Good day lovely people! We have seven wonderful jewelry designs for you. We used our favorite wire -  Soft Touch. Soft Touch is our premium beading wire. Soft Touch is 50% softer than Soft Flex. It has the same strength, the same durability as Soft Flex, but the drape is 50% softer. Soft Touch is a wonderful wire if you want the grace of silk but the strength of steel. 

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You may not consider the drape of your jewelry as a factor when designing a necklace, but it is every bit as important as the color of the wire. You will fall in love with the drape of this beading wire. It is has the same soft look as thread. Opting for a cheaper produced wire can mean your designs will look rigid and inflexible. Make drape a design choice and include Soft Touch in your jewelry making supplies.

Soft Touch is very durable and every bit as strong as Soft Flex. It does not come in the spectrum of colors that Soft Flex does, but it is perfect if you are not exposing the wire. If you are showing the wire and designing an illusion necklace, the color is neutral enough that it will be invisible on your design. 

The finest diameter of Soft Touch (.010 Very Fine) comes in Satin Silver, White, and Black. It is perfect for weaving, stitching, embellishing, and knitting. It is basically a stainless steel thread. Very Fine is also useful for beads where the channel is too tiny to accommodate any other wire diameters.

Very Fine Necklace Design in Black

Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
Soft Flex Wire .019 Diameter - 18 inches
Soft Touch Wire .010 Diameter - 30 inches
Gold Filled  Clasp - 1 set
2x2mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
1x1mm Gold Filled Crimp Tubes - 20 pcs
Delicas - 1 small tube
Accent beads in several sizes (I used crystals in 3, 6, 10 & 12mm & black tourmaline)

Tools
Regular Crimping Pliers 
Micro Crimping Pliers
Cutters 
Bead Stoppers

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the Soft Touch Wire, .010 diameter into nine pieces, one each of the following lengths: 2" (A), 2 1/2" (B), 3" (C), 3 1/2" (D), 4" (E), 4 1/2" (F), 5" (G), 5 1/2", (H), and 6" (I).

Step 2: Use the A wire to string 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, forming a loop just large enough to fit around the .019 diameter wire. Repeat with all of the remaining .010 diameter wire pieces.

Step 3: Use the A wire to string about 5 Delicas, one 3mm accent bead, 5 Delicas and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving a loop just large enough to string onto the .019 diameter wire, and crimp. Repeat step, using C and F wires to string a mix of Delicas and all remaining accent beads. Set aside.

Step 4: Use the B wire to string Delicas until there is about 3/4" of bare wire remaining. String 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving a loop just large enough to string onto the .019 diameter wire and crimp. Repeat step, using D, E, G, H, and I wires. Set aside.

Step 5: Attach one Bead Stopper to one end of the .019 diameter Soft Flex Wire. String 3 Delicas, one end of I wire, 1 Delica, one end of H wire, 1 Delica, one end of G wire, 1 Delica, one end of F wire, 1 Delica, one end of E wire, 3 Delicas, one end of D wire, 1 Delica, one end of C wire, 1 Delica, one end of B wire, 1 Delica, and 1 end of A wire.

Step 6: String 6 Delicas. Repeat Step 5, reversing the stringing sequence.

Step 7: String one 2x2mm crimp tube and one half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp.  Click here for crimping instructions. Remove the Bead Stopper and attach the other end of the wire to the other half of the clasp, making sure to adjust the wire so that the necklace is just longer than a choker, falling on your collarbone.

Very Fine Necklace Design in White

Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
White Soft Flex Wire .019 diameter - 18"
White Soft Touch Wire .010 diameter - 15"
Sterling Silver  Clasp - 1 set
2x2mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
1x1mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 16 pcs
Delicas - 1 small tube
Accent beads in several sizes (I used clear crystals)

Tools
Crimping Pliers 
Micro Crimping Pliers 
Cutters 
Bead Stoppers 

Instructions

Step 1: Cut the Soft Touch Wire, .010 diameter, into two 1 1/4" pieces, two 1 1/2" pieces, two 1 3/4" pieces, and one 2" piece.

Step 2: Use the 2" wire to string 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, forming a loop large enough to fit over the .019 diameter wire. Repeat with all of the remaining .010 diameter wire pieces.

Step 3: Use the 2" wire to string about 6 Delicas, 3 accent beads, about 4 Delicas, 3 accent beads, and one 1x1mm crimp tube. Snug the beads, crimp the tube, and trim any excess wire.  Click here for crimping instructions. Repeat with each of the remaining pieces of .010 diameter wire, using accent beads and Delicas to give each pair of wires a different pattern.

Step 4: Attach one Bead Stopper to one end of the .019 diameter Soft Flex Wire. String about 5 Delicas, the loop of one 1 1/4" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of one 1 1/2" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of one 1 3/4" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of the 2" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of one 1 3/4" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of one 1 1/2" wire, 1 Delica, the loop of one 1 1/4" wire, and about 5 Delicas.

