This simple bead-stringing project creates a colorful, eclectic men's beaded necklace with a hint of tribal-surfer mystique. Its primary ingredients are beads of various sizes, shapes, and textures.

Tools and Supplies List

• About 26 inches of waxed cotton cord
• 1 long bone bead, drilled horizontally at the center (for the toggle)
• Around 12 3-4mm round amber beads (for the loop)
• 6 5mm handmade glass beads
• 22 5-6mm matte glass African Masai beads
• 6 12-14mm dyed orange bone tube beads
• 6 8mm translucent yellow handmade glass African beads
• 6 8-10mm dyed black bone bicone beads
• 5 13mm stabilized turquoise tube beads
• 5 lightly stained bone bicone beads
• 5 5mm sterling silver Bali daisy spacer beads
• 15 rust colored, 9mm handmade African glass disc beads
• 5 4mm dyed round bone beads
• 5 9mm black-dyed and carved bone "eye" beads
• 5 4mm matte black glass spacer beads
• 5 6mm amber bicone beads
• Small sharp scissors or nippers
• Optional: jewelry cement glue
• Optional: knotting pliers
• Optional: Bead board

Instructions

1. Begin by creating the "toggle" end of the necklace. Make a simple overhand knot near the end of the cord, then string on one shiny 5mm glass bead, followed by the long bone bead, and the remaining 5 black glass beads. Optionally, place a very small dab of glue on the end knot. Trim the cord end as needed.

2. Begin stringing the beads, repeating the pattern shown below 5 times. (You may wish to lay them all out on a bead board before stringing.)

Tip: Because the cord is waxed, you should not need a beading needle. For smaller beads, just squeeze the end of the cord between your fingers to make it smaller.

3. For a standard 18-inch men's necklace, finish the pattern with an additional sequence of Beads 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Next, string on the 3-4mm round amber beads for the end-loop. The number of amber beads needed will vary depending on the length of the your bone toggle bead. The example piece shown in the images uses 12 amber beads.

Tip: To determine loop size, experiment by holding the beaded loop closed with your fingers and sliding the toggle into it. The loop should be large enough that that toggle slips into it without forcing, but small enough that the toggle won't slip out by itself.

4. Bring the end of the cord back through the black bone bicone (Bead 5) and tie it off in a simple overhand knot around the cord between the yellow glass bead (Bead 4) and the black bone bicone (Bead 5). Optionally, add a small dab of glue to the knot to secure it. Trim off the excess cord end.

5. If you decided to use glue, allow it to dry for 24 hours - and then your necklace is ready to wear!

Keep in mind that you may substitute beads of different materials and colors, but similar shapes and sizes, using the pattern of this project as a guide. Just remember to choose mostly light-weight materials like bone, ceramic, wood, or shell, so that your necklace won't be too heavy.

A good source for finding unusual and distinctive beads is eBay. As you can tell, I like to use authentic African beads in men's necklaces.

Chris Franchetti Michaels is a writer and jewelry artisan specializing in beaded designs, wire work, and metal fabrication. She is the author of the books Teach Yourself Visually: Jewelry Making and Beading, Beading Quick Tips, and Wire Jewelry Quick Tips. Visit her website BeadJewelry.net for more jewelry-making help and inspiration.