Projects

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3
Mar 10

Drop Bead and Seed Bead Earrings

Miyuki Drop and Seed Bead Earrings

Miyuki Drop and Seed Bead Earrings

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Beading Thread Size D (Burgundy)
11/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (11-2016)
Miyuki Drop Beads (DP-2035)
2 Earwires
2 Jumprings

Step 1 – Thread on one 11/0 and one drop bead 4 times. Sew back through all eight beads to make a loop.

Step 2 – Exit through the following 11/0 seed bead, then add three 11/0s and sew back through the first 11/0 in the same direction you exited originally.

Step 3 – Sew through the next drop bead and repeat step 2 for each of the original 11/0s.

Step 4 – Once you have completed your little diamond shape, sew it onto an earwire or soldered jump ring to complete it.

Shop for Miyuki drop beads here.

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17
Feb 10

Peyote Triangle Waves Bracelet

Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet with Miyuki seed beads

Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet with Miyuki seed beads

Triangle Waves Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Size D Beading Thread ( Royal )
Size 10 Miyuki Triangle Bead ( tr10-452 )
Size 8 Miyuki Triangle Bead ( tr8-452 )
Size 10 Miyuki Delica Bead ( DBMC – 0002 )

This bracelet is made using even count peyote stitch.
(Learn how with this link from our friend Suzanne Cooper)

Step 1 – Add six DBMCs to your thread. Begin even count peyote stitch for 5 rows.

Step 2 – Begin next row with TR10s. Continue even count peyote stitch for 5 rows of TR10s.

Step 3 – Begin next row with TR8s. Continue even count peyote stitch for 5 rows of TR8s.

Step 4 – Repeat step 2.

Step 5 – Begin next row with DBMCs. Continue even count peyote stitch for 7 rows of DBMCs.

Repeat rows 2-5 until desired length is reached. Notice that as you change the bead size the width of the bracelet increases and decreases in a wave shape. Experiment with different sizes of beads to see what cool examples you can come up with. Remember that we’d like to see the versions you come up with, so send us pictures of your projects!

See all three sizes of triangle beads here.

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4
Feb 10

Texture with Fancy Drops

Miyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet
Miyuki Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet

Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch BraceletMaterials -

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Size D  (Turquoise)
1-2 tubes Miyuki Fancy Drops (dpf-31)
(fancy drops are color-lined with contrasting colors to the rest of the drop)
1 tube Miyuki 11/0 Seed Beads (11-271)
1 clasp or snap

Step 1- Start flat peyote stitch with twelve 11/0 seed beads. Each following row you will add 6 beads.

Step 2- Begin randomly inserting the drops to create a textured surface. Continue until bracelet reaches desired length.

Step 3 – This bracelet is clasped using a snap sewn onto a tiny leather tab. It makes the closure point nearly invisible. Using a button or regular clasp would also work fine.

Fancy Drop Peyote Stitch Bracelet on wrist Miyuki’s color-lined fancy drops give this bracelet a cool optical effect – as you turn your wrist the color appears to change because the angle of the light hits the bead at a different place.  Try your own version and admire the effect!

See miyuki drops and fancy drops here.

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2
Feb 10

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Looplicity Brick Stitch Earrings

Materials:

Japanese beading needles (extra thin)
C-lon beading thread size D (Burgundy)
Miyuki 15/0 seed beads (15-1428)
Miyuki Delica beads (DB1244)
Miyuki 11/0 seed beads (11-302)
Miyuki 10/0 triangle beads (tr10-1836)
Miyuki 8/0 seed beads (8-24f)
2 7mm soldered jumprings
2 earwires

Step 1. Add one 15/0 seed bead to your thread. Sew through the jumpring, and back down through the seed bead. Repeat nine times to complete your initial row.

Step 2. Increase in the following row by adding two Delica beads to your thread. Sew through the thread bridge between the first and second 15/0s on the edge of your work your thread is coming from, and go up the second bead added and then down the first. Come back up the second bead. For the row’s remaining stitches, pick up one bead and go under the next thread bridge on the previous row. Go back up the new bead.

Step 3. Repeat step two using 11/0 seed beads, always increasing by one bead for each new type of bead added.

Step 4. Repeat step two using 10/0 triangle beads.

Step 5. Repeat step two using 8/0 seed beads.

Step 6. Beginning at the edge of your work add thirty-two 15/0 seed beads and sew up through the center 8/0 seed bead. Sew down through the next further down 8/0 seed bead, and add another thirty-two 15/0s. Create a new loop by sewing back up through the second 8/0 from the edge, and continue to work across the earring, one 8/0 at a time until each one has been used once. The only 8/0 to have two strings of 15/0s coming from it is the center 8/0.

