Beaded Snowflake Ornament #4

Similar, but Different

Similar, but Different

Snowflake #4 is another 2 round snowflake so this one goes together pretty quickly. This is my favorite one so far. I got a pretty good deal on some Swarovski Crystal Beads at Michael’s this week. I should have bought more. This one really sparkles on the tree. I have an entire tree devoted to blue and white ornaments. My hope is to someday have all of the snowflakes that are on the tree made out of crystal beads. They really catch the light!

For this ornament I used

6 8mm faceted crystal rounds (Swarovski)

6 6mm faceted crystal rounds (Swarovski)

24 4mm crystal bicone beads (Swarovski)

24 bugle beads

32 gauge wire

I used about  three feet of wire.

The biggest difference in this pattern is that I am only using 6 beads in round one. I just noticed that I  made an error in this snowflake. On one of the spokes I did not double back through the bicone. It is visible on the ornament, but I don’t think it is that noticeable on the tree so I will leave it the way that it is.

Round one + one spoke of round 2

Round one + one spoke of round 2

Round one:  String all 6 of the 8mm crystal rounds on to the wire. Leave about a 4 inch tail. Run the wire through the beads a second time and pull them snugly together in a circle. Take the tail and wrap it tightly around the wires between two beads several times. Once it is secure, trim off the excess.  I like using these beads for the center because the space in the middle also forms a little snowflake!

Round 2, the first spoke

Round 2, the first spoke

You can work this in whatever direction is easiest for you to do so.

Round 2:

Spoke: Thread on 1 bugle bead, 1 bicone, 1 bugle bead, 1 bicone, 1 6mm round and then 1 more bicone for a total of 6 beads. Take the wire and double back through both the 6mm round and the next bicone bead. Gently pull to snug up the beads.  Add 1 bugle bead, 1 bicone bead and 1 more bugle bead for a total of 3 more beads. (this will be repeated for each new spoke)

This is where it is a little different. In the first three snowflake ornaments there were 12 beads in the center.  12 beads allowed you to weave in and out of every other bead. In this ornament you only have 6 beads. If you weave in and out of every other bead you will only have three spokes.  When you started this ornament, the wire was sticking out between bead 6 and bead 1.

I am working in a counter clockwise direction.

Take the wire and thread it through bead 6, BACK TOWARDS bead 1.

Position the wire for the next spoke

Position the wire for the next spoke

Then thread it through Bead 2. The wire will come out between bead 2 and bead 3.

Spoke 2

Spoke 2

At this point you are going to repeat the pattern for the spoke.  Once you have the beads on for the spoke you are going to bring the wire back down between bead 1 and bead 2. You will thread it back through bead 2. To position the bead for the next spoke you will need to thread the bead through bead #3.

You will continue this pattern around the ornament until you have 6 spokes. Just remember that as you make the spoke you are anchoring the wire to round one, directly  under the spoke you are making. To start the next spoke, you need to pass through the next bead, make the spoke and then pass the wire through the same bead again.  I’ve got my fingers crossed that this makes sense. I will make this one again and take more photos. I will use less expensive beads so that I can draw actual numbers so that it is easier to understand.

The finished snowflake

The finished snowflake

This is what you are aiming for. To finish off the snowflake weave the wire up the next spoke so that it is sticking out of the last bicone bead. Make a loop and thread the wire back through the bicone bead. Tightly wrap the wire between the last two beads several times. When it is secure, trim off the excess.