Would you like to learn how to make a beaded lariat necklace? If you are a beginner, this fun jewelry style is a great way to master new techniques and learn how to break the rules. Lariats are, basically, long necklaces that do not require a clasp to finish. Fundamentally, lariats are a single length of beaded cord, beading wire, or chain. They are not closed into a loop that secures around the neck. Instead, you can pull an end of the wire through a connector. You can knot the wire. You can even wrap the lariat around and around your neck for a layered look. Think simple or go big and dense with the details. Let's make lariats!
Lariats are so versatile and playful. They have an organic retro look that lends itself to Boho style. They are free spirited and unconstrained. You can use a small connector to loop your loose cord through. You can use a small finding to organize the loose wire and gather everything in a neat dangle. You can use a big rattan wicker showpiece and make a statement. You can simply knot your lariat to keep it in place. You can even reverse your lariat so it dangles down the back - this would be a fantastic jewelry piece for a bride to be! Lariats are amazing. They are clay, awaiting a talented sculptor. Make a beaded masterpiece with these fun free project ideas.
Soft Flex Beading Wire
Soft Flex Beading Wire is the designer's choice in bead stringing wire.
Soft Flex Wire is a lead-free beading wire for designers that demand strength and durability. Soft Flex Wire is a superior beading wire, created by beaders for beaders. Soft Flex Wire is constructed of either 21 or 49 micro woven stainless steel wires. It is supple enough that it can be knotted and comes in a wide variety of colors. It is available in 3 diameters: .014, .019, and .024. We recommend Soft Flex Wire for designers that want their pieces to last and eliminate the frustration of restringing.
Learn How To Make A DIY Lariat Necklace
Connector Style Lariat Y Necklace Tutorial With Pearls And Rattan Wicker Shape
From Kristen:
I paired two handmade rattan wicker woven shapes with beads from our Fall Masterpiece Design Kit (sold out) and Fall Masterpiece Bead Strand (limited available) and strung them on Soft Flex butterscotch imperial topaz for two unique and trendy Fall necklace designs! The beads used from the sold out kit were 8mm champagne pearls, 6mm champagne glass beads, 4mm Picasso jasper, brown bugle beads and the Fall Masterpiece bead mix.
Soft Flex .019/Medium Beading Wire - Butterscotch Imperial Topaz
Soft Flex Craft Wire - 22 Gauge - Bare Copper
Fall Masterpiece Bead Strand
Fall Masterpiece Design Kit (Sold Out)
Handmade Rattan Woven Connectors
25mm TierraCast Hammered Ring - Antique Copper
Vintaj Artisan Market Pendant
10mm Jump Rings - Antique Copper
2x2mm Crimp Tubes - Copper
Magical Crimping Pliers
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Cutters
Beaded Lariat Necklace Tutorial With Soft Flex Beading Wire And Tassels
Sara shows you how to make a lariat necklace in this video. She filmed this insightful beading video when she unboxed one of our mystery jewelry kits. She did not have a design in mind until she laid out her beading supplies. If you would like to learn how to make an organic and lovely lariat with supplies at hand, watch how Sara plans out her necklace and then makes it on the fly. You will learn how to use a clasp in an exciting new way. If you have not used tassels in your jewelry, you will love how Sara accents her design with tassel anchors.
Fall Masterpiece Design Kit (Sold Out)
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter in Butterscotch Imperial Topaz
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Simple Style Lariat Necklace Tutorial With Soft Flex Beading Wire
If you know how to string a necklace, this mystical purple beaded lariat will be a snap. This modest easy lariat is full of energy and charm. Add your beads and favorite colors to make it your own!
Fusion Beads Kit
Soft Flex Beading Wire, .019 Diameter in Purple Amethyst
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Cutters
Eiffel Tower Cross-Over Style Lariat Tutorial Featured On Beads Baubles And Jewels
Kate Richbourg of beadshop.com
Click here to download a PDF of the instructions for the Eiffel Tower Lariat.
(This is a segment from the "Peaceful Pursuit", Episode 2713 on Beads Baubles and Jewels.)
In this episode we investigate peaceful pursuits – when the actual making along with the finished product give us a sense of peace and a calm. Kim O’Neill demonstrates a piece entitled “breathe deep for calming” and adding scents to a lava rock bracelet. Then meet Jill Wiseman for bead weaving - the back and forth repetition can give that sense of peace. Finally Kate Richbourg creates bead lariats in intricate patterns but simply constructed.
