Finishing Necklaces with French Wire

Thanks to all of you who responded to my questions about bead tips
and glue. Your comments were extremely helpful. I am now running out
of bead tips and think that I would like to switch to using french
wire to finish off my future necklaces. I am referring to the
technique where you finish the necklaces with french wire by running
the thread back through the first few beads and then knot it
invisibly. I would like to use french wire and silk for pearl and
other necklaces. I bought a video to learn this technique but I am
still having trouble understanding it. Does anyone have advice about
how you are able to add the french wire and then loop back around and
string the thread through the necklace and tie the knot several beads
later?

The times that I have used French wire to make a necklace, it frayed
and looked unsightly after a short while and I have been afraid to
use it since.

Does anyone have advice about how you are able to add the french
wire and then loop back around and string the thread through the
necklace and tie the knot several beads later? 
  1. Cut the gimp by lying it on a flat surface and cutting down with
    a razor blade. DO NOT use scissors.

  2. Only cut a short length - between 1/4 and 1/2 inch - no more.

  3. The gimp will make the top loop and protect the thread from
    abrasion at the clasp end. Therefore, string the one clasp end first,
    then go ahead and string (and knot if necessary) your beads, and
    finally, at the final end, add your gimp, your other clasp end, and
    then string back through one bead.

  4. Knot a half-hitch at this point and then string through the next
    bead, working back towards your beginning point. Knot a half-hitch
    between beads 1&2, 2&3 and 3&4. Use your GS Hypo Cement on the knots
    to keep them taut, and clip your stringing material after the glue
    has completely dried. I clip mine with a razor blade to get as close
    to the knot as possible.

  5. Keep in mind that the gimp can only be used once and if you mess
    up and have to re-do the job, you will need to cut a new section of
    gimp.

BBR - Sandi Graves, Beadin’ Up A Storm
Stormcloud Trading Co
“Beads, Leather and Metalworking Supplies”
St Paul, Minnesota (USA)
651-645-0343

Hello Annabel, If you can get hold of a copy of Step-by-Step Bead
Stringing by Ruth F Poris, published by Golden Hands Press,

http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books/us/product/09616442211.htm

you will find the use of french wire very clearly explained.

Best of luck, Margaret Jackson

If you can get hold of a copy of Step-by-Step Bead Stringing by
Ruth F Poris, published by Golden Hands Press, 

Why, I sell that very book, it’s on my website in the books section,
and in stock and ready to go. It was just purchased, along with some
others, by a library in another state. My first sale to a library!

Elaine

Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay