Supplies
- 6/0 beads, 1st color for
basic chain
- 6/0 beads, 2nd color for
Option I of embellishment (4mm druk or cut beads can be substituted)
- 11/0 beads, 1 or 2 colors for
embellishment
- Silamide or equivalent beading thread
- sharps or beading needles
- scissors
General Information
The anchor bead of each bead group has
thread going through it more than once. Check the beads holes and cull any beads with very
abnormally small holes.
Button and Loop Closures: Bracelets
and necklaces look very attractive with this type closure. How many beads you string from
the button depends on the button diameter. With a 3/8" to 1/2" button, 5 size
11/0 beads on each side will work. For a larger button, approximately 12 size 11/0
beads on each side will give the button room for movement between the space where the
button sets and the bracelet or necklace begins.
Once you string the beads on both
sides of the button and the first group of 6/0 beads for the bracelet is strung, lay the
button flat, there should be at least a ¼" to 1/8" of space between the button
and the beginning 6/0 bead group. The button should not touch or overlap these beads.
The illustrations begin with a 4 bead
group and then 3 beads are added each time to the previous anchor bead to form 4 bead
groups. Bead groups of 6 and 8 are also very attractive.
Instructions using Bracelet as
Example
| Cut
approximately 80" of Silamide or equivalent beading thread. Thread a needle and
double the thread so there is 40" on each side of the needle. String 1 size 6/0 bead, 5 size 11/0 beads, one
button and 5 size 11/0 beads. More size 11/0 beads will be necessary for large
buttons. See "General Information" above. Make a knot between the
last 11/0 and the 6/0 bead, forming a circle. Leave a 3" loose tail thread to stitch
back into the piece later. Take the needle through the size 6/0 bead, 11/0 beads, and
button and through the 6/0 again. This 6/0 bead is the first "anchor" bead in
the bracelet. A knot will hold the piece together and make it easier to add to and keep
the tension.
String 3 size 6/0 beads and take the
needle back through the anchor bead again. Thread back through the first two beads you
just added. The last bead the needle went through is the new anchor bead. Repeat until you
have the desired length. They should look like diamond shapes in a row (See Figure 5).
| Bracelet Length: My
wrist is 6" in diameter and I made 22 bead groups. Those bead groups plus the button
and loop closure made the length 6 3/4" long which fits my wrists with a little room
for wrist movement. When you measure your wrist, figure about 1" for the loop and
¾" to 5/8" for the button end, that is 1 5/8" maximum for the closure. As
you add bead groups and get close to the end, measure again to make sure you have the
right length for a bracelet. |
|
Figure 1
Figure 3
|
Figure 2
Figure 4
|
| After you
have the number of bead chains that fits your wrist, add a loop of 11/0 beads on the end
to go around the button and take the needle back through the anchor bead.
| The loop may required
25, 40 or more 11/0 beads for the loop depending on the size of the button. The loop
should easily fit over the button and not come loose while being worn. When the button is
through the loop, the 11/0 beads on both sides of the button should look about the same. |
No Embellishment
Take the needle through the whole bracelet again and back through the loop end for
strength before cutting off the excess thread. Do not cut off the excess thread if you are
planning to add embellishment. You now have a basic bead chain.
Embellishment
Use the same thread to begin embellishment. If you are running out of thread, stitch
through a few of the bead groups, knot the thread and cut off the excess. String more
thread. Either knot it, make a lark’s head around one of the threads in the piece and
continue or stitch through a few beads until the thread is taut and continue. |
Figure 5
|
Embellishment Options
You can combine several options or just
one to a basic bead chain.
Option I
 |
Start at
one end or the other of the bead chain. Bring the needle through the first anchor bead,
string 1 size 6/0 in a color different from the bead chains. (If you do not combine Option
V, add 1 size 11/0 on each side of the 6/0 bead to hide the thread. Option V covers the
threads used to add the 6/0 beads to the piece in Option I.) Take the needle through the
next anchor bead from the opposite direction. All the rest of the beads are added through
the anchor bead in that same direction. This will keep the beads setting on top of the
bead chain. For a 6
bead chain, add 2 size 6/0 beads on the top, for an 8 bead chain, add 3 size 6/0 beads on
the top. |
Option I
Option I Back Side
Options I, III & V with 8-bead group
|
Option II
 |
Choose a
number of 11/0 beads, 3, 5, 7 or 9 as bead groups. For example, string 3 size 11/0 beads
and place them between each outside size 6/0 bead. Work down one side and then back up the
other. A larger number of beads per bead group will push the beads out from the piece, a
smaller number will fit in more snugly. |
Option II
Option I & II Combined
|
Option III
 |
Choose a
number of 11/0 beads, 5 or 6 as bead groups. For example, string 6 size 11/0 beads, and
take the needle through an anchor bead on one end , then string on another 6 size 11/0
beads and take the needle through the next anchor bead from the opposite side. Each time
you add a bead group the needle will end on the opposite side. When you finish one side,
every other outside 6/0 bead will have a bead group around it. Leave it as is or start
back down the opposite direction and repeat the stitch so both sides have a bead group
around each outside bead. |
Option I & III Combined
|
Option IV
 |
Choose a
number of 11/0 beads, 5 to 7 as bead groups. For example, string 6 beads size 11/0, and
make a circle around each size 6/0 bead sticking out around the whole piece. This means
after the beads are strung, the needle is placed back through the same bead the thread is
coming from but in the opposite direction. |
Option IV |
Option V
 |
Work Option
I. Then at one end or the other, string 3 size 11/0 beads, take the needle through the
newly added 6/0 bead on top, string 3 more 11/0 beads and take the needle through the
anchor bead of the next bead chain group and out. String 3 more beads and take the needle
through the next 6/0 on top. Repeat to the end. There should be 3 or more beads on each
side of each 6/0 bead sticking out on top. If the anchor beads are too full of thread, you
can work through one of the side beads of each bead group. |
Option I, III & V
Option I , III & V
Options I, III & V
|
You can dream up more embellishments
for this basic bead chain. When you do, please send me an image or photo of your
embellishment to share with everyone. The bracelets examples were made by Diana Norris ,
Tre Barrett and Lydia, The Beadwrangler. Diana is a new beader and says the directions for
these bracelets were very easy to follow.
Matching
Bead Chain Earrings
Copyright© 2000 Lyden Enterprises
All rights reserved. No part of these instructions may be transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not restricted to, recording or by any
information storage and/or retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the
author.
Designs shown in these instructions are intended for personal use only. Mass marketing of
the designs as finished work or as kits is prohibited without permission in writing from
the author.
Instructions and designs have been tested and are presented in good faith, but no warranty
is given, nor results guaranteed. |
| When you make copies of these
instructions to share with your friends, please tell them you got them at Beadwrangler's. |
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