Czech Glass Bangle

I can’t tell you how happy I am that I finished this bracelet.  For a while I was worried that it was going to become one of those MIA projects. I’ve been working on it for the last four days, and I still think I got it wrong. :p I ended up going to the store three times to make it.  The ironic part of this is that I specifically made this bracelet because I thought it would go together quickly, and truthfully.once you get everything right, it does!

If you feel like making this bracelet, please read the post in it’s entirety before starting. I did some trouble shooting and I believe that this bracelet, as pretty as it is, is still different from the pattern in the book.

I love the Japanese Bead Books that tell you what size beads to use.  The book that my next project is out of gives a mm size. (score!) In the book that this one is out of, I have no idea what size bead I needed, just that I needed 665 of them. I thought that they looked more like size 11/0 beads so that is what I started with. Note I said *started* with

Ultimately I used

1 tube size 11 seed beads

1 tube size 15 seed beads

3 small strands of 4mm Czech glass beads.

I strung this with fishing line. There I go being all thrifty again.

Size really does matter!  These are two clasps. The purple one is made with size 11 seed beads. I made the turquoise one with size 15 beads. There is a considerable difference in how thick these two little flowers are. The one made out of size 11 beads is quite a bit thicker.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You want to start this bracelet by making the flower clasp. I started with size 11 beads. You’ll want to use a pretty decent length of thread because you will be making the base of the bracelet.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

To each thread add 3 seed beads and 1 4mm Czech bead. Add 1 more seed bead to one of the thread and then cross the other thread through the bead.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Then add 1 4mm bead, 1 seed bead and 1 more 4mm bead to each thread. Cross both threads through another seed bead. You have just made a little circle of beads. The pattern wants you to make 17 of these little circles , so you will repeat this step until you have 17 of them.

This is where I started running in to problems. After I added about 15 of the circles I wrapped the bracelet around my wrist to see how long it was. At 15 circles it felt like it was a little bit too long for my taste. So I stopped at 15. I wondered if I had used the size 15 beads if it would have been a better length. I decided size didn’t matter and stopped at 15 circles.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is what the base of your bracelet will look like.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Once the bracelet is the length that you want, you need to do one more circle of beads. To do that you will add 1 4mm and 3 seed beads to each thread, then add 1 more seed bead and cross the threads through it.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Add 2 more seed beads to each thread and then cross them through another seed bead.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Once you get to this point you need to make the loop that will go over your flower clasp.  I added 17 size 11 seed beads to one of the threads. I then took the other thread and crossed them through the other direction so that there are two threads going around the loop. Cross the threads again through the bead that you started the loop with.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Take one of the threads and weave it back around the smaller seed bead loop so that it meets up with the first thread. Tie the threads off and trim them. As usual I dab mine with a little bit of clear nail polish. be careful though, because I accidentally clipped my knot. 🙁   I redid the whole thing, but only after going back to the store to buy size 15 beads. I followed the directions, made 17 loops and decided that the length was just perfect. I took this to mean I was using the right sized bead! (oops)
 
 

The base of the bracelet is done. I suppose if you wanted to, you could just call it good here. 🙂
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cut another length of thread. I believe I cut a piece that was 6 times the length of the bracelet. Run the thread though the middle seed bead in your first circle of 4mm Czech beads. Center it so that you have two tails of thread that are about equal in length. One points towards the length of the bracelet, the other goes out in the direction of the clasp.
 
 
 
 
 

Take the thread that goes out towards the  clasp and string on 3 seed beads, 1 4mm Czech bead and then 3 more seed beads.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

String on 4 more seed beads and then run the thread back through the first of the four seed beads so that it makes a little loop. Slide it down so that it fits snuggly up against the rest of the seed beads. I’m going to call this little loop a picot.  Add 3 more seed beads and 1 more 4mm czeck bead.
 
 
 
 
 

Set down the thread you have been working with and pick up the other one. String on 3 seed beads and then run it through the 4mm bead that you just added so that the thread cross inside.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pick up the other thread and add 3 seed beads. Run the thread through the middle seed bead on the next circle of Czech beads. String on 3 more seed beads and then 1 more 4mm Czech bead.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pick up the other thread and string 3 seed beads. Add four more seed beads and run the thread back through the first of the four to make another picot. Add 3 more seed beads (you can only see two in the photo) and then cross the thread through the 4mm Czech bead. You are going to repeat the steps in the last two photos all the way down the length of the bracelet.

Then you will weave the threads over to the other side and do the same thing again. When you get to the end, you will work the last circle of beads back in to itself so that both threads cross through the same seed bead. When I got to the end, I could not pass both threads through the seed bead in the middle to weave it over to the other side. It was frustrating because I knew I could get at least 3 thread through the beads (I did it in the clasp) but there just wasn’t any way it was going to happen. :<

So, I went to the sporting goods store and bought some actual real fishing line, in 2lb test..and then I restrung it again..

After I  restrung the base of the bracelet I proceeded to do the lace on the edges. I didn’t like how it was sitting but I kept going with the hopes that it would sort it’s self out.  After I finished the lace on one side I took a good long hard look at it and I determined that the size 15 beads are not large enough, thus it pulls it in a funky direction. So, I pulled it out and I redid the lace with size 11 beads. It looks so much better.  Once I finished it off I put it on and I noticed that I would probably prefer to have it a bit looser (sigh) So, my guess is that I was supposed to use size 11 beads for the entire project.

So for this bracelet, I used the size 15 seed beads for the clasp and the base of the bracelet. I used size 11 seed beads for the lace. I purchased 2lb test fishing line to string it and I used thin beading needles. I tried doing it with fireline, but I did not like how it looked at all. If I were to make it again, I’d try doing the whole thing with just size 11 seed beads. It is a guess though. I just don’t have it in me to do this one again any time soon.

Beading has become a good source of stress relief for me. I have really been throwing myself into it lately. The result? It is leaving me with way more jewelry than I can possibly wear. My solution was to make a piece, take photos and blog about it so that I have a record of making it. Then my plan involved me taking the piece apart so that I can return the beads to my stash and make something else. I think it is a great way to keep costs down while still enjoying my hobby. In this case though..I think I’m just going to go buy a purple shirt. :p