Bracelet not fit? Here's an easy fix.

I have a bracelet pattern that seems to shorten each time I do it no matter which beads I use, and that made me find a new method to ensure flexibility.

First the pattern - then the closure. The pattern is a stringing pattern that looks more complex than it is. The beads used are top drilled drops, pearls, or leaves, no larger than 3mm to 4mm. Top drilled means the hole runs left to right across the top narrow end of the bead. See drawing for clarity.

Other beads added to the bracelet can be crystals, gemstones, lampwork, or just about anything you choose, but one should be size 5mm to 7mm, plus other smaller beads or spacers.

I use Power Pro and a size 10 needle for this project, as you will be going back and forth through the all beads, except the drops, (that's why you can use top drilled pearls for this) multiple times.

Start by putting a beadstopper on the line, leaving enough to weave the tail back in. Now string a pattern of beads as follows in this example, but be creative and try other patterns as well:

1-4mm, *1-Bali bead, 1-6mm, 3 drops, 1-6mm, 1-Bali bead, 1-4mm

Repeat from * until length is slightly larger than your wrist.

At this end add a closed jump ring or a spring ring.

Now go back through the beads and when you get to the section where the drops are, add three more drops. When you get back to the (start) tail, add another closed jump ring or spring ring.

Go back and forth two or three more times. Each time you go back through the beads, you are adding three to the cluster of drops until you have 12 to 15 per cluster. Weave in tails with a few half-hitch knots, and clip excess thread.

My dilemma has been that no matter how long my original group is, as I add beads in the drops section, the bracelet seems to shorten, and inevitably becomes too short for the clasp I intended to use.

Now for the solution.

Lobster clasp and 1" of chain, attached to opposite ends on the jump or spring rings. And now my length is flexible. The other advantage to this is now I can make bracelets for potential customers without knowing wrist sizes. On the free end of the chain, I add a dangle for weight which makes the bracelet easier to put on single-handed.

Tip of the Day: By draping the chain end of the bracelet over my wrist away from me and coming up underneath with the lobster clasp, the weight on the chain holds it in place until I can secure the clasp in the chain. Works the first time 99% of the time.

HAPPY BEADING!

A new idea for an old pattern - Flower to Butterfly

Barb Grainger's Book on Dimensional Flowers, Leaves, and Vines is a classic for generating new ideas and creating new designs.

Her netted flower became a butterfly for me. The patterns is worked by netting five points and joining them in a circle. I had done that and just couldn't find anything I liked to go with that purple bead to complete the flower, so it sat in my UFO's (un-finished-objects) until I started playing with it.

It had been gathered on the inside edge (straight edge) with a 10mm bead in the center, but I wasn't all that pleased about the look. So I took the gathering thread out and opened it to it's fullest.

The drawing may help you visualize the process as I describe the steps.

Now I had a star shaped item with a hole in the center. I re-gathered it so that the opening was about the size of a half-dollar (remember them?) By folding the top center point down, I had the butterfly shape, Voila! So I tacked the center point in place and added the body beads, the spots on the wings and plan to string it from the top wing points for a necklace.

I hope this inspires you to look for new ideas in old classics.

Tip for today: Project storage seems to be a problem for many beaders. I've seen a number of stackable items that can be used for this. My friend Sigrid gave me a flat plastic box that is 9 x 11-1/2 x 3/4 deep, used by scrap bookers and will hold printed instructions, a bead mat, many tubes of beads, needles, bobbins, triangle scoop and scissors. They come in a variety of colors and stack nicely. The only drawback I've seen is that you can't leave loose beads on the mat as they escape between the cracks where the box closes. Look in departments other than beading for ideas. Happy beading.

Notes for Posterity (or at least Forever)

How many projects have you seen where the color combination just reaches out and grabs you, yet the person can't remember the beads they used? And even with all the choices at the bead stores, it's impossible to remember and choose the same colors.

One thing I discovered when I began teaching certain patterns is that many (if not most) beaders want to create the project in the same colors you used. So I began the practice of noting which colors (by manufacturer's number) I used in the project. I keep these in a small notebook that I later transfer to a spreadsheet on the computer.

Then when I took the Diane Fitzgerald class on Gingko leaves, I found it imperative to note the colors and the sequence of colors, especially when I wanted to make a pendant and a pair of matching earrings.

