How To Make Flat Spiral Stitch Earrings

Here’s an easy project for you. I made the complete set. Necklace, bracelet and earrings.

To get you started… You can make just the earrings.

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Supplies Needed To Make One Pair of Flat Spiral Stitch Earrings

• 11/0 seed beads (black, red, white)
• 4mm black bicone crystals (6 per earring)
• black round glass beads (5 per earring)
• pair of ear wires
• 3mm CLOSED jumprings (2)
• Fireline beading thread
• beading needle size 10 or 12

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Step 1

Cut 1 1/2 yards of Fireline, leaving a 7″ tail. Add a bead stopper. Pick up two (2) round black beads. Drop beads down to the bead stopper.

Step 2

Pick up 6 black seed beads, one 4mm black bicone, 6 red seed beads. Drop these down on top of the two black round beads added in Step 1.

Take thread up through the 2 black round beads. Thread should exit the top one.

Pull tight. This creates the “black/red arch”, working bottom up. Push arch to the left.

Step 3

Pick up 6 black seed beads, one 4mm black bicone, 6 white seed beads. Drop these down on top of the black round beads. Take needle up through the two black round beads. Exit the top one.

This completes one complete arch. Black/red on the left. Black/white on the right.

Step 4

Add one black round bead. Slide it down to rest on top of your beadwork.

Step 5

Pick up 6 black seed beads, one 4mm black bicone, 6 red seed beads. Drop these beads down on top of the black round bead you added in Step 4. Take needle up through the 2nd from bottom round black bead PLUS the one just added.

Pull tight. Push “black/red arch” to the left. Thread should exit the top black round bead.

Step 6

Pick up 6 black seed beads, one 4mm black bicone, 6 white seed beads. Repeat the same steps as used for the black/red arch.

Now you should have two complete arches done.

Step 7

Repeat Steps 4, 5 and 6 once more to add the 3rd complete arch. Start by adding one black round bead. Slide down.

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That completes the arches. Your beadwork should now look like this. Make sure the black/red is on the left and black/white is on the right. Pull tight.

OK, now ready for the last step.

Step 8

Pick up two (2) black seed beads, one black round bead, one black seed bead, one 3mm CLOSED jumpring. Drop down.

In reverse order. Go around the closed jump ring. And down through seed bead, round black bead, two seed beads. Continue down through the center of ALL black round beads. Exit bottom round bead.

Make your way back up the center of the black round beads. Back up to the top to loop around the closed jump ring. To secure it. Do this a couple times. Pull thread tight. Do the same with the tail thread. Bury it up the center. Cut thread. Add ear wire.

And done!! Now create the 2nd earring.

Enjoy!!

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Here’s the necklace and bracelet.

Never Too Early For Holiday Crafting

I’ve already started making Christmas stuff for my winter craft shows.

Two more flat spiral stitch bracelets finished.

Black, black diamond (smokey gray), clear and red Swarovski crystals. 6mm and 5mm bicones.

And matching earrings.

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This one was made with black diamond crystals (smokey gray) as the core beads. 6mm round. Other crystals are 5mm bicones.

I think I like solid black for the core beads best. More dramatic. It POPS.

You can wear the red on the inside or the outside for a different look.

I am going to make a few more of these flat spiral stitch bracelets, maybe a necklace. Then it is on to something different. Triangles!!

Siam Bracelet: 2 Row Flat Spiral Stitch

Well, you knew I would try it, right?

Two rows of flat spiral stitch.

Not bad after getting started.

Supplies used:

• 6mm Swarovski crystals in Siam
• 8/0 seed beads in Siam
• 11/0 seed beads in Siam
• Sterling silver multi-strand clasp (center)
• Fireline beading thread

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I made the first row just as I made the multi-color crystal bracelet I told you about. When I got to the 2nd row, needed a bit of help. So watched a You Tube video. Auntie’s Beads again.

Adding the clasp was easy.

If you make this, make sure you start the 2nd row on the RIGHT END. I was three core beads in when I realized I hadn’t done so. The two beginning beads create a distinctive pattern. Line “those” up on both rows.

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Here’s the You Tube video from Auntie’s Beads.

More Photos Of The Crystal Set

I took a few more pictures of my crystal set.

The Whole Set.

