Bracelet with Cultured Freshwater Pearls, Crystal Passions® Beads and Czech Fire-Polished Beads
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Design Idea 7448
Lush Embellished Bracelet
-- Designer --
Sherry Serafini
To learn more about Sherry, read her jewelry artist success story here.
: : : Materials : : :
Please take the creative opportunity to select the products of your choice for this design, offered here at Fire Mountain Gems and Beads.
This bracelet is fun to make! You can run wild with embellishment, since there is no set pattern to follow. It can be made as full and colorful as your heart desires with just a few simple stitches.
Instructions
Creating a Square-Stitch Base
Step 1
Measure your wrist and decide how long to make your bracelet, be sure to take into consideration that the clasp will add one inch to the beaded section.
Step 2
Thread a needle with two yards of thread.
Step 3
String a stop bead (see instructions for 'Adding a stop bead' below) onto the end of the thread, leaving an 8-inch tail, to be woven into the beadwork later.
Step 4
To work the square stitch, string on six size 8/0 seed beads. This is the first row and should be on the left.
Step 5
Pick up a bead on the right side for the second row, and go back through the last bead in the previous row then pass the needle up through the new bead again.
Step 6
Each bead is added the same way. Pick up a bead, pass the needle back through the bead directly next to it and through the new bead again.
Step 7
Each time a row is finished, pass the needle through the entire previous row once more, and then up through the just-finished row to add strength.
Step 8
Continue working square stitches until you've reached the desired length of your bracelet, remembering to leave one inch for the clasp. Remove the stop bead.
Adding the Clasp
Step 9
Thread a needle with approximately 18 inches of doubled thread and weave into the last two rows of one end of the beaded square stitch.
Step 10
Tie off a knot between the rows and bring your needle in between the first and second size 8/0 seed bead at the end of the strip.
Step 11
Pick up a size 8/0 seed bead, five size 15/0 seed beads and pass your needle through an end hole on one half of the clasp. Pick up five more size 15/0 seed beads. Pass the needle back down through the size 8/0 seed bead.
Step 12
Pass the needle through the next two size 8/0 seed beads in the end row and bring it up in between those rows. Pick up a size 8/0 seed bead, five size 15/0 seed beads and pass your needle through the middle hole on one half of the clasp. Pick up five more size 15/0 seed beads. Pass the needle back down through the size 8/0 seed bead.
Step 13
Pass the needle through the next two size 8/0 seed beads in the end row and bring it up in between those rows. Pick up a size 8/0 seed bead, five size 15/0 seed beads and pass your needle through the remaining hole on the clasp. Pick up five more size 15/0 seed beads. Pass the needle back down through the size 8/0 seed bead. Weave the needle and thread through the square stitch tying off several knots to secure.
Step 14
Repeat this step for the other side of the clasp.
Adding Embellishments
There are several embellishment stitches that will be used randomly to create this bracelet.
Step 15
Thread a needle with approximately 2 yards of thread, doubled.
Step 16
Weave the needle and thread through the square stitch at one of the ends and tie off a secure knot.
Step 17
Starting in the first row, pass the needle through a bead on the edge.
Stop Stitch
Step 18
Pick up a size 6mm satin blue bead and a size 15/0 dark gold bead. Skip the dark gold size 15/0 and pass the needle back through the 6mm bead and into the edge bead on the square stitch.
Loop Stitch
Step 19
Pass the needle through the size 8/0 in the square stitch base directly beside the one exited. Pick up five size 15/0 blue beads, pearl, five more size 15/0 beads and pass through the bead directly one beside the one just exited creating a loop.
Bead Stack
Step 20
Pick up three size 11/0 aqua seed beads, a Swarovski cube crystal and a size 15/0 dark gold seed bead. Skip over the size 15/0 bead and pass the needle down through the Swarovski cube and through the three size 11/0 beads. Pass the needle into the size 8/0 directly beside the one exited creating a stack.
Step 21
Repeat Steps 18-20 throughout for the entire piece alternating stop stitches, loop stitches and beaded stacks with different beads from the pallet chosen.
Tip: When your threads become short, weave them into the square stitch and tie off and knot in between beads. Begin a new thread the same way the first one was started.
Step 22
Finish the piece by weaving the needle and thread into the beadwork, tie off the knots and clip.
Additional Instructions
Adding a stop bead: Stop beads are used to help hold the beadwork in place while you weave or create your deign, but are not meant to be part of the overall finished design. I recommend choosing a bead that is very different from the beads in the finished piece to help differentiate the stop bead from the beads in the design.
String a bead onto the thread. Bring the bead down to the end of the thread (or leave a tail length as indicated in the directions for the project you're working on). Pass the needle through the stop bead again, it will be set in place, temporarily with a loop around it. Begin your project.
Remove the stop bead by gently pulling it toward the end of the thread, once the design is complete or the directions for the project indicate.
Have a question regarding this project? Email Customer Service.
Copyright Permissions
The pieces featured in the Gallery of Designs are copyrighted designs and are provided for inspiration only. We encourage you to substitute different colors, products and techniques to make the design your own.
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