So you're tired of seeing real pearl necklaces that go for exorbitant prices, and you know you'll never be able to afford those.  Yet you'd like to have a pearl necklace too.  It's not impossible - you can be a budget fashionista!  You can have a pearl necklace without breaking the bank!  How?  By making your own, of course!  You may not think you can, but if you can put beads on a string, you can make a pearl necklace!

First, you'll need supplies.  See my guide Freshwater Pearls - The Affordable Option for information on the thread type and pearls you'll need.  You'll need enough thread times two (I'll explain why later) for the length of necklace you want and enough beads to go on that length of thread.  My recommendation is to buy more than you think you'll need - running out in the middle of a project is not fun, especially if you had to buy the pearls online!  I usually buy twice as much as I think I'll need.  A standard 18" necklace can use about 60-90 pearls, depending on the size of the pearls you want.  You'll also need findings such as clasps, rings for the clasps to clamp on to, and crimp beads to atach the clasp/ring. 

You'll also want a needle-nose plier; you can find most if not all of this stuff in your local craft store or the Internet (eBay is a good place to start!).  Scissors will come in handy as well.  And if you plan to knot between the pearls, you'll need either an awl and tweezers or, the easier way, this tool:  It's called a Tri-Cord Knotter, from a company called Wig Jig.

Get all your supplies together on a flat surface.  A craft table is an excellent place or a TV tray; something with a lip around the edge to keep the pearls from rolling off will work.  Take the end of the thread opposite from the needle and thread a crimp bead and either ring or clasp on it.  Bring the thread back through the crimp bead and tighten as much as possible; get the pliers and flatten the crimp bead.  Trim the excess short end of the thread with scissors.  Then take the pre-threaded needle and start stringing pearls on the thread.  You may want to knot the thread between pearls; this is why I told you to allow for twice as much thread as you'd need.  You don't have to do this, of course, but if your thread breaks (and it can happen, even to the most careful of people!), you will only have to chase down a couple of pearls at most, not an entire string!  When your necklace is to the length you wanted, cut off the needle with scissors and string on a crimp bead.  If you put a ring on the other end, string on a clasp or vice verse.  Then bring the thread back through the crimp bead, tighten as best you can, and flatten the crimp bead with the pliers.  Trim off the excess.

Not bad, huh?  Once you see how easy it is to make your own pearl necklace, and how affordable as well, you'll want to make a bunch of them in all the colors possible!  So don't be just wishing you could have a real pearl necklace - make it happen! 

Links you'll want to see:

Freshwater pearls on eBay

Findings on eBay

Silk beading thread on eBay