DIY Beaded Shell Necklace

Summer is hands down my favorite season for DIY. The summer accessory never takes itself too seriously - it's playful, colorful and nostalgic. And it's especially exciting when I can find new ways to reuse leftover supplies from past DIYs, like seed beads (pro tip: always keep them stocked in your craft stash!). Today, I’m showing you how to create an adjustable beaded shell necklace, with a fun twist on the classic pendant bail. I'll be wearing these all summer long as the perfect layering piece!

You'll Need

drilled cowrie shells, drilled scallop shells
0.5mm elastic string
0.5mm nylon knotting cord
8/0 seed beads (I like "frosted")
11/0 Miyuki Delica seed beads
E7000 glue (optional)
lighter
scissors

Cut about 10 inches of elastic string. Tie it in a double knot, about a third of the way. Thread on your mini seed beads onto the longer end.

You'll need about 18-25, depending on how big of a loop you want on your shell pendant. Thread the long end through the front end of the shell.

Thread the shell on until it hits the row of beads. Then, carefully tie a tight double knot.

Trim the ends. You can even add a drop of E7000 glue onto your knot to make it extra secure but it's not necessary.

Next, cut about 2.5ft of knotting cord. Tie a single knot at the end, leaving about 5 inches of slack. Thread on your larger seed bead, alternating with the smaller bead.

Keep adding until you've reached your desired length. Finish it with another single knot - this prevents the beads from moving around. Thread on your shell pendant and start your macrame closure. You'll need an additional 8" of knotting cord. Cross the ends of the necklace, making them parallel. Center the 8" cord under the strands and then fold the right cord across the strands.

Then fold the left cord over the right cord, pointing down. Pull the left cord under the right and middle strands and then through the loop on the right side. Pull tightly - this is one half of a square knot!

Finish the 2nd half of the square knot by folding the left cord over the middle strands and under the right cord. Pull the right cord under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side.

Pull the right cord under the left and middle strands and through the loop on the left side. Pull tight. Continue making about 6-8 square knots.

Trim both ends, leaving about 2mm. Burn to melt the ends and use the bottom of the lighter to press the melted cord into the back of the closure. To prevent the ends from falling out of the closure, add 1-2 beads to the ends of each cord.