Jewellery Making Tutorial: Bonfire Night Inspired Necklace

- A blog by jewellery maker Sean Kerr

I wanted to create something that would complement the stunning sparkle of the sterling silver and topaz pendant. The pendant is dazzling and elegant, but I also didn’t want an overly elaborate design to overshadow it. I was sure seed beads were the perfect choice, but finding a design that balanced simplicity with style took a bit of brainstorming. In the end, I think we struck the right balance—the combination of silver seed beads and iridescent crystals pairs beautifully with the sterling silver.

That said, the pendant is a showpiece on its own and would look equally fantastic on a simple, elegant chain. The technique we’re using here is a variation of the St. Petersburg stitch, known for its versatility.

Materials Used

• Size 11 silver Miyuki seed beads
• 3mm Aurora Borealis (AB) crystals
• Size 12 Tulip beading needle
• White Nymo beading thread (Fireline or Wildfire work well too)
• Sterling silver chain with clasp
• Sterling silver wire guardians

I used approximately 1 metre of thread per component. Avoid trimming any excess thread after completing each section, as this extra length will be useful for assembling everything.

Since we’re only using one size and colour of seed bead and crystal, I’ll simply refer to them as “seed beads” and “crystals” for easier reading.

This is a straightforward technique with a lot of potential for customisation. So, get your thread ready, lay out your beads and crystals, pour a cup of coffee, and let’s begin!

Steps

Step 1

Cut 1m of thread and add on a stopper bead in a different colour. Bring the bead down to the end of the thread leaving a couple of inches for the tail.

Step 2

Add on 6 beads to your thread.

Step 3

Bring your thread and needle around in a loop and sew through the 3rd and fourth seed bead in the direction of your long thread, not towards the tail.

Step 4

Pull your thread through and pull tight. Two of your beads should fold under to sit neatly beneath the two beads above as shown in picture 4.

Step 5

Add on a crystal and a seed bead to your thread and bring them down to meet your work.

Step 6

Sew back through the crystal, skipping the seed bead and sew down the four previous seed beads as shown in picture 6. By skipping over that last seed bead and sewing through the crystal, you lock it into place.

Step 7

Your thread is coming out of the silver bead NEXT to your stopper bead. Keep your tension tight as you work. The beads will want to fold in their own direction as you progress, but it’s a simple matter of moving them back into position with your fingers ready for the next steps.

Step 8

Pick up a crystal and sew through the two seed beads sitting under the first row as shown in picture 8.

Step 9

Pull tight to sit the crystal into place. Your thread is now coming out of the two seed beads ready to start this technique again.

Step 10

Pick up 4 seed beads and bring then down to the end of your thread to sit next to the beads you are coming out of.

Step 11

Bring your needle and thread around in a loop and sew through the 3rd and fourth seed bead in that row, sewing in the direction of your thread as shown in picture 11.

Step 12

Pull your thread tight to allow the seed beads to fold under the row as shown in picture 12.

Step 13

Add a crystal and a seed bead. Sew back through the crystal, skipping over the last bead, and sew down the four beads in that row. Your thread should be coming out between the crystal at the beginning of that row and a seed bead.

Step 14

Pick up a crystal and sew through the two beads sitting beneath the row. Pull tight. Your thread is now coming out of the two seed beads ready to start the step again.

Step 15

And that’s it, really. You keep repeating these steps until you reach the length you want. For this design, I kept going until I had 6 crystals on the left hand side as shown in picture 15, and you finish with your thread coming out of the two beads sitting beneath the row.

Step 16

Sew back through the 2 beads at the beginning of the row above the row where your thread is coming out of, as shown in picture 16.

Step 17

Sew up through the crystals.

Step 18

Sew up until your thread is coming out of the top crystal. Pull your thread tight, but not so tight as to snap or distort it. The shape will curve slightly, and this is what we want. We will now get into the position to make the other side of the component.

Step 19

Your thread is coming out of the top crystal on the inside of the component. Sew through the two beads sitting next to the stopper bead and pull tight.

Step 20

Your piece should look like picture 20 with your thread coming out of the first row of beads added.

Step 21

Add on a crystal and 6 seed beads. Bring it down to the bottom of your thread. This crystal will form the centre top of the component and should not be included when you count 6 crystals on the inner edge here. Hope that makes sense!

Step 22

Now we repeat what we have already done, except you are working in the opposite direction. Loop around and sew through the 4th and the 3rd beads in that row (the opposite of what we did before).

Step 23

Pull tight to sit your two beads beneath the row.

Step 24

Add on your crystal and your bead, sew back through the crystal, skipping the bead, and sew through the 4 beads after the crystal.

