads. I usually use about 2 inches space between each bead. I recommend drawing two lines on an index card and using it to evenly space each bead.

I usually string one crimp bead, one focal bead, and another crimp bead at a time. Then I flatten the crimp beads at the correct distance to evenly space the beads. When you have finished adding beads and the necklace is as long as you want it to be, add the other part of the clasp in the same manner as the first. Trim the excess wire and you are done!

Variations Vary the size, frequency, or type of beads used. Faux pearls work well, as well as many types of glass and stone beads. Experiment.

Multistrand Several strands of slightly different lengths would make a lovely necklace. Attach several strands of tigertail to the clasp at the beginning, and attach them to a jump ring with crimb beads at the other end.

Spacing: a tip from a reader Sheryl sends in this tip for getting the spacing right: "What works for me is to mark the wire with correction fluid like Liquid Paper or Wite-Out. If it isn't completely covered by the crimp bead, it will come right off with a fingernail."