Beaded Necklace Instructions: Knotted Pearl Design
Make a beautiful beaded necklace with my easy beaded necklace instructions below.
When I was travelling in Vietnam, I came across this elegant beaded necklace at a small market stall in Hoi An.
I love the design - it is funky yet stylish, and even better...based on a very simple pattern! I've posted up these simple beaded necklace instructions so that you too can make this lovely necklace (below).
The necklace perfectly matched a dress I had bought for the wedding of my sister, and when I wore it on her special day I had so many compliments!
The beads in the necklace are a mix of real and imitation pearls. I adapted the design to make a necklace using freshwater pearls for my Grandma's 88th birthday - she loved them!

I also used this design to make a pearl necklace for my sister's birthday present, but I changed the colour of the pearls to suit her favourite colour - red! To match, I designed a lovely set of drop pearl earrings .
So, all you need to do is decide which beads to make your necklace with, and follow the simple beaded necklace instructions below...
Why not make a pearl necklace for your Mom? A perfect birthday, Christmas, or Mother's day gift!
Use funky, colourful beads to make a gift for your teenage daughter?
Wooden beads can also be used to make a necklace with a down-to-earth feel - perfect for intrepid friends!
You can follow the beaded necklace instructions below with any bead types to create the look and feel that you want. This design works best when you choose 2 slightly different sizes of beads.
"Thank you so much for these brilliant instructions. I made the lovely knotted necklace and earring set - so simple and yet it looks beautiful on. I have had loads of complements and when I told people I made it they all wanted me to make one for them!!!!" ~Janine
Beaded necklace instructions
The instructions below are based on the pearl necklace I made for my sister and Grandma. I use silk thread as it is traditionally used for stringing pearls, but you can also use a nylon beading cord for other bead types.
Equipment
- 150cm silk thread (choose a colour to match your beads)
- 30 beads, 9-10mm diameter (cream pearls in this case)
- 30 beads, 6-7mm diameter (red pearls in this case)
- 1 2-hole clasp (I have used a 2-hole clasp, but you would be able to use a 1-hole clasp as well).
- 2 beading needles (to fit your bead holes)
- thin pointy object (knitting needle, inside of a ball-point pen...)
- superglue
Estimated time to make : 1 DVD movie...that is, 2 hours or so. I sat up in bed one evening chatting to my husband and watching TV while I made the string of pearls for my sister's birthday present - I barely noticed the time going by!





Note : As you are dealing with a long length of thread, remember to be patient and pull the strands slowly , otherwise they will tangle together and knot up!







And here is the finished beaded necklace - I hope you enjoyed making it!

What Next?
Now that you have learnt the technique, follow these same beaded necklace instructions with another type of bead and make another wonderful gift!
Want more free jewellery making instructions? Have a go at making a pair of matching earrings .