Regal Square Stitch Bracelet design by June Wiseman

Penelope Learns a new Stitch

I’m playing catch up with some of my bead projects.

I picked up the  Regal Square Stitch  Bracelet kit at the same time that I purchased my monster bracelet.  I was walking past the Tapestry beads booth and this bracelet  caught my eye. I adore the color scheme. I just simply could not take my eyes off of it.

I spoke with Jill and she told me that the stitch is so strong, that you can cut the bracelet in two between the rows of beads and the beads will not unravel. This is very much true. I’m not a particularly detailed oriented person so I made several mistakes in the pattern.Unfortunately I didn’t notice them until I was quite a few rows up. I undid a few rows on several occasions and at one point I restarted the bracelet in its entirety.  I did cut it in half though just to see and it is an incredibly strong stitch, so pay attention when you’re making it.. you don’t want to have to undo it. Trust me.

Regal Square Stitch

The square stitch itself is a remarkably easy stitch to learn how to do.  I’d go so far as to say that this particular project is a good beginner beading project. Not only that, but it is a show stopper and is reasonably priced to boot.  If you aren’t lucky enough to catch the Wiseman’s at a bead show, you can oder a kit directly from them through their bead site.

Making a Beaded Ring? Here’s a Useful Tip

This tip is going to be short and to the point.  When you are making a beaded ring, if it is at all possible, you should bead the shank separately. If you need to re-size the ring as my Boyfriend did with the  Peek-A-Boo ring it is much less time consuming.

I like to make my rings comfortable and that often means I’ve added more beads to the shank than the pattern called for.  If the shank of the ring breaks, having the forethought to do two separate pieces will mean that you don’t have to rework the more time consuming top part of the ring.

If the top half of the ring breaks, you will still have the shank in one piece, which means you can use it as a visual guide for sizing, just count the beads and make them match.

However, If the pattern allows for it, you may still be able to salvage the intact shank. If you look at the side view of the Peek A boo ring, the shank could have been attached to the fire polish beads that comprise  the base ring of the top. With careful planning an experienced beader might be able to just re-attach the shank in the appropriate place when re-constructing the top of the ring. Of course, if that’s you… then you probably didn’t need this tip in the first place!

I’m currently working on Jean Campbell’s “Carmen” ring , from her book “Creating Glamorous Jewelry” and she uses this method as well.  I’ve broken my thread three times while constructing the top of the ring. It’s totally my fault as I’m pulling my tension too tight. The last time it happened I was thinking to myself how happy I’d be if I never had to make the top again, and it prompted this post. I love the design though.

I’ve  got photos from several projects piling up. For some I need to go through and pull out the books that I’ve found the patterns in, and others I am trying to decide what to do with them. I finished my “Cleo” earrings and I accidentally clipped my thread too short. I love the pattern, it goes together so quickly but I’m not sure I’d wear them. I’m contemplating turning one of the earrings in to a necklace.. in which case I don’t need to re-make the one I clipped to short. Decisions, decisions.

Happy Beading!  I hope you found this tip useful.

Cleo (part one) a Jean Campbell Design

Cleo

I’m currently working on Jean Campbell’s “Cleo” earrings from her book “Creating Glamorous Earrings”. I need to trim the threads on this and add some glue and this one will be good to go. Unfortunately I have to wait for additional beads to arrive in the mail. The pattern calls for 12 metallic blue 2x 4mm bicone beads. As far as I can tell, I actually need 24 to make the pair of earrings.
It’s a pretty cool earring though. I can’t wait until I have a matched set.

“Around the Block”, a Barbara Falkowitz design

Around the Block

“Around the Block”  was designed by Barbara Falkowitz and appears in the Oct/Nov 2011 edition of Beadwork magazine.  I really enjoyed making this one. I actually made it in the same sitting that I made the “Winding Path Bracelet”, by Jann Christiansen. If I can knock out two bracelets between dinner and bedtime, it’s a good sign that it isn’t too difficult of a pattern.

"Around the Block" Clasp

This beaded bracelet incorporates right-angle weave, picot and and peyote stitches. I particularly like the way that the clasp was done. I love the simplicity of the peyote stitch in the button loop so much that I incorporated it in to the “Winding Path Bracelet”. It’s pretty. I also like the way that the button is attached to it’s own base rather than just being tacked on to the end. I feel like it gives the clasp a bit more substance. I’m also really digging that this wasn’t a terribly expensive bracelet to make. As a bead hobbyist, it’s wonderful to see some patterns that can be made without investing a ton of money. This bracelet is a perfect example of how a cost effective, fire polish bead can bring a bit of sparkle without breaking the bank.

pretty!