How to get started in jewellery making

Jewellery making has so many perks… You can create something for yourself, create something as a gift for someone else or even sell them on Ebay for some extra cash!

It is easy to do and all it takes is some imagination and a few pieces of equipment. So here is our guide to get started in this unique, fun and interesting hobby…

1. Inspiration! 

Pinterest is the home of DIY heaven! Search for “DIY Jewellery” or “beautiful beads” and you can start to get a collection of beautiful designs that you love to help guide your jewellery making. Repin things onto your own board and you can start to find your own personal style. Be prepared to be adventurous and find colours and styles that excite you.

2. Learn

Watch video tutorials on youtube to learn helpful techniques and styles. Some of our favourites include:

This great tutorial on making knotted necklaces. 

This tutorial on how to make stone beaded necklaces is really easy to understand. 

The Handmade Jewellery Club has a huge range of tutorial videos that teach you techniques and styles to help you create pieces. 

3. Buy your supplies

Beads Online is a huge online jewellery supplier that sells all sorts of beads and jewellery making equipment. You can buy beads of all varieties including gem stones, stones, plastic, glass and shell. Their tools section also contains anything you could need for jewellery making so that is a great place to start your buying. They also have a tutorial and tips section that showcases user guides for products and techniques.

4. Get started

To help you get started, here are two of our favourite jewellery designs and how to make them yourself! Give these a go and post your final pieces in the comments!

The Morocco bracelet 

Materials

3 large beads 8-10mm
45 assorted smaller beads
Elastic Jewellery Thread

Instructions

1. Cut 2 pieces of elastic thread to desired length of bracelet and add around 15 cm for tying off. Holding the 2 pieces together as one tie them through and around 1 of the larger beads to form as a stopper.
2. Separate the threads and add 9 beads to each strand then place the threads together and add a large bead.
3. Separate the threads and add 9 beads to each strand and then place the threads together and add another large bead. Keep doing this one more time until your beads are used up and then finish off by tying the end threads to the knot at the first bead snip the ends and allow the ends to tuck into the large beads so it is invisible.
4. If your 45 beads do not reach the desired length add some extra beads. We used beads ranging from 4-7 mm in size. The key to a great bracelet is it’s color scheme, pick beads that are on the same color palette for a blended look.

Large jewelled necklace

Materials

Cabochons
Plastic canvas
Black satin ribbon
0.5mm copper wire
Flat nose plier
Wire cutter
Glue

Instructions

Step 1: Cut a canvas circle as the bib of necklace.

1st, trace against the round edge of a plate to create an outside circle on canvas;

2nd, create an inside circle with leaving a 3 or 4cm gap;

3rd, cut off the canvas circle bib and make a slit at one side..

Step 2: glue cabochon decors onto bib

1st, drip enough glue to each cabochon’s back and press it hard onto bib;

2nd, let them dry and continue gluing more;

3rd, wrap wire around the whole bib and tuck end into canvas.

Step 3: Finish the bib necklace.

1st, snip a piece of ribbon, long enough for neck size and bowknot making;

2nd, glue both ends to canvas bib.