All about jewellery making

In my last post I talked about the beaded snowflakes design in Dorothy Wood’s book ‘Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading’.  My challenge was to find a way to create the wire frame for making beaded snowflakes using cold connections.  Here is a tutorial for my beaded snowflake wirework frame which I have tested out with the following result:

To create the basic beaded snowflake wirework frame you need to cut three identical pieces of wire (I used 0.8 mm).  The length is up to you as it will determine the final size of your beaded snowflake.  Line up the wires next to each other and using a finer length of of wire (i used 0.6 mm) create a wirewrap around the wires at the midway point - see fig. 1.

fig. 1

You are almost done already!  Once the wirewrap is secure you can then fold the arms out like so:

fig. 2

You are now ready to apply your chosen beads to each of the snowflake arms.  Secure the beads by using your round nose pliers to create a small loop at the end of each wire - see fig. 3.

fig. 3

photo of my beaded snowflake at this stage

Don’t worry if your beaded snowflake is a little wobbly. You are about to add the embellishments with fine wire and this will hold it all together.  For my beaded snowflake I created bead picks as explained in Dorothy’s book (pp. 14 - 17) but you could use more crystals, beads, seed beads, ribbons, buttons to suit your own tastes.  I can’t explain here how to create the bead picks because I wish to respect Dorothy’s copyright.  If you want to replicate these delicate beaded fronds please see her book.  However all other forms of decoration can be attached using fine wire (0.2 or 0.3 mm) by twisting and weaving around the centre of the beaded snowflake.  I found it useful to incorporate some beaded loops at the centre as these hide the wire you have used to bind the decoration.  Add a hanging loop by attaching a thread on any one of the loops at the end of the beaded snowflake’s arms. 

fig. 4

If you have a go at creating a beaded snowflake using my wirework frame tutorial do feel free to send me a picture and I will add it to this post.  It would be nice to have a whole page of Christmassy beaded snowflakes!

Copyright 2007 http://www.allaboutjewellerymaking.info
Not to be reproduced on any other website, in printed format or on a portable media device. May be printed for personal use but must not be used for commercial purposes.

Yes, Christmas is now fast approaching and many of you are probably beginning to think about Christmas beading projects.  Last year I wrote a tutorial for a beaded Christmas star, the protoytype of which is patiently waiting in our Christmas box ready to adorn the tree again this year. 

Beaded decorations for the Christmas tree are an excellent way of extending beading skills beyond personal adornment and into home decor.  I believe that such beaded decorations given as gifts are truly appreciated by the recipient and, as in our own case, are carefully stowed away to be brought out year after year.  What a lovely way to celebrate an extra special Christmas such as baby’s first etc. 

I have put together a list of some great resources for Christmas beading patterns.  Some are free, some to purchase, some simple and some fiendish!!! 

• Beaded Christmas wreath ornament (free pattern)
• Beaded Christmas bauble (free pattern)
• Beaded Christmas star ornament (free pattern)
• Russian leaves Christmas ornament cover
• Peyote stitch Russian Christmas ornament, quite fantabulous!
• Beaded pagoda Christmas ornament designed by Paula Adams (free pattern)
• Beaded snowflake patterns
• Christmas beading kits available from:  http://www.spellboundbead.co.uk
• Fabulous festive beading patterns available to purchase from http://www.bead-patterns.com
• A whole range of books with patterns for beaded Christmas tree ornaments are available from www.beadecked.com. Also check out their gallery for some great Christmas beading eye-candy!
• ‘Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading’ is a very recently published book that may be of interest when choosing Christmas projects. I have only been able to have a very quick glance at it in a bookshop but it certainly looks good. Here are the details:

Title: Simply Sparkling Christmas Beading Author: Dorothy Wood
ISBN: 0715325434 Publisher: David & Charles Date: August 2007

I have recently uploaded these gorgeous crystal snowflakes to my bead shop.  They have been placed alongside a range of other Christmassy beads, in a special ‘Christmas Beads’ section to make Christmas bead shopping easier.  This section will be added to over the coming weeks to include reds, greens, golds, silvers, snowflakes and sparklies.  Have fun with your festive beading!  Clare

Beaded Egg Pattern

For this pattern I have used polystyrene eggs as you can use pins to pull your beading down over the egg as you go. This helps to create a nice tight net of beads and it will make life much easier if you are relatively new to beading.

I have some of these polystyrene eggs for sale in my shop, Bead Tree. However you could use a wooden egg or a real egg that has been blown - it is entirely up to you.

