Photo Tutorial Beaded Dragonsteps V-shaped Necklace

Author's Note
Our projects were very popular during the lifetime of our business and we wanted to ensure they continued to provide inspiration for chain maillers whatever their experience. It's a pleasure to see they will live on with Chainmaillers.com
-Sarah Austin

Beaded Dragon Steps V-shaped Necklace​

We have adapted the dragon steps weave by 925maille by using square profile rings and adding beads to make a solid V-shaped necklace. The necklace uses faceted roller beads, also available in silver, gold and copper-lined, or you can use 6mm pony beads.

You can make a single chain necklace with this weave but care needs to be taken regarding the length - the single necklace chain would need to sit on your collarbone to lay properly. If you prefer a longer necklace, joining as a v-neck allows you to make a necklace of any desired length that will sit well.

Make a matching cuff bracelet. For instructions, click here.



Materials

For a 45cm (18 inch) necklace, you will need:

• 94 large hole faceted roller beads - 5x4mm - 32 pink, 31 purple and 31 white-lined crystal
• 185 square profile silver anodised aluminium saw cut jump rings, ID 5mm, WD 1.2mm - A
• 95 large silver anodised aluminium saw cut jump rings, ID 8.3mm, WD 1.6mm - B
• 4 silver anodised aluminium saw cut jump rings, ID 3.8mm, WD 1.00mm - clasp rings
• silver plated 2-strand clasp - 16mm

Tools:

• two pairs of smooth jawed chain nose, flat nose, or bent nose pliers

Instructions

1. Open one large ring B and add one bead and two closed square rings A. Position the bead at nine o'clock and the square rings at twelve o'clock, as shown in the left hand picture. You may also wish to add a safety pin, paperclip or scrap wire to the first ring B so that you know which is the starting end of the chain.
   
   Open one large ring B, add one bead and close the jump ring. Place this beaded ring over the right hand square ring with the new bead at the 3 o'clock position (centre picture).
   
   Weave one large ring B through the two square rings, add one bead and close the ring. The new ring added lays on top of the previously added ring (right hand picture).
   
   
   
   
   
2. Steps 2 and 3 form the pattern for this weave.
   
   Weave one square ring A within the last large ring B added and through the top of the previous ring. The square ring is linked to only one ring. Make sure you keep the bead on the left hand side of the square ring. (left hand picture)
   
   Weave a second square ring A outside of the last large ring B and linked to the top of the previous ring above the bead (centre picture).
   
   Weave one large ring B through the two square rings just added so that it lays on top of the last ring B of the chain. Add one bead, placing it to the right, and close the ring (right hand picture).
   
   
   
   
   
3. Weave one square ring A within the last large ring B added and through the top of the previous ring. Make sure you keep the bead on the right hand side of the square ring. (left hand picture)
   
   Weave a second square ring A outside of the last large ring B and linked to the top of the previous ring above the bead (centre picture).
   
   Weave one large ring B through the two square rings just added so that it lays on top of the last ring B of the chain. Add one bead, placing it to the left, and close the ring (right hand picture).
   
   
   
   
   
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until your chain is forty six beads long, ending with step 2.
   
   TIP: When weaving, you will pick up the chain to close the rings and may place it back onto your mat upside down. To know which is the correct side up: you will always add the next ring B on top of the previous ring B.
   
   
   
   
   
5. You will now make a second chain, which will have one bead and one square ring A missing at the end of the chain (this will be the joining point of the necklace).
   
   Repeat steps 1-4 until your chain is forty five beads long, ending with step 3.
   
   Repeat step 2, adding two square rings A followed by one large ring B but WITHOUT adding the bead (1st picture).
   
   Repeat step 3, adding two square rings A, one large ring B and one bead, keeping to your colour pattern along the left hand side of the chain (2nd picture).
   
   Repeat step 2, adding ONE square ring A between the last two square rings A added, one large ring B and one bead. Keep to your bead colour pattern along the right hand side of the chain, missing the colour you should have added previously (3rd picture).
   
   Repeat step 3, adding two square rings A, one large ring B and one bead, keeping to your colour pattern along the left hand side of the chain (4th picture). This is the last bead of the chain.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Place your chains on your mat with the working sides upwards. Now turn the chains over - this will be the 'right' side of the finished necklace. This is a subjective opinion based on how the finished necklace sits - there is no right or wrong side. However, for steps 6-8, this is the easier side to work on when joining the two chains.
   
   Check your chain is working side downwards, lay the second chain on your working mat with the unbeaded ring end nearest to you as shown in the left hand picture.
   
   Check your chain is working side downwards, lay the first chain at right angles to the other chain, positioning the end near the unbeaded ring.
   
   
   
   
   
7. The rings added in steps 7 and 8 are shown in red for clarity.
   
   Open one square ring A and weave in between the last two square rings A on the chain. Do not close the ring (left hand picture).
   
   Place the large ring of the right hand chain on top of the unbeaded ring of the other chain and link the square ring to the unbeaded ring.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Referring to the left hand picture, link a second square ring A through the penultimate ring of the right hand chain and the unbeaded ring.
   
   The centre and right hand pictures show the finished join with the silver square rings A.
   
   
   
   
   
9. Using one clasp ring each time, link the clasp loops to each corresponding ring B at the ends of the chain.
   
   

Variations

• Use contrasting square profile rings rather than the same colour.
• Use black ice or black rings with the metallic lined roller beads.
• Use a single colour roller bead such as pink-lined with rose pink large rings B and ice pink square profile rings A.

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©2021 Sarah Austin. All rights reserved.