Bead Crochet Tutorial: Make Jewelry From a Simple Chain

I am SO excited to show you how to make bead crochet jewelry today! Bead crocheted jewelry is an amazing technique with a beautiful result…but it is so easy to learn. If you already know how to crochet, bead crochet will be practically effortless! Don’t believe me? Read more to let me convince you!

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I learned how to do bead crochet a long time ago. I’ve always been a DIY kind of person. One day, I saw bead crochet jewelry on the cover of a book, and I knew I had to make it. It was just so unique and beautiful!

There are different types of bead crochet, and today I want to show you how to make the easiest one. Believe or not, it is just a simple chain stitch!

You’re probably saying to yourself, “What?! It can’t be that easy!”

But actually, it is!

For this technique, we will make a simple chain. The only difference is that we will catch beads in the chain as we go. But trust me, even that is not hard. I will show you how to do it, step by step!

Do you have experience teaching bead crochet?

Actually, yes! This is somewhat of a side note, but in Jan-Feb 2020, I traveled to the Philippines and taught over 200 women to do this very same technique! Most of these women had never crocheted before, and even they caught on fast.

In fact, I wrote a whole post about my trip to the Philippines, and this project in particular. It contains lots more photos! If you’re interested in reading it, you can do so here.

Use & Sell Crochet Jewelry

Besides making these necklaces for own enjoyment, you can also give them as gifts. They also make a great craft to sell for profit since they are so quick and easy to make. (Think selling on Etsy, craft shows, etc.!)

What will I need?

Great question! To do bead crochet, you’ll only need a few supplies: a small crochet hook, crochet thread, and beads. The pattern I provide below will tell you specifically what I used, but let me give you some guidelines here:

• Your hook will probably need to be somewhere between a C and F hook. This depends on your tension, as you don’t want the chain to look too loose.
• Crochet thread or embroidery floss will both work for this project!
• When you choose beads, you simply have to make sure that their hole is big enough to go over your chosen thread. Usually 6/0 seeds beads work well, and then some kind of bigger, focal point beads. I’ll provide links to the beads I used below.

Bead Crochet Materials I Use:

1. Curio Size 10 Crochet Thread by WeCrochet (alternate: Aunt Lydia’s crochet thread size 10)
2. F/3.75mm crochet hook
3. 8mm Rondelle Beads
4. 6/0 seed beads
5. 4mm Bicone Beads

Below you can see all these materials:

But like I said, you can choose any beads you’d like! Just make sure that the hole is large enough.

Sizing Bead Crochet Jewerly

Another thing we can talk about is sizing! This pattern is the EASIEST to adjust to whatever size you need! With the pattern I will show you, you can easily make either a bracelet or a necklace…or both! A bracelet will just take less time and materials.

I’ll tell you in the pattern how many I used, but that is my personal preference and fit. You can totally try on the chain over your wrist or head before you finish off to make sure it will be perfect!

Pin this post to your Pinterest boards HERE!

How to Make Bead Crochet Jewelry

All right! Let’s finally get to the pattern itself! View the video tutorial below (meant to be supplemented by written pattern, below it!)

Step 1

Begin by threading ALL the beads on the thread. Yes, you heard me right. We string everything before even starting to crochet a bit.

For a 2 Strand Bracelet: *String one seed bead, one 4mm bicone bead, one seed bead, one 8mm rondelle bead. Repeat from * 9 times more.

For a 2 Strand Necklace: *String one seed bead, one 4mm bicone bead, one seed bead, one 8mm rondelle bead. Repeat from * 39 times more.

Remember, you are free to get creative here—use any beads, string them in any order! Just know that the order you string them in will be the way they get crocheted in. Also note that you can totally very the length of the bracelet/necklace simply by stringing more or less beads!

Step 2

Make a Slip Knot. Pull the first bead down to the base of the slip knot.

More Tutorials on the Blog:

• How to Block Your Crochet Projects
• 4 Types of Crochet Lace For Beginners
• Crochet Stitch Library: Over 40 Stitch Tutorials
• How to Crochet the Feather Stitch

Step 3:

YO just a usual, but make sure the bead is caught underneath your YO. Bring the hook down and pull through your normal loop to make a chain stitch. The only difference is that a BEAD is caught in the bottom of the chain.

Step 4:

Make one regular chain (with no bead). NOTE: you can totally get creative here too! You can do 1 chain, or 4! It really doesn’t matter! But personally, I like to leave less space between beads.

Step 5

Bring the next bead down to the base of the chain.

Repeat Steps 3-5 until you have crocheted a long chain with beads in it!

I keep crocheting until I’ve finished all 10 large beads for a two-strand bracelet, or all 40 large beads for a 2 strand necklace. These numbers are just guidelines though! Try your piece on and make sure it’s the perfect length. When you’re finished, simply slip stitch the two ends together. Then, fasten off and weave in your ends.

Didn’t I tell you it was easy as pie?! I hope you enjoyed learning this simple and fun technique.

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

To view all of my free patterns, click HERE. To get a special bonus straight to your inbox, sign up for my email list below:

Happy Crocheting!