Please bear in mind that you may need to adjust these instructions slightly to get the best fit for your egg as the pattern is dependent on both the size of egg you use and the size of the beads.

In the photo above you can see 3 beaded eggs. The main instructions I am giving here are for the lilac egg. This is covered with a combination of beaded netting and square stitch. The green egg was my prototype and is very similar to the lilac one except that the square stitch has been used on every other block of pattern. The yellow egg follows the same principle except that the square stitch has been omitted entirely. These beaded eggs illustrate the different effects you can get from varying the same basic pattern and I encourage you to have a go at your own version.

Lilac beaded egg

Materials

1 polystyrene egg (or egg of your choice)- I have painted mine first using ordinary household acrylic paint from a match pot (like you get in the DIY shop)

approx. 10g size 11/0 seed beads in colour A

approx. 10g size 11/0 seed beads in colour B

approx. 10g size 8/0 seed beads in colour C

suitable thread such as Nymo

beading needle

pins (if you want to pin your beading over the egg as you go)

Step 1

 
Top of the beaded egg showing the netting stitch

We start at the top of the egg, see photo above.

Thread on 21 size 11/0 beads in colour A, take the thread back through all the beads and tie the ends to create a firm circle of beads. Knot the 2 ends of thread and then take the needle through the next bead along so that the knot pulls inside the bead.

Diagram 1, beaded egg pattern - starting netting at the top of the egg

Step 2

Thread on 5 size 11/0 colour A beads and take the needle through the 3rd bead along the circle as in fig. 2. Repeat 6 more times. When you have gone all the way round bring the needle out through bead number 3 of the first arc of beads. Now you are ready to start the next round.

Diagram 2, beaded egg pattern - continuing with the netting stitch

Step 3

Thread on 7 size 11/0 beads of colour A and take the needle through bead number 3 of the next arc on the previous row. Repeat 6 times and finish the round by bringing the needle out though bead number 4 of the first bead arc.

Diagram 3, beaded egg pattern - continuing with the netting stitch

Step 4

Thread 4 size 11/0 colour A beads followed by 1 size 8/0 colour C bead and then another 4 colour A beads. Take the needle through bead 4 of the next 7 bead arc on the previous row. This round follows the same principles of the previous 2 rounds. Repeat 6 times and to finish this row bring the needle out through the size 8/0 bead.

Diagram 4, beaded egg pattern - continuing with the netting stitch

Step 5

Thread 1 size 11/0 colour B bead, 1 size 8/0 colour C bead, 7 size 11/0 colour B beads, 1 size 8/0 colour C bead and 1 size 11/0 colour B bead. Take your needle through the size 8/0 bead of the next bead arc on the previous round. Repeat 6 times. To finish the round bring your needle out through the first size 8/0 bead on that row.

Diagram 5, beaded egg pattern - continuing with the netting stitch

Step 6

This row is different in that we effectively embellish the prevous round with some added square stitch. The square stitch is added to the 7 beads at the centre of each of the bead arcs on the previous row. If you are unsure how to do square stitch there is a tutorial on my site here.

Once you have added the square stitch to the first set of 7 beads using the same size and colour beads you then take your needle through the sizes 8/0, 11/0, 8/0, 11/0, 8/0 beads so that the thread is in the correct position to add the next block of square stitch. Please see the diagram below:

Diagram 6, beaded egg pattern - adding the square stitch

Step 7

The pattern is now set. The last 2 rows are repeated increasing the number of beads in each bead arch to fit the egg.  Here is a close up of the netting and square stitch pattern:

 
Close up of the netting and square stitch pattern

Once you have reached the widest part of the egg then the number of beads in each bead arc are decreased. The important thing to remember here is that each bead arc needs an odd number of beads for the pattern to work.

Step 8

When you get near to the point of the egg finish the netting in a similar way in which you began the egg cover at the top, obviously decreasing the number of beads in each bead arc this time!

Step 9

Finally you need to add a hanging loop. I make a wire wrapped loop and glue it in the top with G-S Hypo Cement (or any other suitable glue). If you don’t know how to make a wraped loop I will be adding a tutorial soon.

Copyright 2006 http://www.allaboutjewellerymaking.info
Not to be reproduced on any other website, in printed format or on a portable media device. May be printed for personal use but must not be used for commercial purposes.

:: Beaded Valentine heart tutorial ::

Skill level: intermediate, some knowledge of right angle weave required.