This was just one use I found for making notes on my projects. I've also found that when I buy unique or unusual beads that I need to note where they came from and how much I paid for resale purposes. Of course this doesn't apply to the standard Delicas or seed beads. In my computer spreadsheet, I can also post a photo of the beads.

Tip for today: Don't forget to stretch that nylon thread before beading, other wise it can stretch and make your work sag.

Flat Spiral's - A Virulent Strain

Well, is there any beader on the planet who hasn't done a Flat/Square Spiral? Thanks to the video on Auntie's beads, it seems as if every beading group on the Internet is inundated with dozens of pictures of new bracelets made in this pattern. Every one different and every one beautiful.

The pattern works up so quickly that a bracelet can be completed in one sitting and the beads used are reasonable in price. I've done two, one I did almost two years ago in all blues and one I did recently that is reversible - See picture. When you pick up the string of 11/0's, pick up the first group in one color and pick up the second group in another color and that's how you get the reversible look.

For the core bead I have a tendency to use Firepolish as I like the way they sit and look. The facets give the sparkle of crystal, yet not the sharp edge of bicones or the expense of rounds. For the edge bead I use 10/0 Cuts which are sometimes hard to find. I got mine from Foxden on the net.

Some of the more ambitious beaders made this pattern two and three rows wide which then takes on the look of a pattern published in Beadwork in the February/March 2007 issue under the name Black Magic by Liz Smith.

If you haven't made one of these bracelets yet, there is still time before Christmas to whip out a gift for someone (maybe yourself). My pattern below lists the beads I used in the reversible, but please do a couple and try different beads. 15/0's can sub for 11/0's. Round gemstones could be used in place of the Firepolish and 8/0's in hex or triangles can sub for the 10/0 cuts.

Beads needed: Core beads 4mm Firepolish(FP) with 11/0 seed beads (two colors if you want reversible A & B) and 10/0 Cuts. Can be woven on Fireline, Power Pro or nylon beading thread.

On a comfortable length of thread, pick up two FP, (beginning of central spine)leaving a 8” tail to add the Toggle closure.

Then string three 11/0's Color A, one 10/0 Cut and three 11/0's Color B and go back up through the two original FP to form a loop - Push this loop to one side. Repeat this step and push the second loop to the other side.

*Pick up one FP, three 11/0's Color A, one 10/0 Cut and three 11/0's Color B then loop around to go back up through the last two FP on the core. Then pick up three 11/0's Color A, One 10/0 Cut and three 11/0's Color B and go through the same two FP.

Repeat from * until bracelet is the desired length. Then one half of the toggle closure on this end. Put the needle on the other end and sew on the other half of the toggle closure.

Enjoy your bracelet and congratulate yourself. If you need to see the video, go to Auntie's Beads and under the Karla Kam look for the Flat Spiral. Happy Beading and Happy Holidays.

Today's tip: Flatten your thread, especially thick Fireline or Power Pro with pliers to make threading your needle easier. Otherwise it's like putting a round peg in an oval hole.

Whirlwind

I have had a fantastic couple of weeks and so busy I couldn't get to blog. I flew to Louisville, Ky to visit a friend who had set up a beading class for me to teach with Geri (one gracious lady). www.beadweaversonline.com Geri has a Beadweaver's shop in the Mellwood Art Center, where she holds classes and sell beads, finished jewelry and has a second store where her students can sell their work.


I taught a 4 hour bracelet class with an Ndebele base and embellished with flower, leaves and a butterfly. Five wonderful beaders participated and we have a great time. I can't wait to go back and teach again.

The next day, I spoke at the Unity Church in Middletown. (In my previous life, I retired from ministry in Colorado.) Then I did a workshop for the church.


For the next three days, my friend Sharon drove me all over Louisville and showed me the sights. There is a wonderful glassblowing factory in downtown. It was fun to watch how this hot liquid becomes such a beautiful creation. We also visited an art installation in the hotel 21C. In the ladies restroom is a mirror with small TV screen set in it and constantly showing on the screen are the eyes of people looking around. The we went to the Kentucky Arts and Crafts Museum where many Kentucky artists have items for sale and the current major display was of woven tapestries. You have to see them upclose to realize how much work is involved. The one that really caught my attention was of a woman's face (and many other images) but the face was so realistic in color, texture and shading, you almost waited to hear her speak.


