wirelace ombre necklace photo how-to

1. To create an ombre effect, select four strands of different color beads. I purchased 6mm fresh water pearls from Stone International, here in NYC. Ombre is a gradation of color  tones and can be achieved in any palette. This necklace starts with white pearls fading into a deep brownish pink. 

2. Decide whether you prefer the gradation to go from light to dark or dark to light. Separate and arrange your beads into eight equal portions to create 4 new beaded strands. Whether it's the dark or light color that ends up in the middle, double up your eight portions of that bead. 

3. String beads on thin monofilament (0.01- inch gauge).

4. Your 4 strands should look similar to the above. These strands are 16" in length.

5. Be sure to leave about six inches of extra monofilament at the ends of each strand. To secure the end beads firmly on the strand, feed the end of the monofilament around and back through the bead. Do this on all ends of your strands.

6. Line up the four strands of beads and, using electrical tape, tightly tape one end of each of the four strands to one end of a thin double-pointed knitting needle. To prevent snagging on WireLace, make sure tape completely covers all ends of monofilament.

7. Choose a color of 6mm Wirelace that complements your gradient. For this palette I used a yard of blush. 

8. Insert a thick knitting needle into one tubular end of  the Wirelace. Remove needle.

9. Insert the knitting needle into the other end of Wirelace and remove, keeping the Wirelace in a tubular form.

10. Feed all four strands of beads through one end of the Wirelace. The knitting needle will help pull the strands through.

11. Carefully guide the knitting needle through the yard of Wirelace until it is out the other side. Center the strands in the WireLace by smoothing it out over the beads. 

12. Remove tape and detach strands from knitting needle. 

13. Tie knots in WireLace and monofilament at both ends of necklace where beads end. 

13. Determine the length of your necklace and fold ends of WireLace to mark ends. Using a small hook of fine-gauge wire, pull each WireLace loop through a metal cone end cap. With jewelry pliers, attach jump rings to each loop and attach lobster claw clasp to one jump ring.

14. Trim any extra WireLace and monofilament hanging out of end caps and squeeze a drop of all-purpose adhesive into each end cap to secure loops. 

15. Now you have a pearl necklace like Martha!

For a video how-to, visit marthastewart.com.