Skull Necklace with Preciosa Seed Beads

When sewing, select seed beads of approximately the same height (the same dimension of the hole length). Two numbers are given for the used numbers of R. The lower amount is for the finished pattern, while the higher is the approximate amount prior to selection.

Sew a column using the brick stitch (Steps 1 and 2) as the basis. Use the thread between the individual seed beads for further sewing.

A – String one seed bead: Pass the needle under the thread between the seed beads. Pass the needle back through the seed beads.

B – Sewing the edges of the columns - the beginning: The column is shorter than the previous one. String two seed beads. Pass the needle under the thread in the second gap between the seed beads. Pass the needle through the second seed bead again. Return to the first seed bead. Pass the needle under the thread in the first gap between the seed beads. Pass the needle through the first seed bead again. Pass the needle under the thread again and secure the second seed bead. Proceed in the same way if the following column is several seed beads shorter.

C – Sewing the edges of the columns - the beginning: If the column is longer than the previous one, string on two seed beads. Pass the needle under the thread in the first gap between the seed beads. Pass the thread through the second seed bead again. Straighten the strung seed beads.

D – Sewing the edges of the columns – the end: If the column is longer than the previous one, string the last seed bead. Pass the needle under the thread next to the last seed bead from the previous row. Pass the needle through the strung seed beads again and straighten it.

E – Sewing the edges of the columns – the end: If the next column is shorter than the previous one, pass the thread through the outer seed beads of the previous column one more time.

Cut off about 5 feet of nylon thread (an arm's span). Tie the thread to the eye of a needle with one or two knots. String the central column according to the illustration. Place the strung seed beads in the middle of the thread.

Pass the thread through all the strung seed beads one at a time from the lower grey one to the upper grey one using the brick stitch. Try to make sure that the seed beads are located directly one above the other, if possible. Tie off the thread with two knots next to last grey seed bead. Pass the thread through all the upper seed beads and hide the knots in the holes of the seed beads.

Then string the first column to the left of the central column and then to the right, according to the illustration.

Continue by stringing the second column to the right and then to the left of the central column.

Sew part of the third column on the left- and right-hand sides. Leave 15-20cm free from the diminishing thread for future sewing.

Cut off about 5 feet of thread. Continue sewing the third column. Leave 15-20cm free at the end of the thread. Sew part or the entire column. Tie off the free end of the thread with two knots. Don't sew them in yet.

Continue sewing the columns according to the illustration, completely for the fourth to eighth columns and partially for the ninth column. Once again, leave 15-20cm of the end free. Pass any thread from Step 6 that hasn't been sewn in through several seed beads and cut it off.

Cut off about 3 feet of thread. Complete the ninth column. Tie off the free ends of the thread with two knots. Don't sew them in. Sew on columns 10 to 15. Pass the knotted free ends of the thread through several seed beads. Also sew in the free end at the fifteenth column. Pass it through several seed beads. Tie a double knot (a double pass through a loop of thread created around the thread between the seed beads). Pass the thread through several seed beads.

Repeat Steps 6 – 8 to complete the other side of the skull.

Attach the 4-5mm jump rings into the holes in the top grey seed beads, at the edges before the start of the descent of the skull's dome. Add two 4-5mm jump rings to those jump rings. String a cord into the rings.

Tie slip knots as follows: Cut off about 3-1/2 feet of the cord. Cross the cord over at a length of about 1 to 1-1/2 inches. Fold it back about 1/4 inch from the end of the cord. Fold it again about 1/2 to 3/4 inches from the fold. Start winding around all three strands of cord. Twist it three times. Thread the ends of the cord through the loop. Pull on the knot behind the part of the cord where you tied the knot. Tighten the knot. Shorten any extending cord to about 1/2 inch. Tie a knot on the other side in the same way.