Step 5: String one 2x2mm crimp tube and one half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp. Remove the Bead Stopper and attach the other end of the wire to the other half of the clasp, making sure to adjust the wire so that the necklace is just longer than a choker, falling on your collarbone.

Simply CZ Earrings

Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
Soft Touch Wire .010 diameter - 3"
Earwires - 1 pair
2x2mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
1x1mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 10 pcs
2mm round  CZ beads - 30 pcs

Tools
Magical Crimping Pliers
Micro Crimping Pliers
Cutters

Instructions

Step 1: Choose your color and size of CZ and unique pair of earwires. A lighter color in a smaller size will be more delicate. A brighter color in a larger size will sparkle a little bit extra. Next, choose a complimentary color of Soft Touch Wire .010/Very Fine.

Step 2: Use Soft Flex Flush Cutters to cut five 3 inch strands of .010/Very Fine wire.

Step 3: Hold five strands together and use them to string the 2x2mm crimp tube and 1 ear wire. Pass the wires back through the tube. Make sure you have at least 2 inches of wire remaining in each strand and use Magical Crimping Pliers to secure the crimp tube.  Click here for Magical Crimping Plier instructions. Trim tail wires.

Step 4: Trim the remaining wires to the following legths: 3/4", 1 1/4", 1 1/2", 1 3/4", and 2".

Step 5: Use the 3/4" wire to string 5 CZ beads and one 1x1mm crimp tube. Place the tube at the very end of the wire and use Micro Crimping Pliers to secure the crimp tube.  Click here for crimping instructions.

Step 6: Repeat Step 4 with each remaining wire, stringing 4 beads on the 1 1/4" wire, 3 beads on the 1 1/2" wire, 2 beads on the 1 3/4" wire, and 1 bead on the 2" wire.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 2-6 to make a second earring.

Here are a pair of the Simply CZ Earrings using Soft Touch Wire in Satin Silver.

And a pair using Soft Touch Wire in Black.

Simply CZ Necklace

Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
Soft Flex Wire .019 Diameter - 60 inches
Soft Touch Wire .010 Diameter - 35 inches
Single Strand Clasp - 1 set
3x4mm Sterling Silver  Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
1x1mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 2 pcs
2mm 3.5mm Round  CZ Beads - 1 pc

Tools
Mighty Crimping Pliers 
Soft Flex Flush Cutters
Micro Crimping Pliers
Bead Stoppers 

Instructions

Step 1: Choose your color and size of CZ. A lighter color in a smaller size will be more delicate. A brighter color in a larger size will sparkle a little bit extra. Next, choose a complimentary color of Soft Flex Wire .019/ Medium and Soft Touch Wire .010/ Very Fine. These 2 colors of wire need to compliment each other as well as the CZ color. And finally, pick a single strand clasp. If you often wear your hair in an up-do, consider a more ornate clasp. If not, a simple clasp will work just fine.

Step 2: Use Soft Flex Flush Cutters to cut three 20 inch strands of .019/ Medium color wire. Cut one 20 inch strand of .010/ Very Fine wire.

Step 3: Use all four wires to string one 3x4mm Crimp Tube and one half of the clasp. Pass the wires back through the Crimp Tube and secure using Mighty Crimping Pliers.  Click here for crimping instructions. Cut off excess wire.

Step 4: Braid the 3 strands of .019/ Medium color wire and clip the ends with a Bead Stopper. The braid should be between 15-17 inches in length depending on the desired necklace length. Factor in the length of the clasp to figure out the finished length of the necklace.

Step 5: Use the .010/ Very Fine wire to string 3 CZs and weave the wire through the braided wires. Repeat about twenty-two times, adding 3 CZs and weaving into the braid for the entire length of the braided wires.

Step 6: Use all four wires to string one 3x4mm Crimp Tube and the other half of the clasp. Secure using Mighty Crimping Pliers. Use Flush Cutters to trim excess wire at the crimp.

Step 7: Find the middle of your necklace, measure about 1-1 1/2 inches away from the middle. Cut one 15 inch strand of .010/ Very Fine wire. String one 1x1mm Crimp Tube. Pass the wire around the braid at the point just measured and pass back through the Crimp Tube. Use Micro Crimping Pliers to secure. Trim excess wire from the crimp tube.

Step 8: String 5 CZs and weave through the braided wires. Repeat about four times, until 1-1 1/2 inches to the other side of the middle. Repeat five times back in the direction of the Crimp Tube used in Step 7. Repeat five times in the direction away from the Crimp. Repeat Step 6, securing the Crimp Tube opposite the middle of the previous Crimp Tube.

Here is the Simply CZ Necklace using Soft Touch Wire in Black.

Brilliant Bracelet

Designer Sara Oehler
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
Soft Flex Wire .019 Diameter - 18 inches
Soft Touch Wire .010 Diameter - 25 inches
3x4mm Sterling Silver  Crimp Tubes - 1 pc
2x2mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tubes - 1 pc
Button - 1 pc
4mm Fire Polished  Beads - about 80 pcs

Tools
Mighty Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Crimping Pliers
Bead Stoppers 

Instructions

Step 1: Select the button first, as this is the focal point of the bracelet. Then, choose a complimentary 4mm bead and Soft Flex Wire color.