Sideview of the earrings.

Another angle of the ring.

Also here are the crystals for the next Flat Spiral bracelet I am making.

Well, that’s it. Just photos.

Inspired By Crystal To Make This Crystal Bracelet

Inspiration comes from many places. Something you read. Something you saw.

For my new bracelet it was both. Something I read AND saw. At Bead Happily Ever After. Crystal’s blog. She makes really pretty jewelry. She’s the one I told you about with the jewelry giveaways.

Anyway, she posted this blue crystal bracelet on her blog a week or so ago.

(I stole this image from her blog.)

Isn’t it beautiful!! So sparkly and delicate looking. You want to just look at it all day. Well, I wanted to do more than that!! I wanted to MAKE MY OWN.

So…. off to You Tube. Anything you want to make is on You Tube. Found this video on the Flat Spiral stitch. Demonstrated by one of Auntie’s Beads designers. Easy to follow along. Watched it twice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiB_PID3sC4

Gathered up my Swarovski crystal stash. Didn’t have enough of one color so I went with multi-color crystals.

And created these. Bracelet, earrings and ring.

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BRACELET

First off. Started with the bracelet. It was easy to make. I ended one side with seed beads to loop around the toggle bar.

Other side I made a peyote bail to loop around the crystal ring.

It is so light on my wrist. I could wear it all day. Even though these are crystals, which shout dress up, you could wear this with your favorite jeans. Dress up. Dress down. Goes with anything.

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EARRINGS

OK. I told you the bracelet was easy. Earrings. Not so much. I made them 3 times. And took them apart 3 times. Just wasn’t coming out the way I wanted. First time. 2 crystals dangled under the bottom. You can imagine anything you want here. LOL!! And I wanted the direction of the seed beads to arch UP on both sides. Not down on one and up on the other. Which meant I had to “turn” my work in the middle. Tried it. So-so. Not balanced when I folded the ends up.

Next day. 3rd try. Still not right. But getting there. Finally on the 4th try I got it to look like I wanted. I ended up NOT adding crystals to two of the beaded arches under the bottom.

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RING

By now I knew to “turn” my work in the middle so arches would match up on both sides. Also knew what to do to create the peyote band from making the bail for the bracelet clasp. So, the ring was easy.

I really love the flat spiral stitch. I know. I know. You have heard it all before. I guess there isn’t a beaded stitch out there that I don’t like!! Try it. You may love it too.

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Go here to read all about Crystal’s bracelet. Leave a comment while you are there to be entered in her giveaway. Maybe you will win something. Good luck!!

http://beadhappilyeverafter.com/blog/?p=13070

Finally Finished With Beaded Pillow Beads

OMG!! What a project.

But I was determined to see it through to the end. These little beaded beads really were a challenge. Each one took 30 minutes to make when I first started. Near the end, I was able to reduce that time by half.

I made almost 80 of them. Can you believe that!!

• 40 for the necklace
• 22 for the bracelet
• 12 for 3 pairs of earrings
• two I ended up not needing

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Remember me showing you this picture? I decided to go a different direction.

Went with a stacked look instead of stringing them lengthwise.

To bring out the fuchsia color of the seed beads, I added Swarovski Cosmic crystals. Also used fuchsia crystal connectors with the clasp. Toggle bar has little crystals on the tips. Can you see them?

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Earrings were easy to make. I made three pairs. I only have pictures of two. Forgot to take photo of the 3rd pair. They are similar to this first photo. (OH!! I do have a picture of the third pair. Look up top at the first photo.)

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And lastly. The BRACELET. Sigh. 😦

Trying to find a clasp which didn’t add several inches to the length was so frustrating. I tried about five different styles. Going from a high up bead to a low flat clasp just didn’t work. It looked off balanced. So I ended up making my own clasp from seed beads and a Swarovski Cosmic crystal.

Here’s how I created it.

I cut a 36″ length of no.12 stringing wire. Strung seed beads in the center of the wire and went through the crimp, bicone, beaded beads and green glass beads. (See photos)

On the opposite end, I continued with the wire through bicone, crimp and seed beads. Then crossed over the wires through the Cosmic crystal and then back down through everything.

So… the tip of the day is this. When you can’t find a clasp you really love, make your own.

