Cactus Flower Necklace Tutorial

Make the kumihimo braid. We used super-lon bead cord in a fall mix and TOHO 8/0 bead rounds in dark copper. Use the Nymo D thread to finish the end of the braid. You can add a drop of BeadFix adhesive before cutting the excess bead cord to stiffen up the ends. Once the adhesive is dry, cut the excess bead cord close to the Nymo D end wrap. Do not add a crimp to the end yet.

Kumihimo with Beads Text Tutorial
Kumihimo with Beads Video Tutorial

Thread one #12 short beading needle with approximately 12 inches of Nymo D thread. Choose one bead in the center of the kumihimo braid and pass it through the bead once, leaving a 2 ½ inch tail of thread. Then, thread the needle through the center of one Kabela Design antique copper-plated brass dianthus flower embellishment.

Bring the thread down the side of the flower, then pass it through the bead and once more through the center of the flower. Don't worry about the thread being visible in the center of the flower embellishment as this will be hidden under a flatback. Repeat this step several times to secure the flower. Be sure to use the initial 2 ½ inch tail of thread from Step two to tie knots as needed while securing the flower embellishment. End with a final knot and cut the excess thread.

Perform Steps two and three for the remaining flowers, securing them on either side of the first flower.

Glue one SS34 rose flatback in Crystal Copper to the center of each flower with 5-minute two-part epoxy and allow to dry.

Cut one strand of jewelry wire approximately 9 inches long. Choose one TOHO bead at one end of the kumihimo braid, and loop the wire through it. Make sure to choose a bead that will be on the back side of the necklace design.

String one 4x4mm sterling silver crimp tube onto the open end of jewelry wire. Slide this crimp all the way down the jewelry wire and over the trimmed end of the kumihimo braid. Be sure to include the jewelry wire that loops through the TOHO bead from Step six in the crimp as well. Once the braid end and the jewelry wire are all in the crimp tube, flatten the crimp tube using chain nose pliers to hold it all in place.

String one 6mm antique copper-plated pewter leaves end cap onto the open end of the jewelry wire. Slide the end cap all the way down the wire until the cap rests over the end of the kumihimo braid and covers the crimped end.

String the following pattern onto the wire: one 5mm round pearl in Jade, one TierraCast copper 4mm hex heishi spacer, three 8mm round beads in Bordeaux and one more spacer. Repeat this four more times and then add one more Jade pearl and one more spacer.

Attach the wire end to the loop portion of the JBB antique brass flower and circles toggle clasp using one Tierracast antique copper 2x2mm crimp. Cover the crimp with one 4mm antique copper-plated crimp cover.

Crimp Cover Tutorial

Repeat Steps six through ten for the other side of the braid, replacing the loop portion of the clasp with the bar portion in Step ten.

List of Components:
5810 8mm Round Pearl Bordeaux (5810-BXP8, qty 30)
5810 5mm Round Pearl Jade (5810-JAD5, qty 12)
6mm Antique Copper-Plated Pewter Leaves End Cap (FIND-0869, qty 2)
Kabela Design Antique Copper-Plated Brass Dianthus Flower Embellishment (EMBMT-0168, qty 3)
2028 SS34 Rose Flatback Crystal Copper (2028-COP34, qty 3)
4x4mm Sterling Silver Crimp Tube (SS-CRM12, qty 2)
TOHO Bead Round 8/0 Dark Copper (TBRD8-222, qty 2)
TierraCast Copper 4mm Hex Heishi Spacer (CA-0411, qty 22)
JBB Antique Copper-Plated Pewter 3 Petal Leaf Toggle Clasp (PCA-TOG004, qty 1)
4mm Antique Copper-Plated Crimp Cover (FIND-0503, qty 2)
TierraCast Antique Copper 2x2mm Crimp (C-0033, qty 2)