I love working with seed bead mixes, you get a wonderful range of colours allowing you to be completely random or to create a pattern using the colours & sizes provided. Due to the random nature of the packs, if you decide you want to make a pattern I always find it useful to order an extra pack, this way there is less chance of being 1 bead short for your design. I used 2 packs to create both the bracelet and the necklace and I designed the pattern around what I had.
SB – 11/0 seed bead BB - 6mm bugle bead
BC – 4mm bicone 6 – 6mm round bead
Bracelet - 1. Cut a double arm span of nymo (condition the thread if you want to) attach a needle to one end.
2. Pick up 1xSB, 1xBB, 5xSB, clasp, 4xSB. Leaving a short tail for tension that can be woven into the design at the end, go through all the beads & clasp again, exit after the BB. Go back through all the beads again, however this time, miss the SB on either side of the BB. This will pull the missed SB’s to sit directly above & below the BB ensuring no gaps in your design. Set up for the next step by going through the next SB.
3. Pick up SB, BC, 2xSB, 6mm, 2xSB, BC, SB
Go through the SB, BB & SB already in the design and through the next 3 beads (SB, BC, SB). Go back through all the beads again, missing the SB directly before & after the 6mm round bead. This ‘locks’ the SB’s in place and re-enforces the design as you go. Set up for the next step by going through the next SB.
4. Pick up SB, BC, 2xSB, BB, 2xSB, BC, SB. Go through the SB, 6mm & SB already in the design and through the next 2 beads (SB, BC, SB). Go back through all the beads again, missing the SB directly before & after the BB. Go through the SB to be in position for the next step.
5. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you reach the desired length. Ensure the last ‘step’ bead you add is a BB.
6. Pick up 4xSB, the other side of your clasp and 4xSB, go through the SB, BB & SB already in the design. Re-enforce this loop by going through the beads twice, but the second time, miss the SB’s either side of the BB.
7. Navigate your working thread and tail into the design, tying a couple of half hitch knots and trim them off.
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