Step 25

Your thread is coming out of the end of the row next to the ‘middle’ crystal. Pick up a crystal and sew through the two beads sitting beneath the row. Pull tight.

Step 26

Repeat the steps until you have 6 crystals on the inner edge (not including the ‘middle’ crystal). Your piece should look like picture 25, and your thread is coming out of the last 2 beads sitting beneath the last row.

Step 27

We will now add in the Sterling Silver component. Lay the component next to your work as shown in picture 26.

Step 28

Sew through the closed Sterling Silver jump ring , pick up 1 crystal and sew through the next closed Sterling Silver jump ring.

Step 29

When you pull tight, the Sterling Silver pendant will sit neatly in place with the single crystal giving the perfect spacing between the jump rings.

Step 30

Sew up through the inner row of crystals until your thread is coming out of the crystal next to the tail thread as shown in picture 29. Take the stopper bead off. Use your tail thread to tie a single knot with your working thread followed by a double knot.

Step 31

Sew through the middle crystal to pull the knot inside. Then sew down the middle run or crystals, through the sterling silver pendant then back up through the next inner line of crystals. I did this twice to add strength the attachment and finished my move with my excess thread coming out of the top middle crystal.

That’s your first component finished. We want to make a total of 5 components including this one, but the others won’t have any pendants attached to them.

Step 32

Make up your next component as before and finish with your thread coming out of the two beads sitting beneath the last complete row as shown in picture 31.

Step 33

Pick up 6 beads and sew up through the 2 beads on the other side as shown in picture 32. Pull your thread tight.

Step 34

Pick up 1 bead and sew down 5 beads on the other side as shown in picture 33. Pull tight.

Step 35

Pick up x1 bead and sew up the next 5 beads and the crystal. Pull tight.

Step 36

When you pull tight, the added beads form a lovely V at the bottom of the motif.

Sew up the crystals towards the tail thread. Take off the stopper bead and tie your knots. Sew around the inner edge of crystals and V beads once more and finish your move with your thread coming out of the top middle crystal.

Step 37

Continue to make the rest of your components. Picture 37 shows the rough layout of the design before we add in the chain.

Step 38

Picture 38 shows where your threads need to be coming out when we start to sew the components together.

Step 39

Bring your component down next to the one with the pendant on it. Put your needle onto the remaining thread from the pendant component.

Step 40

Thread on 1 bead and 1 crystal and pass your needle through the bottom bead of the upper component as shown in picture 39. Pull your thread tight.

Step 41

Your thread is coming out of the bottom bead in the upper component. Pic up 1 crystal and 1 bead and pass your needle through the two beads next to the top centre crystal inj the pendant component as shown in picture 40.

Reinforce this simple join by sewing back through it 2 or 3 times.

Step 42

With your thread coming out of the top middle crystal of the pendant component, tie your thread off. Pass your needle down the inner row of crystals to hide the knot and then tie off again. Pass your needle around the inner group of crystals and cut off your excess thread. Repeat the process with another component on the other side of the pendant component.

Step 43

We are now left with 2 components. To attach these, I made sure my thread was coming out of the centre top crystal of the component I just attached.

Pick up 1 bead and 1 bead and pass through the bottom silver bead of the next component. Pick up 1 crystal and 1 bead and pass through the top centre crystal of the component below. Pull tight. I sewed through this arrangement 3 times to reinforce it before sewing down through the inner crystal row and tying off my thread.

Step 44

Repeat the process on the other side until your work looks like picture 44.

Step 45

I wanted to use Sterling Silver chain for the rest of the neckline, so I used Sterling Silver Wire Guardians on the left and right component. I attached it over the top middle crystal and sewed through it 3 times to reinforce it before sewing down the inner layer of crystals and tying off.

I cut a Sterling Silver chain in half and attached it to the wire guardians using very small jump rings. This is a lovely way to finish off a smaller seed beaded piece because the wire guardians provide real security and durability to the piece.

And there you have it! This is a relatively easy technique that produces a seriously impressive necklace! Why not continue the components around the neckline? Use different colour beads and crystals. Use a different inner crystal colour to the outer colour. Them possibilities just go on and on. Furthermore, the design makes for stunning earrings!

I really hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and I hope that you will make many variations of it. And please, send your work into the wall of fame and share it in our group because I would love to see what you have made!

Thank you for joining me and I will see you again very soon.

Love and hugs from Cardiff

-Sean

We hope you've enjoyed this fab tutorial by Sean. If you'd like to get your own Firework Pendants, tune into the show on Tuesday 5th November from 10am.

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