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Pattern for the beaded pillow beads can be found in More Seed Beads Stitching by Beth Stone.

Two More Spiral Necklaces and a Button Bundle

Busy, busy, busy. That’s been me for the last 2 weeks.

First, I had to take a time out for hubby’s family reunion which was two weekends ago. Friday through Sunday. Of course, the Queen Procrastinator that I am, I had lots to still do on the days leading up to it. So, hard as it was to neglect my beads, no crafting got done.

I had been working on the lavender spiral necklace I told you about. And was just about finished when I felt the urge to rip it apart. Something just wasn’t right. I liked it when I started. I hated it when I was near the end. I think it was the color. Too much lavender.

Here’s the old one. The one I took apart.

Here’s the 2nd version. I am happy with this one.

Using the dark plum (almost black) iridescent core beads also as spiral beads balanced the lavender color. And I added a separate strand of black Swarovski crystals. Large rondelles and smaller round crystals. With lavender seed beads as a filler.

Both necklaces measure 54″. Over the head style for the spiral rope and a silver clasp on the crystal strand.

I created this “Button Bundle” to gather all the strands together. Button can be worn anyplace on the necklace. I took photos of the button at the bottom and on the side.

To make the Button Bundle, I strung 8/0 seed beads in the back and through the button holes. And sewed them to a silver magnet.

Easy on, easy off. Move it wherever you want. Cool, huh!! Just one of the many ideas floating around inside my head. It probably works best with huge buttons. To hide the magnet.

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I also made this lime and plum spiral necklace. Using 8/0 seed beads. Core beads are plum. And lucky me!! I had round glass plum beads which matched perfectly with the plum seed beads. So I made a separate strand with the glass beads.

Both strands measure 46″. Over the head style for the spiral necklace and a silver clasp for the strand of plum glass beads.

You would think I’d be tired of the spiral stitch about now. Nope. Not. I am going to make up more. As soon as I decide which color will be the core and which colors will be the spiral.

Earrings: Zig Zags and Chains

The week after dusting the cobwebs off my beading tools was a “fun”tastic week. I couldn’t decide what NOT to make so I had more projects going than I had space.

Hubby would come into my craft room and ask, “What are we making today?” First off, WE!! And second, as if he couldn’t SEE what I was making. Poor guy!!

Anyhoo, back to beads everywhere!! If you are like me, after you drag out your supplies, you don’t want to have wasted all that time. So… you make several of whatever is on your beading table.

Made 2 pairs of these. 11/0 round seedbeads by Toho. Not sure why they are called “round” since they are shaped like a square cylinder. I like how they snap right in place when doing peyote. Light lavender with Swarovski 8mm round crystals. (Earrings are the same, one is facing opposite direction.)

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Made 2 of these too. 11/0 round, galvanized silver by Toho. Used ivory Swarovski pearls.

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Also make 2 pairs of these. (Are you seeing a pattern here, LOL!!) Dragged out my chain links for these. The really tiny kind. So tiny, too tiny to work with, I almost threw it out. Used ivory Swarovski pearls, silverplated bead caps and round silver beads.

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Only made one pair of these. Believe me, I tried to make another pair BUT was defeated by the gold chain. It would not cooperate. So, I decided one was enough. Yay!! Good for me. I CAN be satisfied with just one pair.

What do these remind you of? Little briefcases. Suitcases. Was just trying to be different.

Well… that’s it for earrings. Next up. I’ll show you the bracelet I worked on for three days. It started off with 3 strands. Now it only has one. (After 3 days!! Yep.) 😀

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Pattern for the zig zag earrings can be found in Seed Bead Stitching by Beth Stone. The others are my own creations. Just off the top of my head.

How To Make A 20 Strand Seed Bead Bracelet

Saturday, October 4

Usually I make jewelry with just one strand but wanted to experiment with multi-strands since the challenge is how to end up with one or two strands when connecting the clasp. After several false starts I do believe I have figured out a way to make this work.

Follow along with my tutorial and try making one yourself. Except for the stringing time, it is really easy to make.

Supplies needed to make a 20 strand bracelet with seed beads. 

