Teardrop-shaped beads accent a two-strand necklace.

Lots of fringe beads look great when strung together, but ropelike necklaces or bracelets sometimes obscure the beads' individual shapes. Try showcasing these petite beauties in a graceful necklace - clustered where their perks are obvious. Add a pendant, and you'll have a necklace that's not only pretty, but also easy on your paycheck.

both necklaces
String a gemstone pendant, a spacer, and an accent bead on a head pin. Make a wrapped loop (Basic Techniques) above the top bead.

Determine the finished length of your necklace. (My inner strands are 151/4 in./ 39cm; the outer, 161/4 in./41cm.) Add 6 in. (15cm) to each measurement and cut a piece of beading wire to those lengths. Center the pendant and a cylinder bead on the longer wire.

On each side of the pendant, string a rondelle, six cylinder beads, three fringe beads, and six cylinders. Repeat this pattern on each end until the strand is within 1 in. (2.5cm) of the desired length.

On the shorter wire, string six cylinders, three fringe beads, and six cylinders. Center the beads. Then, string the pattern in step 3 on each end and repeat until the strand is within 1 in. of the desired length.

Attach a split ring to the clasp's loop.

On one end of each strand, string a cylinder bead, crimp bead, cylinder, and the attached split ring. Go back through the beads just strung and tighten the wires. Repeat on the remaining ends, substituting the soldered jump ring for the split ring. Check the fit, and add or remove beads from each end if necessary. Crimp the crimp beads (Basic Techniques) and trim the excess wire.