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How to Make a Pleo necklace


 

What Pleo is complete without some bling? Well, the simplest way to add some flair is with a necklace. This page covers everything you should need to know to make the perfect necklace for your Pleo. While much of this information is generic for making any bracelet or necklace for yourself or others, some information has been tailored to address specific issues related to your Pleo.

Steps 1 through 6 cover the Planning portion of making a necklace. Steps 7 through 9 address actually making the necklace. And while the making of the necklace is actually very simple and straightforward, there are so many variations depending of the style of necklace, that the details have been split onto separate pages.

For specific instructions on making a quick and simple elastic necklace, click here.

Step 1.

The very first step is to think about what kind of necklace you want to make for your pleo. Is the necklace for a boy or a girl Pleo? Are you looking for something simple, like a single stone or ID tag hung on a leather strap? Something elegant like strands of pearls? Something fun and colorful to bring out the child in your Pleo?

Step 2.

Select the beads you want to use. Be sure to conside the size, color, and what material the beads are made of. Beads can be made of natural stone (agate, turquoise, etc.), organic materials (pearls, sea shells, amber, etc.), glass/crystal, ceramic, plastic, wood, or many other materials. There is no wrong choice, so be feel free to be creative! [Bead details]

Step 3.

Select the type of thread you want to use. The choice of thread will be influenced by the type of necklace you want to make and the beads you selected. Some choices include: silk/nylon thread, beading wire, elastic string, and leather or cloth strips. [Thread details]

Step 4.

Select how you want to connect the ends of the necklace together. You can choose to simply tie the ends together with a knot or use a clasp. Clasps come in a variety of styles, including: spring ring, lobster claw, barrel, magnetic, hook & ring, toggle, and safety. And, depending on the thread and clasp chosen, you have to decide how you are going to connect the thread to the clasp. [Clasp details]

Step 5.

Prepare for making the necklace. You'll need a good, safe place to work. Remember, beads are small and they roll easily! That means the ideal work place will have good lighting, be flat and level, and have a controlled surface to work on (like a bead board, a sheet of felt, or even just a towel to keep the beads from going everywhere). You will also need a good set of tools. For stringing small Pleo necklaces, your needs are few: a ruler, a good pair of small/precision scissors or wire cutters, crafter’s/jeweler's/super glue, and possibly a pair of round-nosed pliers, crimping pliers, and/or smooth flat-nosed pliers. And don't forget to gather up all the beads, string, and findings you'll need. [Tool tips]

Step 6.

Design the necklace. Lay out your beads on a bead board (cloth, or towel) placed on a flat, level work surface. Take this opportunity to play around with the order in which your beads will be strung. Try different patterns and find the one you like the best. A little planning now will save you a lot of frustration later!

Step 7.

Start one end of the necklace. You will need about 10-12 inches of whatever thread you have chosen (this leaves extra for room to tie knots). Based on steps 3 and 4, you will either need to simply tie a good knot on one end of the string, or attach the clasp to one end. [How to attach clasps]

Step 8.

String the beads. This is where it helps if you laid the beads out in order in step 6. If you plan to hide the knot or crimp bead inside another bead, remeber to string these special beads in the right location before you finish stringing! [Stringing tips]

Step 9.

Complete the other end of the necklace. Again, depending on what you did in step 7, you will either need to simply tie the two ends together with a good knot, or attach the clasp to the other end of the string. [How to attach clasps]

Viola! You now have a wonderful necklace for your Pleo! These instructions may seem like a lot of stuff to do, but once you've made one or two, you'll see just how easy it really is.

Things to consider

Weight - While most necklaces won't be an issue, hanging any necklace on your Pleo's neck adds to the weight it must lift as it moves its head around.

Length - The necklace needs to be loose enough to allow complete free range of movement of the neck, but the length can vary depending on how you want it to hang. Remember, when a person wears a necklace, it lays on the chest. When your Pleo wears a necklace, any slack dangles loose below the neck.

Sharp edges - Your Pleo's skin is made out of a soft rubbery material, so anything with a sharp edge, protrusion, or even rough texture (such as the clasp) will be rubbing against the skin, and may cause abrasions, scratches, or even cuts.

Appearance - Again, when a person wears a necklace, the focus is on the "front", what lays on the chest, what people see when looking at the person. The clasp is usually placed at the "back" where nobody sees it. On a Pleo, the "back" is in plain sight as most people will be looking down on the Pleo. The "front", where any pendant will hang, is underneath, and will be seen most often from the side.

How Many Beads Do I Need?


2mm75  5mm30  8mm19
3mm50  5.5mm27  9mm17
4mm38  6mm25  10mm15
4.5mm34  7mm22  12mm13

Numbers are approximate. Beads may be irregular or non-uniform in shape, which will affect the bead count. If you are knotting between beads, add 1-2mm per knot.

WARNING!

Do not leave beads unattended around young children. They attract children's curiouity, and may pose a choking hazard.

Birthstones

January:Garnet
February:Amethyst
March:Aquamarine
April:Diamond
May:Emerald
June:Pearl (or moonstone)
July:Ruby
August:Peridot
September:Sapphire
October:Opal (or Tourmaline)
November:Topaz (or Citrine)
December:Trquoise