• 11/0 seed beads (2 or 3 colors)
• two 8mm round crystals
• bracelet clasp (your choice)
• size 12 stringing wire
• 2 silver beads (for accent on the ends) 
• 2 large hole spacer beads to cover the multi-strand wires
• 2 large crimps size 4 (opening large enough for 20 wires)
• 4 medium crimps size 3 (opening large enough for 10 wires)
• 2 regular size crimps (for clasp ends)

Tools needed:  Alligator clips, chain nose pliers, wire cutter, crimper

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE 20 STRAND BRACELET

Step 1.  Cut 22 lengths of wire 14 inches each. (Set 2 lengths aside. Will be used to connect clasp.)

Step 2.  String 5 inches of 11/0 seed beads on each of the 20 lengths of wire. String some with mixed colors and some solid. Mix up for a colorful look.  Use alligator clips on both ends to hold beads in place.

Step 3.  Make sure exposed wire is even on both ends with the 5 inches of seed beads in the center. Measure carefully. Check each strand.

Step 4.  Arrange strands with the colors in the order you wish. Mix up so you don’t have all one color on one side unless of course that is how you want them.

Step 5.  Remove alligator clips on the left side and carefully insert all 20 strands of wire into the LARGE size 4 crimp.  Pull tight on each wire so crimp touches seed beads. 

Step 6.  Flatten the large size 4 crimp which is holding all 20 wires, with chain nose pliers. 

Step 7.   Separate into 2 sets of 10 wires.  Slide one size 3 crimp onto one set of 10 wires. Slide the other size 3 crimp onto the second set of 10 wires. These will sit right on top of the larger flattened crimp. See photo.

Step 8.  Flatten the two size 3 crimps with chain nose pliers. Make sure to flatten really tight.

Step 9.  Cut off excess wire. See photo showing how much I cut off.

Step 10.  Take one of the 14″ lengths of wire set aside from Step 1 and loop it under the strands of beads and up over the crimped/cut wires.  See photo. 

Step 11.  String through Large Hole Spacer Bead, 8mm Round Crystal, 5mm Silver Bead, Regular Size Crimp and one end of Toggle.  Loop wire over the toggle and downward through crimp, silver bead, crystal and large hole spacer bead.  Wire should exit the underside of the large hole spacer bead. Pull tight so crystal is tight against the large hole spacer bead.

Step 12.  Crimp the crimp once you have everything the way you want it. DON’T cut the wires yet.

Step 13.  Repeat Steps 5 through 12 for the right side of the bracelet.  Braid, weave or mix up the strands however you wish before adding the Large Size 4 Crimp. See photos for how I did mine.

Step 14. Once you are satisfied with the tightness of the wires connecting the toggle, ok to cut the excess wires on the toggle ends.

You are now finished and ready to wear your 20 strand bracelet. Enjoy!!

Note: These instructions will make a 7 1/2-8 inch finished bracelet, after adding the clasp. Add additional seed beads to make bracelet longer. Of course, increase wire length accordingly.

I am always looking for tips and tricks. If you know of a better technique to “reduce” the wires down to one before adding the toggle, please post a comment. Thanks!!

Making Peyote Heart Cuff Bracelets

Tuesday, September 23

My favorite part of the day is deciding what to work on. As you know I am trying to use my existing craft supplies and stay out of craft stores. And since I love peyote beading that is what I have been doing. No surprise there!! LOL!!

Always on the lookout for something new and different, I found a heart online and plotted it out on peyote graph paper. So that is what I have been making… heart bracelets. I wish there was a way to make the heart rounder.

Next I am going to do a few with hearts facing in opposite directions. Making these bracelets should be fast and easy but with the irregular shapes and sizes of seed beads, each bead has to be examined before I use it. That part takes forever. But I would rather do that than be unhappy with the outcome.

I learned something new while making these bracelets. Decrease peyote stitch. It was easy. I used it for all of these bracelets. I like how the ends look finished. The “high” beads aren’t sticking out.

I am using size 8/0 seed beads. In the colors I have. I could bead all year and still not make a dent in my seed bead stash.

Supplies Used for the Clasp

• 6mm & 7mm sterling silver jump rings 18 gauge
• Swarovski crystal donut rings
• Bar with crystal ends
• Crystal heart charms
• 6mm silver plated jump rings 20 gauge
• Silver plated toggle clasp