As soon as I got back, I had a class that night, then duties at church on Sunday and Monday. Then Monday evening I found a group of beaders who meet in the Palm Harbor area at Uncommon Threads and I joined them for an evening of beading and chatting. Some exquisite work was shown. One lady was working on the Star Compass Purse in the recent Beadwork Magazine, but she had enlarged it to about 10" across.


Then on Tuesday I participated in the Great American Teach-in at an elementary school in the Clair-Mel area and had 30 girls to learn a 2 drop peyote. They were so eager and so much fun, but by the time I finished, I was hoarse.

On Wednesday, I met with my usual group and taught them a new trick on an old techique.

Then Wednesday night I met with 6 beaders for another Ndebele bracelet with inclusions. I'm winding down now, but what a great time I had.

I'll look for another project for my next blog and in the meantime, a tip I learned was to use chapstick to coat your thread if you forget your Thread Heaven or microcrystaline wax. Rub you finger lightly over it and then pull the thread through your fingers. It seems to help with the Fireline tangling too. Try it.

Russian Leaves Eye Candy

To follow up on the article on Russian Leaves, here are some examples of the ways they can be used. I really like using them as a loop for toggles, especially when there are leaves on other parts of the work.

When leaves are used as the toggle on a bracelet, they become the focal point and the band no longer vies for attention.

When grouped together (5 or 6) they make a nice pendant for a St. Petersburg chain. The one here is done in southwest colors with black accents.

Notice the black leaves on the pumpkin colored sweater. The leaves were don in black with red tips matching the colors in the sweater. Later the leaves were sewn on to cover a pull in the knitting and complimented the embroidered leaves in the green thread (not visible in this shot).

Hopefully, these examples have given you some inspiration.

Leaf On,

Marilyn

Russian Leaves Are Easy and Useful

Russian Leaves seem to be one stitch many people want to learn, yet not everyone knows how to teach it. I took a class at a Bead Fest and didn't quite get it from the instructions or the instructor.

When I got home, I practiced and realized the problem was that I kept getting lost in the instructions and didn't know where I was going next. These particular instructions were not separated into steps and it was hard to keep my place, so I broke it down and marked where each turn was and then I finally got it.

In all the instructions I've seen, you put a stopper bead in the middle of the thread so that you can work each side of the leaf from the center. I like to use two different sizes of beads such as 11's (Bead A Green )and 15's (Bead B Red). String one A, seven B, one A and one B. These beads will be pushed to the stopper bead and this is the center of the leaf with the stopper bead being at the top inside. See Picture 1

When you turn to go up the strand as seen in the photo, you are at the bottom outside of the leaf. When you get to the top (where the stopper bead is, you are at the top inside) Put the needle through the 6th bead of the original 7.

Then work every other bead (peyote stitch) by picking up one, skipping one, going through one, exiting the red size 15 at the top. (The stopper bead is ignored for now.) The second and third pictures show the beads loose, but worked in peyote and then tightened into position.

*Next, pick up 1 A and work the peyote stitch to the next to last protruding bead. Picture 4

** This is the bottom turn. - Note: it is at the opposite end from the Stopper bead and two beads are picked up for this turn.

Pick up 1 B, 1 A and go up through the last A bead added in the last row. Now you will be working toward the top and you have made the first bottom turn, which will be repeated all the way up the outside bottom edge. Peyote the next two stitches exiting the top bead. Each time you go up to the top, make certain you exit the A bead.

***This is the top turn - Note it is at the same end as the Stopper bead and uses three beads to create the turn.

With thread exiting the top bead, pick up one A, one B, and one A and push the bead down the thread next to the finished work. Put the needle back through the first of these three beads, pull snug and peyote down to the to the next to last bead.Go back to the bottom turn and repeat until the side is the desired length.

Then remove the stopper bead and repeat from the *. To make certain the sides are even, count the outer red bead and complete the same number, using the center bead as #1 on each side.

Today's tip: Stopper beads are useful for maintaining and tightening tension as well as keeping your initial strand of beads from fallling off. Using a Size 11 bead for your stopper bead will keep the tension better than a Size 8, which has a tendency to slide down the thread on it own.

Walking the bead of a different drum. Marilyn