Step 2: Use Soft Flex Flush Cutters to cut 18 inches of Soft Flex .019/Medium wire.

Step 3: String 20 Fire Polished beads, or however many are needed to fit around the button.

Step 4: Use both ends of wire to string the 2x2mm crimp tube. Center the beads on the wire and push the tube up the wires to snug the beads. Use the Magical Crimping pliers to secure the crimp tube, leaving two wires of equal length.  Click here for Magical Crimping Plier instructions.

Step 5: Use one strand of wire to string 30 Fire Polished beads. Repeat with the other strand of wire. Use a bead stopper to clip the very end of the 2 wires together, allowing the beads to slide back and forth on the excess wire.

Step 6: Use Soft Flex Flush Cutters to cut 25 inches of Soft Touch .010/Very Fine wire. Use one end of wire to pass through one of the Fire Polished beads next to the crimp tube, making sure to string the wire away from the crimp tube. Use the other end of wire to pass through the other bead next to the crimp tube, stringing away from the tube. Pull both ends of wire so that the very center of the wire is next to the crimp tube.

Step 7: Cross the wire ends and string the next beads strung, making sure to alternate wire ends. Push the beads down and pull the .010/Very fine weave tight. Continue down the entire length of the bracelet, crossing and weaving the wires back and forth through each bead.

Step 8: Remove the bead stopper. Use both strands of .019/Medium wire and both strands of .010/Very fine wire to string the 3x4mm crimp tube and the shank of the button. Pass back through the crimp tube and use Mighty Crimping Pliers to secure the crimp tube.  Click here for crimping instructions. Use Soft Flex Flush Cutters to cut off excess wire.

Ocean Life Necklace

Designer Jessica L. Rosenfeld
Skill Level Beginner

Materials
Soft Touch .019 Wire - approx 22 inches
2x2mm Crimp Tube - 2 pcs
2 inch Sterling Silver Head Pin - 1 pc
Sterling Silver Fish Hook & Eye  Clasp - 1 set
4mm Fire Polished  Beads - 56 pcs
Sterling Silver Star Shaped Spacer Beads - 38 pcs
Teeny Tiny Whale Beads - 1 pc
Teeny Tiny Orca Beads - 6 pcs
Teeny Tiny Dolphin Beads - 8 pcs

Tools
Cutters 
Crimping Pliers 
Round Nose Pliers

Instructions

Step 1: Place one 6 or 4mm bead, one silver spacer, one Blue Whale, one silver spacer, and one bead onto head pin. Make into a bead dangle using round nose pliers, using a wire wrapped loop.

Step 2: Cut approximately 22" of beading wire from the spool.

Step 3: In the middle of the strand, string beads in the following order: one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer, one bead, one Black Orca. Then, one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer, one bead, Bead Dangle made in Step #1, one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer, one bead, one Black Orca, one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer, and one bead

Step 4: Now gather the beads you have just strung at the middle of strand, and bring the two ends of the wire together. Pass both strands through one Blue Ceramic Whale bead.

Step 5: On one strand of the design, string one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer and one bead, then a Blue Ceramic dolphin.

Step 6: Repeat step 5, but this time use a Gray Dolphin.

Step 7: Repeat step 5, but this time use a Black Orca.

Step 8: Repeat step 5.

Step 9: Repeat step 6.

Step 10: Repeat step 7.

Step 11: Finish off with one bead, one spacer, one bead, one spacer and one bead.

Step 12: Pass wire through one 2x2mm crimp tube, through one end of clasp, and back through crimp tube. Secure using crimping pliers.  Click here for crimping instructions.Cut off excess wire using flush Cutters.

Step 13: Repeat steps 5 through 12 for other side of design.

Free DIY Beaded Necklace Idea by Jamie Hogsett

One of the many cool things about the color-blocking trend is that colors that weren't typically grouped together (generally, colors near each other on the color wheel) are now featured together all the time. I've been seeing a lot of green and mustard yellow paired up lately, hence today's simple necklace design. It's a back-to-basics strung necklace - the perfect relaxing project for my stressed-out brain!

Soft Touch .019 diameter wire is the foundation for the necklace, with a sterling silver leaf hook and eye clasp, sterling silver 2mm crimp tubes and 3mm crimp covers, silver-filled wire protectors, non-tarnish silver 22-gauge Craft Wire, a sterling silver with topaz crystal flower charm, and silver-plated with topaz crystal Squaredelle spacers rounding out the metal components. Beads used are size 11 seed beads in two colors and peridot 4mm and 6mm fire-polished rounds; a vintage Lucite 22mm emerald moonglow round and a vintage German Lucite matter deep mint leaf pendant, Czech glass flower beads from Soft Flex Company, and gold 5mm round hand-glazed procelain beads from sweet Deb and Fred of Clay River Designs.

Join the fun in our VIB Facebook Group today! Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!

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Blog contributor Thomas Soles is the Trade Show Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. His favorite stones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Tom Selleck's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com