Varna Necklace Tutorial

Bead Embroidered Necklace with Golem Design Studio Stoneware Cabochon and Czech Glass Rondelles

Skill LevelIntermediate

TechniqueBead Embroidery

Time4-6 Hours

Approximate Size18 Inches

This necklace makes me want to curl up with a warm cup of cocoa! author signature

Cynthia chose the perfect beads to complement the Golem Design Studio cabochon at the center of her necklace. She used TOHO round seed beads for the bead embroidery around the cabochon and stacked Czech glass rondelles with TierraCast spacers for the body of her necklace. Once you learn the basic bead embroidery techniques for this project, you can make all sorts of beautiful focal pieces for your jewelry.

Step-by-Step Instructions Expand All Steps

Glue the Golem Design Studio stoneware brown and white paisley 24mm cabochon onto a piece of bead backing and allow to dry. Create a row of TOHO 11/0 bead rounds in gilded marble white around the cabochon using the two-seed-bead backstitch.

Two-Seed-Bead Backstitch Tutorial

Trim the bead backing and then glue a piece of felt to the back. Create a beaded edge with the brick stitch technique using more TOHO seed beads.

Beaded Edge on Embroidered Bezel Tutorial

Finish the trim with a variation on the picot edge. When you're coming out of one of the seed beads on your edge, add a Czech glass 3mm matte dark bronze rondelle bead to the strand, followed by a TOHO seed bead. Bring your needle back down through the rondelle and the same seed bead on the edge. Stitch through the backing to skip over to two seed beads over on the edge and repeat until there is a picot edge on every other seed bead of the edge.

Picot Edge Tutorial

Stitch a Vintaj natural brass 5mm 18 gauge jump ring on the back of the focal, to the side of the top. Stitch another jump ring across from it, on the other side of the back. You will attach your necklace strands to these jump rings.

Cut a length of jewelry wire approximately 13 inches long. Slide a TierraCast 2x2mm brass oxide brass crimp tube onto the end. Bring the wire through one of the jump rings on the back of your focal and back through the crimp tube. Crimp in place.

Crimp Tool Tutorial
Crimp Tube Video Tutorial

Add a random pattern of Czech glass 3mm rondelle beads in bronze, oxidized bronze, and matte dark bronze, along with five TierraCast brass oxide pewter 6mm dotted spacers to the strand. You should have about nine inches in length of beads, but you can add more rondelles if you want a longer necklace.

Add a crimp tube to the end of the wire, followed by a jump ring attached to half of the antique vintage brass-plated pewter round toggle clasp. Bring the wire back through crimp tube and crimp in place.

Opening and Closing Jump Rings Video

Repeat steps 5-7 to complete the other side of the necklace.

List of Components
Golem Design Studio Stoneware Brown and White Paisley 24mm Cabochon (CAB0340, qty 1)
Czech Glass 3mm Bronze Rondelle Bead Strand (BEADS5623, qty 1)
Czech Glass 3mm Oxidized Bronze Rondelle Bead Strand (BEADS5596, qty 1)
Czech Glass 3mm Matte Dark Bronze Rondelle Bead Strand (BEADS5649, qty 1)
TierraCast Brass Oxide Pewter 6mm Dotted Spacer (BRO0452, qty 10)
TOHO Bead Round 11/0 Gilded Marble White (TBRD11-1700, qty 1)
Vintaj Natural Brass 5mm 18 Gauge Jump Ring (FIND-2333, qty 4)
Antique Vintage Brass-Plated Pewter Round Toggle Clasp (PBA-TOG001, qty 1)
TierraCast 2x2mm Brass Oxide Brass Crimp Tube (BRO-0030, qty 4)

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Nice choice! All or most of the products needed for this project are shown below with quantities. Sometimes we sell out of components and aren’t able to order more from the manufacturer (we know, it is very disappointing to us, too). Use the opportunity to mix up the design and make it yours by substituting similar products or altering the entire color scheme—it’s up to you!