You can watch the entire episode of "Peaceful Pursuit" on your local public television station This season started on January 24, 2019. Check your local listings for air times. TV Listings
Soft Flex Extreme Beading Wire, .014 Diameter, 925 Sterling Silver Plated - 8 ft
Tila TL194, Palladium Plated
Beads - 1 tube
8-576 Dyed Smoky Opal S/L Alabaster
Beads - 1 tube
BGL2-190F Matte Nickel Plate
Beads - 1 tube
8-401F- Matte Black 8/0 Seed
Beads - 1 tube
5mm Antique Silver
Rondelles - 1 strand
8mm Antique Silver
Rondelles - 1 strand
Teeny Satellite Chain, Antique Silver - 1 ft
22ga 2" Antique Silver
Headpin - 4 pcs
2x2mm Soft Flex Silver Crimp Tube - 2 pcs
3mm Soft Flex Silver Crimp Cover - 2 pcs
Flush Cutters
Crimpers
Boho Lariat Necklace Tutorial With Pearlesque Chain, Jesse James Beads And Soft Flex Craft Wire
From Nealay:
In this design tutorial, I’ll be sketching a design for a boho-style necklace and choosing beads to construct it. We’ll use 26-gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire to construct our design and using a simple non-needle bead stitching method to weave beads into Pearlesque Chain. You’ll learn all kinds of design and technique ideas with this tutorial, so you won’t want to miss it. Let’s get started!
SilverSilk Pearlesque Chain
SilverSilk 4mm Terminators
Decorative Beads from
Jesse James Beads
26 gauge silver plated Soft Flex Craft Wire
26 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Bolo Style Lariat Necklace Tutorial With Capture Chain And Beads
From Nealay:
Time to pop open your favorite color of seed beads and get stringing on craft wire! Take a look at this tutorial to make a stylish lariat necklace using Capture Chain, adorned with sparkly beads and baubles. We’ll learn how gather up the capture chain with a two-hole slider and string up seed beads to add a bubbly texture to our design. Lastly, we’ll also break into a fabulous Jesse James Bead mixes to find complimentary beads and figure out a good arrangement to finish out our design. This tutorial is jam-packed with new ideas to fuel your creativity and you won’t want to miss it!
SilverSilk Green Capture Chain
SilverSilk Antique Brass Two-Hole Slider
SilverSilk Antique Brass Single-Strand End Caps
SilverSilk Antique Brass Jump Rings
Decorative Beads from
Jesse James Beads
Bronze 22 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire
Bronze 26 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Chunky Knot Style Lariat Necklace Tutorial With SilverSilk And Soft Flex Beading Wire
From Nealay:
Let's dive into this custom SilverSilk kit, called Colors of India, Let's make a few designs! We'll dig through the beads and materials to assemble a fast and fabulous necklace and earrings set using familiar techniques. We will use SilverSilk end caps to make our necklace and make beaded chain-like components with Turquoise Soft Flex beading wire for a pop of color. Magical crimpers are easy and fun to use, and I will show you several times throughout the video how they worked for me. If I can assemble this set with ease, I know you can too!
SilverSilk Colors Of India Kit
Soft Flex .019/Medium Beading Wire in Green Turquoise
2x2mm Crimp Tubes
Magical Crimping Pliers
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Bead Nipper (Cutters)
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Flat Nose Pliers
Loose Knot Style Lariat Necklace Tutorial With Capture Chain And Soft Flex Craft Wire
From Nealay:
Designing a necklace doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple styles often work wonderfully. We’ll take a quick sketch and apply a few easy techniques to turn capture chain into a fashionable necklace. I’ll cover some basic jewelry making techniques, such as simple loops and how to attach Jesse James Beads and tassels to our design. You won’t want to miss this class.
SilverSilk Orange Spice Capture Chain
SilverSilk Antique Brass Single-Strand End Caps
Cones
Decorative Beads from
Jesse James Beads
Bronze 22 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire
Bronze 26 gauge Soft Flex Craft Wire
Nylon Jaw Pliers
Round Nose Pliers
Chain Nose Pliers
Join our Facebook group – VIB. 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 loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com