TOOLS AND SUPPLIES:

Sharp scissors

Vile or packet #11 seed beads

18 – 6mm beads

10 – E beads (inset)

#12 beading needle or big eye beading needle

Beading thread

A small clip or something to anchor the thread tail

You can use beads in all one color, plastic beads, glass pearls or even faceted beads.

These instructions make a 7” bracelet

NOTE:  I used two strands of double duty sewing thread because it was easier for me.  Just make sure your stringing material will pass through your large beads up to four times.

STEP 1:

Thread your needle with about one yard of thread.

String on one 6mm bead, 6 seed beads and one 6mm bead leaving about an 8” tail.

STEP 2:

Bring your needle up and back through bead one as shown on the left.

STEP 3:

Pull your thread snug but not too tight.

STEP 4:

Thread on six seed beads and cross over the large beads…

STEP 5:

Run your needle through the bead 2…

STEP 6:

String on six more seed beads, cross over and go back through bead one again

STEP 7:

Pull your thread snug and this is how your piece will look at this point.

STEP 8:

Now, bead 1, the green bead has your tail and you’ll need that for part of the clasp so, run your needle up through one set of seed beads that attach to that hole.

STEP 9:

Pass your needle and thread back through bead 2 one more time.  Here’s where you can snug up the beads and stitches a bit if needed.

STEP 10:

Now add six seed beads and one 6mm bead...

And repeat steps 2 through 9

STEP 11:

This is what your piece should look like at this point.

Simply repeat steps 2 through 9 until all large beads have been used.

Adding thread:

You will want the knot to be inside one of the large beads. What I did was made my knot following the first six seed beads for a new “set”.  Then complete the remainder of the set.

Photo adding thread

STEP 13:

Now to make the clasp.  Bracelet should be ended with your thread coming out of a 6mm bead.  String on 3 E beads, 18 seed beads and run needle back through E bead 3 then add 2 more E beads.

STEP 14:

Now run your needle back through the 6mm bead again…

STEP 15:

Back down one set of seed beads…

STEP 16:

Bring thread under both threads and make a loop tie.

STEP 17:

Do not go through the 6mm bead.  Simply repeat steps 15 and 16 one more time…

STEP 18:

Then go through a 6mm bead, pull snug and clip as close to bead as possible.

STEP 19:

To make the other end of the clasp, take the tail you left at the beginning and thread on 3 E beads, 5 seed beads, 1 – 6mm bead and 1 seed bead.  Bring needle back down through the 6mm bead, the seed beads and one E bead.  Add 2 more E beads. 

Repeat steps 14 through 18 and you’re done.

This is what your completed bracelet will look like.

Each 6mm bead is about ¼” so you can use that as a guide for making the bracelet larger or smaller.  You can also use this measurement for determining about how many 6mm beads you’ll need to make a necklace.