Quick jewellery

Assorted colorful beads including yellow, red, and green on a textured fabric background.

An assortment of beads, including large and small pieces, along with a yellow ribbon and metallic components, arranged on a dark textured background.

As Vickie was moving away from London to Twickenham (she has started there her new job with children) there was lots unwanted items to give away. Jewellery was one of them. Do you have any unwanted jewellery that you no longer wear? If yes, this post is for you. That’s because here I will share how I have made some simple jewellery by reusing Vickie’s beaded accessories! I started by breaking some necklaces down and then just playing around with ribbons and other beads that I had. That was quite fun, which kept me occupied for couple of days.
This necklace was one of the first. I made it by incorporating large beads with ribbon and some elasticated see-trough string.

A close-up image of a handmade necklace featuring large green beads interspersed with light blue ribbons, showcasing a creative reuse of jewelry materials.

A handmade necklace with green beads and a blue ribbon, placed on a patterned blue fabric.

The other necklace I made after seeing this on Pinterest.

A handmade heart-shaped necklace made from red beads and yellow ribbons, displayed against a floral background.

To keep myself from getting completely tangled, I sketched out this little “bead map” to guide the whole necklace. It shows exactly where I started, how each row builds on the next, and the path the thread takes as it loops through all those oval beads. Nothing fancy, just a simple visual that made the whole process feel almost meditative. If you’re planning to make one too, feel free to follow my arrows — they kept me on track right to the finish line.

A sketch of a bead map illustrating the layout and sequence of beads for a handmade necklace, with numbered rows and directional arrows drawn in pink.

1st row is quite straight forward. Start with the large knot (double, triple if you need to) and then tread trough 8 longish beads.

A close-up image of a single grey bead threaded onto a thin dark string against a light background.

A close-up image of a series of dark, oval-shaped beads threaded on a piece of string, arranged neatly in a line against a plain background.

2nd row is most difficult one as it’s not established and you constantly need to keep it tight while working with it. So, start with looping over 1st row three beads back.

A close-up of a beading process showing several oval beads and a needle threading through them, with black string visible.

A close-up image of a string of large oval beads threaded on black string, illustrating the start of a handmade necklace.

Then tread two more beads and loop back on the 1st row.

Close-up of a beaded necklace in progress, featuring large oval beads strung together with thread.

Repeat this four more times and end the loop on the “start” knot.

A black and white photograph of a handmade necklace made from oval beads, arranged in a curved pattern on a light background.

Close-up of a sewing needle threaded with string, positioned alongside a row of oval beads in a black and white color scheme.

Once the tread have been looped on the “start” knot, needle back trough the last bead to start 3rd row.

Close-up of a beaded necklace in progress, featuring oval-shaped beads threaded onto a string with a needle, set against a plain background.

Close-up view of a handmade necklace featuring oval-shaped beads arranged in a curved pattern, with string visible for threading.

3rd row is quite simple: tread one bead then loop trough the 2nd row then repeat the same until the middle of the row.

A close-up image of a beaded necklace partially completed, featuring oval-shaped gray beads threaded on string with sections of loose thread visible.

Close-up of a partially assembled necklace made with oval beads and thread.

At the middle of 3rd row tread 2 beads, loop trough 1st row and then tread back last bead.

A close-up of a heart shape made from oval beads and thread. The beads are arranged in a pattern, with a needle threaded through them.

A close-up of a partially completed beaded necklace, featuring oval-shaped beads and a needle threaded with string.

From the middle of the 3rd row carry on like in the beginning of 3rd row: tread 1 bead then loop trough the 2nd row and repeat this until the end of the row.

A close-up image of a string of oval beads threaded together on a string, set against a plain background.

A close-up image of a partially completed necklace made with oval beads arranged in a curved pattern, held together by thread.

A close-up view of a beaded necklace being assembled, featuring oval beads arranged in a curved pattern with black string and a needle.

A handmade necklace featuring large oval beads arranged in a curved pattern, threaded with black string.

4th row: tread 2 beads then trough the 3rd row until the end of the row.

A close-up of a partially completed beaded necklace, featuring oval-shaped beads threaded on a string with a needle.

Close-up of a beaded necklace in progress, featuring oval-shaped beads threaded onto a string with a needle.

A close-up view of a beaded necklace in progress, featuring oval gray beads arranged in a pattern, with string and thread visible.

To finish 4th row tread back trough the last bead.

A close-up image of a partially completed bead necklace, featuring oval-shaped beads in a symmetrical arrangement with a needle and thread visible.

5th row: tread one bead, then loop trough the 4th row until the middle of the row.

A close-up of a beaded necklace-in-progress, featuring oval beads arranged in a pattern with visible thread.

At the middle of 5th row tread 2 beads, loop trough 3rd row and then tread back last bead.

A close-up image of a partially completed beaded necklace with oval beads arranged in a design, with a needle threading through the beads.

From the middle of the 5th row carry on like in the beginning of 5th row: tread 1 bead then loop trough the 4th row and repeat this until the end of the row.