This small beaded Valentine heart is woven using the right angle beadweaving technique.  Although my example has been created using the one-needle right angle stitch you could just as easily make it using the two-needle technique if you prefer.

My example has been created with size 11/0 seed beads - purple lined aqua for the main shape and amethyst ceylon pearl for the border.  Obviously the bigger the size bead, the larger your final heart will be.  I have used fine monofilament to weave my beads together but you could also use beading thread and a needle.  If you are using beading thread make sure that you take it through the beads several times to create stability in your beadweaving.  If you don’t you may end up with a floppy motif that is difficult to manage while you are creating it.

The two diagrams below show the layout of the beads and I have marked the thread path in blue.

Step 1

Step 2

Once I have completed the main shape I like to add beads around the edge to strengthen the motif and to maintain it’s shape.  On the diagram below I have marked these additional beads in purple.

Your finished hearts can be used for creating a variety of items including earrings, bracelets, a topper for a Valentine’s card, hanging decoration, small pin and so on.

Seed beads suitable for this project are available from my shop, Bead Tree

Copyright 2006 http://www.allaboutjewellerymaking.info
Not to be reproduced on any other website, in printed format or on a portable media device. May be printed for personal use but must not be used for commercial purposes.

Bead Tree - my bead shop offering beads (!!), jewellery making components and tiara making supplies.

:: Sparkling Christmas star beaded decoration tutorial ::

Skill level: intermediate, some experience of using beads and wire is recommended.

This is a good pattern for using up beads left over from other projects. If you do not have the exact list of materials then improvise! You can make small adjustments to the pattern so that you end up with your own unique snowflake. The final piece could be incorporated into jewellery designs or given as a gift to hang on the Christmas tree. Use it as a starting point and see what you can come up with!

Materials

• 34 gauge craft wire
• 10 x size 8/0 translucent seed beads
• small pack size 11/0 clear, silver-lined seed beads
• small pack size 11/0 blue, silver-lined  seed beads
• small pack size 11/0 translucent seed beads
• 5 x 4 mm round beads

Instructions

Step 1

  fig. 1

Cut 1.5m of the craft wire and thread on the 10 size 8/0 beads to form the centre of the star. 

Close the circle by threading the wire through the first 3 beads again as in fig. 1.

Step 2

 fig.2

You are now ready to start form the first ‘arm’ of the star.  Follow fig. 2 and thread on 9 x size 11/0 clear silver-lined beads, then 1 x 4mm round bead followed by 5 more clear silver-lined beads.  Take the wire back through the 4mm round bead in order to form the other side of the ‘arm’.

You have now completed the first ‘arm’ of your star and need to continue around the base circle to make 4 more.

Step 3

 fig. 3

Fig. 3 shows how your snowflake should look once you have completed step 2.

Step 4

  fig. 4

Take the end of the wire that you have just been using and thread on 5 size 11/0 blue, silver-lined seed beads.  Follow the arrows in fig. 4 to create a small ‘arc’ of blue beads.  Continue pushing the wire through until it comes out at the next bead but one as shown in fig. 4.

Repeat 4 more times.

Step 5

 fig. 5

Fig. 5 shows how your snowflake should look once you have completed step 4.

Step 6

 fig. 6

Thread your wire through so that it comes out via the third bead of the blue ‘arc’ you have just created.  Now thread on 12 size 11/0 translucent seed beads taking the wire up to the 4mm round bead and wrap it round a couple of times just below it as shown in fig. 6.

Thread on another 12 size 11/0 translucent seed beads and take the wire down through the third bead in the next blue ‘arc’.  Following the diagram thrad the wire through the remainder of the ‘arc’ and along one bead of the base circle before bringing it back up through the third bead of the ‘arc’ - this circle of wire strengthens the star overall and gets the wire to the correct place for completing the next ‘arm’.

Repeat this step until you have gone all the way around the star.

The main structure of the star is now complete.

Step 7

  fig. 7

Fig. 7 shows how to create the blue tips that I have added to my example. I added each one individually although you could produce a similar result by incorporating them earlier in the design as an integral part of the ‘arm’.

Step 8

 fig. 8

Finish off wire ends by binding around the core wires between 2 beads. Trim closely for a neat result.

Your beaded star is now complete!

Copyright 2006 http://www.allaboutjewellerymaking.info
Not to be reproduced on any other website, in printed format or on a portable media device. May be printed for personal use but must not be used for commercial purposes.

Bead Tree - my bead shop offering beads (!!), jewellery making components and tiara making supplies.