Debbie is one of our longtime customers and friends, and she's the reason one of our most popular necklace designs exists.
Years ago, she came into the store wanting to make something for a special occasion. We started with a basic wire wrapped pearl necklace — the idea was to link all the pearls together. But as we were working on it, I realized it was going to take way too long to finish. So we pivoted. We added sections of chain to create breaks between the wire wrapping — about an inch and a half of chain here, then more pearls, then more chain. We finished it off with one focal bead, and just like that, the Debbie Lindsey necklace was born.
Why It Works
The Debbie Lindsey is a perfectly balanced necklace. The alternating chain and wire-wrapped sections mean that no matter where the necklace shifts throughout the day, it still looks good. We all have those necklaces that swivel around until the clasp ends up in front or the pendant migrates to the side of your neck — the Debbie Lindsey doesn't do that. The weight and visual balance are built into the design.
It's also surprisingly easy to make, which is why it's become one of our go-to recommendations for intermediate wire wrappers looking for a real project.
What You Need
- Basic wire wrapping knowledge
- Chain nose and flat nose pliers
- Wire cutters
- 48 to 50 beads, 6-8mm (freshwater pearls are classic, but gemstones work beautifully too)
- 10 feet of 24 gauge half-hard wire
- 1 larger focal bead
- 2 feet total of chain (your choice — you can even mix chain styles)
- Clasp, closed ring, and jump rings (optional — adding a clasp lets you wear it as a wrapped bracelet too)
The Pattern
Total length: 33.5 inches. Here's the layout from end to end:
- 8 inches of wire-wrapped beads (about 13 beads at 8mm)
- 1.5 inches of chain
- 3.75 inches of wire-wrapped beads (about 6 beads)
- Focal bead — approximately 1.25 inches, wire loop to wire loop
- 7 inches of wire-wrapped beads (about 11 beads)
- 1.5 inches of chain
- 6.25 inches of wire-wrapped beads (about 10 beads)
- 1.5 inches of chain
- 4.25 inches of wire-wrapped beads (about 7 beads)
Tips
- If you're using a smaller or delicate chain, double or triple it in each section for strength.
- Play around with the section lengths for your own unique version — the pattern is a starting point, not a rule.
The best designs come from happy accidents. We were just trying to save time, and it turned into one of the most-requested necklaces we teach.
We carry everything you need for the Debbie Lindsey — pearls, chain, wire, focal beads, and the tools. Come in and we'll walk you through it.