Hanukkah is approaching. We think it is a great time to get out our  jewelry making supplies and create some wonderful jewelry to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Learn how to make a lovely necklace here.   

Hanukkah means 'dedication'. It is a time to reflect on what you feel is important to dedicate your life to.The spirit of dedication can be celebrated by people of all faiths. 

Hanukkah begins on December 2nd of this year. For eight days, a candle will be lit on the Hanukiah to celebrate the miracle of oil. The ninth candle, the Shamash, is lit in the center and used to light the other candles as prayers are said.

Hanukkah is a complex holiday. It is a time for celebrating miracles. It is also a time to celebrate the will of the few resisting the power of the many. It is a remembrance of those that risked their lives to resist cultural assimilation and their struggle to maintain their own culture and traditions. 

And it is also a time for decadent  latkes, gifts and fun!

Festival of Lights

Designer Jamie Hogsett
Skill Level Intermediate

Materials
Trios Festival of Lights (White Quartz, Dark Blue Lapis, 925 Sterling Silver)
27mm Sterling Silver Square Swirl  Toggle Clasp - 1 set
2mm x 2mm Sterling Silver  Crimp Tubes - 34 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver  Crimp Covers - 34 pcs
2" Sterling Silver Ball End  Head Pins from BeadFX - 33 pcs
3mm Sterling Silver Round Beads from BeadFX - 47 pcs
4mm Crystallized  Swarovski Elements Light Sapphire Satin Bicones from BeadFX - 48 pcs
4mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Crystal Bicones from BeadFX - 48 pcs
4mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Montana Bicones from BeadFX - 48 pcs
11x16mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Crystal Baroque Drops from BeadFX - 8 pcs
15x26mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Crystal Leaf Pendants from BeadFX - 6 pcs
12x24mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Ocean Blue Flat Teardrop Pendant from BeadFX - 1 pc
6mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Natural White Pearls from BeadFX - 24 pcs
6mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Night Blue Pearls from BeadFX - 13 pcs
8mm Crystallized Swarovski Elements Night Blue Pearls from BeadFX - 12 pcs

Tools
Cutters 
Chain Nose Pliers
Round Nose Pliers 
Flat Nose Pliers 
Crimping Pliers 
Bead Stoppers

Instructions
Finished Size: 19"

Step 1: Use 1 head pin to string 1 natural white pearl and form a wire wrapped loop. Repeat entire step 23 times for a total of 24 natural white pearl dangles. Set aside.

Step 2: Use 1 head pin to string 1 night blue 6mm pearl and form a wire wrapped loop. Repeat entire step 5 times for a total of 6 night blue 6mm dangles. Set aside.

Step 3: Use 1 head pin to string 1 night blue 8mm pearl and form a wire wrapped loop. Repeat entire step 3 times for a total of 4 night blue 8mm dangles. Set aside.

Step 4: Use 4" of 925 Sterling Silver wire to string 1 crimp tube and the flat teardrop pendant. Pass back through the tube, leaving a loop of wire large enough for the pendant to move freely, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Use the other end of the wire to string 1 night blue 6mm pearl and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving about a 3mm loop of wire, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Set aside.

Step 5: Use 4" of Dark Blue Lapis wire to string 1 crimp tube and 1 leaf pendant. Pass back through the tube, leaving a loop of wire large enough for the pendant to move freely, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Use the other end of the wire to string 1 night blue 6mm pearl and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving about a 3mm loop of wire, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Set aside. Repeat entire step 5 times for a total of 6 leaf dangles.

Step 6: Use 4" of White Quartz wire to string 1 crimp tube and 1 baroque drop. Pass back through the tube, leaving a loop of wire large enough for the drop to move freely, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Use the other end of the wire to string 1 night blue 8mm pearl and 1 crimp tube. Pass back through the tube, leaving about a 3mm loop of wire, and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Set aside. Repeat entire step 7 times for a total of 8 baroque dangles.

Step 7: Cut 23" of Dark Blue Lapis wire. Place a Bead Stopper on one end of the wire. Use the other end of the wire to string {1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, 1 night blue 8mm dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, and 1 night blue 6mm dangle} twice. String {1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, 1 baroque dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, and 1 leaf dangle} four times. String 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, 1 baroque dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, the flat teardrop dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, and 1 baroque dangle. String {1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, 1 leaf dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, and 1 baroque dangle} twice. String {1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, 1 night blue 6mm dangle, 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, 1 crystal bicone, and 1 night blue 8mm dangle} twice. String 1 crystal bicone, 1 silver round, and 1 crystal bicone. Place a Bead Stopper on the end of the wire.

Step 8: Cut 23" of White Quartz wire. Place a Bead Stopper on one end of the wire. Use the other end of the wire to string {1 natural white dangle, 1 Montana bicone, 1 silver round, and 1 Montana bicone} 23 times. String 1 natural white dangle. Place a Bead Stopper on one end of the wire.

Step 9: Cut 23" of 925 Sterling Silver wire. Remove the Bead Stoppers from one end each of the White Quartz and Dark Blue Lapis wires.

Step 10: Use all three wires to string 1 crimp tube. Place the tube 2" from the wire ends and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. Trim the tails of the White Quartz and Dark Blue Lapis wires. Use the 925 Sterling Silver wire to string 1 crimp tube and one half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube and crimp. Cover the tube with a crimp cover.

Step 11: Use the 925 Sterling Silver wire to pass through the first dangle on the Dark Blue Lapis wire and string 1 light sapphire satin bicone. Pass the 925 Sterling Silver wire through the first dangle on the White Quartz wire and string 1 light sapphire satin bicone. *Pass through the next dangle on the Dark Blue Lapis wire and string 1 light sapphire satin bicone. Pass through the next dangle on the White Quartz wire and string 1 light sapphire satin bicone. Repeat from * for the length of the necklace. Finish by passing through the final dangle on the Dark Blue Lapis wire.

Step 12: Repeat Step 10 for the other end of the necklace, using the other half of the clasp.

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This blue, white, and silver design would be great for a Hanukkah inspired necklace:

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Jamie Hogsett is a bead lover, jewelry designer, beading instructor, freelance editor, and the co-author of Show Your Colors. She is the author of Stringing Style and co-author of the Create Jewelry series: Pearls, Crystals, Stones, and Glass. Jamie's work has been published numerous times in Stringing and Beadwork magazines as well as in Beadwork Creates Beaded Rings, Beadwork Creates Beaded Bags, Beadwork Creates Beaded Earrings and other books and magazines from Interweave Press.