The Serger Beaded Necklace

Did you know you can make jewelry with a serger? This is my first of many tutorials designed to inspire you to do more with your serger! I’ve taught my Serger Beaded Necklace class several times at my local fabric store. “You did that with a serger?” is a response I often receive when customers see my necklaces hanging in the store. This is a great example of how a serger can be used for much more than finishing the edges of seams!

Supply List – Serger Beaded Necklace

Serger capable of 3 thread rolled hem stitch
6-15# test fishing line (I have been using 8# for my necklaces). The larger the number the thicker the line. You’ll want at least 20-30 yards (better to have the whole reel).
Three spools of thread as desired. Thin upper looper thread will make a thinner “cord” and thick upper looper thread will make a thicker “cord” in your necklace. I used Maxilock standard serger cone thread in the needle and lower looper and Madeira 12 wt. Glamour or Madeira 12 wt. Decora in the upper looper.
80-150 assorted beads (approximately 12 beads per strand and 6-12 strands). Beads must be able to slide on your fishing line.
Jewelry findings – jump rings, clasps, etc.
Jewelry tools – small needle nose pliers
Tweezers and other serger supplies
Wonder clips work great for clamping the end of the fishing line to keep the beads from sliding off.

Serger Set Up:

Set your serger up for a 3 thread rolled hem with a stitch length of 1.5 or as desired.
Disengage your knife.
Remove the presser foot and ankle from your serger, but leave the presser foot lifter lever down while serging. The lever should be down to properly form the stitch.

General Tips for Serger Beading:

Do not cut the fishing line off the reel. Add your beads to the fishing line on the reel and then create your chain and cut it when it is done – this way you don’t have to worry about the beads falling off. If you do want to cut the fishing line to lengths, you should put a wonder clip or some other fastener at the end to keep the beads on.
Gently pull the rolled hem chain taught from the back as you serge to keep the chain from bunching on the fishing line.
You can stop with the needle up or down. I found it better to stop with the needle down to help hold your fishing line/thread in position.
You pull your bead loop to the left and back.

Adding Fishing Line and Beads to Rolled Hem Chain:

Watch my video on The Serger Beaded Necklace to see how to make the individual strands. Written directions are below, but I think watching the technique in action is much easier to understand. https://youtu.be/B0cZRLkznc4

My favorite serger beaded necklace consists of 12 strands, each about 36” long with 12 assorted beads placed randomly on each strand.

Begin by serging about 4-6″ of rolled hem chain before adding in the fishing line. Serge over about 10-12” of fishing line before adding beads. Add beads one at a time with approximately 1-1.5” between beads. Hold the bead loop and the already serged chain with your left hand behind the needle while you line up the uncovered fishing line with your right hand in front of the needle. The fishing line should be just to the right of the needle, on the stitch finger or slightly to the right of the stitch finger. Make sure the bead loop is out of the way of the needle. Take a few stitches while holding the fishing line both in front of and in back of the needle. Then pull on the rolled hem chain behind the needle to smooth out the chain on the fishing line and prevent any bunching. Next while holding the chain in behind the needle, gently pull the uncovered fishing line in front of the needle toward you, pulling the extra fishing line in the bead loop back into the rolled hem chain to set the bead into the chain. After the last bead, I serge about 10-12” more of chain before swinging the fishing line to the left and out of the rolled hem chain. Continue chaining off without fishing line for 4-6″ and then cut the fishing line and the rolled hem chain, leaving a little extra fishing line and rolled hem chain on the strand. Arrange the strands to your liking and slightly twist them together. Put the ends of the chains through a jump ring and wrap the ends. Add lobster claw or other closure. See photo tutorial of necklace finishing below.

How to Finish the Ends of Your Serger Beaded Necklace:

Resources: Useful information I gathered in creating this tutorial.

Serger Strand Necklace – https://babylock.com/learn-and-create/projects/serged-strand-jewelry Project on Babylock’s website.
Beaded Serger Necklace – Power Serge book by Pam Damour and Betty Mitchel, pages 102-103.
Button Necklace – Make Your Own Jewelry. Project on sewing.org website. http://www.sewing.org/html/buttonnecklace.html .
Free Motion Beading – Serger Secrets book, pages 90-92.