Bold Deco Inspired Woven Choker

This is a fitted choker with bold geometric Art Deco design elements using cool, modern color combinations. The exposed purple wire works as a color element within the framework of the design. The trick to woven pieces is patient adjustment of the tension on the beads to maintain the stability of the final result.

By Margot Potter for Beadalon

Materials:

• 0 in. length - Beadalon 7 Strand Clear Color .015 in. stringing wire, purple
• 1 in. length - Curb chain, medium, silver plated
• 1 - Medium lobster clasp, silver plated
• 1 - 6mm Medium split ring
• 2 - Size #2 crimp beads, silver plated
• 14 - 6mm Swarovski olivine bicone beads
• 7 - 12mm Swarovski montana blue bicone beads
• 1/2 x 1/4 in. Amethyst discs
• Designer chain nose pliers
• Designer crimper
• Bead board

Steps:

Note: To complete this project, you will need to be familiar with wire weaving and attaching a clasp with crimp beads.

1. Begin by assembling your tools and beads. Using a Bead Board helps keep all of the elements handy for easy beading. Attach the lobster clasp to the center of the purple wire by threading the two ends of wire through the clasp. Now simultaneously thread the two wire ends through a crimp bead. Use a crimp tool to secure the crimp bead closed.
    
2. Next, thread the two wires through an olivine bicone, a montana bicone, and an olivine bicone.
    
3. Taking the two wires individually and thread a single wire through one hole in an amethyst disc. Thread the second wire into the opposite hole, wrapping the wire around the sides of the disc. Adjust the tension to secure the beads and keep the wires flush to the sides of the amethyst disc. Now wrap both wires around the disc and bring them back together, threading with Swarovski bicones as before.
    
4. Working down the wires in the pattern described above, take time to adjust the wires as you go to create the proper tension. The design should maintain its integrity without excess tension.
    
5. After attaching your final olivine bicone, thread both wires through a crimp bead and spring ring and back through the crimp bead. (It's a tight fit, so use chain nose pliers to pull the wires taut before cutting the excess wire.)
    
6. Finish off your design by adding a length of steel chain - to allow for easy fitting to individual neck size.
    
7. This choker is designed to be close fitting. Finished length is 12.5 in. Add length to the finished piece by lengthening the chain attachment at the clasp.

Variations on a Theme: If you want to give the finished piece another element of design flair, try adding beaded head pins to the chain or a bicone bead to the end of the chain. This woven technique can be applied to many shapes and sizes of beads for a multiplicity of final effects. Experiment with the beads that you use and the ways that you weave them and start creating your own bold and exciting designs. Happy Beading!