It is fun to use a slightly contrasting color of C-lon to accent the beadwork on these earrings. Send us a picture of your interesting combination to share with everyone!

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26
Jan 10

Long Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet

Large Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet

Large Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet

Large Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet Detail

materials -

Japanese beading needles or Big Eye Needles
1 spool C-Lon Micro Cord (olive green)
2 tubes Long Magatamas (LMA-2008)
1 tube 8/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (8-217)
1 tube 11/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (11-2013)
1 clasp

(alternate colors: Micro Cord in Wine, LMA-142fr, 8-410fr, 11-360)

Step 1 – Add four 8/0 seed beads to your thread. They will become the inner core of your spiral stitch. Then add a group of three – one 11/0, one long magatama, one 11/0.

Step 2 – Sew back up through the four 8/0s to create the first loop of your spiral. Each time you add a new loop, you will want to rotate the work in the same direction, so that each new loop is added to the left of the previous loop.

Step 3 – Add one 8/0 seed bead, and a group of three – one 11/0, one long magatama, one 11/0. This is the same grouping that you will repeat from now on. Sew back up through the top three 8/0s in your core and then up through the new 8/0 that you just added. This leaves only the group of three loop on the exterior of your spiral.

Step 4 – Repeat step three until you have reached your desired length. Remember that you will need additional length because the design is somewhat wide in circumference.

Large Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet in Purple

Large Magatama Spiral Stitch Bracelet in Purple

Be whimsical and creative with your colors and clasp choices. Send us a picture of your version of this bracelet and we’ll post it on the blog for everyone to admire!

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21
Jan 10

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet in brick stitch with Miyuki Japanese seed beads

Regal Caterpillar Bracelet in brick stitch with Miyuki Japanese seed beads

Regal Caterpillar brick stitch bracelet on modelmaterials –

Japanese beading needles
1 bobbin C-Lon Thread size D (purple)
1 tube 15/0 Miyuki seed beads (15-462)
2 colors of 11/0 Miyuki seed beads (11-465 and 11-469)
1 tube of 10 cut twisted seed beads (10C-TW-462)
1 tube of 2mm x 6mm twisted bugles (TW206-191)
1 tube of Miyuki drop beads (DP-453)
1 clasp

Brick Stitch Instructions from our friends at Bead & Button.

Step 1 – Make your ladder row with twisted 2.0 x 6mm bugles. Continue until it is the desired bracelet length, minus the length of the clasp.

Step 2 – Begin working on one side of the bracelet. Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using 11/0 seed beads. (Example uses 11-469).

Step 3 – Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using twisted 10 cut seed beads.

Step 4 – Decrease by 1 bead in your next row using 11/0 seed beads of a different color. (Example uses 11-465).

Step 5 – Ornament outside edge with alternating additions of three 15/0 seed beads and another three grouping: one 15/0 seed bead, one drop bead, and one 15/0 seed bead. Or use a different ornamentation – be creative!

Step 6 – Repeat rows 2 through 5 for the other side of the bracelet. Complete with a clasp.

Remember to send us a picture of your version of this bracelet, and we’ll post it on the blog!

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15
Jan 10

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet with miyuki beads

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet with miyuki japanese seed beads

Scalloped Bracelet

materials -

Japanese Beading Needles
1 bobbin C-Lon Thread size D (teal)
1 tube 15/0 Miyuki seed beads (15-452)
1 tube 11/0 Miyuki seed beads (11-2008)
1 tube 8/0 Miyuki seed beads (8-2405fr)
1 tube 10/0 Miyuki triangle beads (tr10-455)
1 tube 2.7 x 12mm Miyuki twisted bugles (TW2712-401fr)
1 clasp

Brick stitch squares (make four).
Brick Stitch Instructions from our friends at Bead & Button.

Step 1 – Begin your ladder row with 7 10/0 Triangles.
Step 2 – Increase in your next row to have 8 11/0 seed beads.
Step 3 – Decrease in your next row to have 7 Twisted 2.7 x 12mm bugles.
Then reverse and repeat step 2 and 1, in that order.

Once you have completed your four squares, connect them with strands
of seed beads. My pattern was 15/0s, 3 11/0s, 2 TR10s, 1 8/0, 2 TR10s,
3 11/0s and 15/0s again. On the outermost rows I used 11 15/0s on each
side, the next two rows I used 10 15/0s, and the center row I used 9
15/0s. This gives the bracelet the nice scalloped shape.

Complete two sections with a brick stitch square on each end and a
seed bead scallop in the middle. Then connect the center with a row of
7 8/0s (or any other decorative touch you like). Decrease at each end
to 6 10/0 triangles, and attach to clasp. Finish off any loose ends.
Remember that it is easy to adjust the length (this one was 6.75”) by
adding to the seed bead scallops or adding additional center or end
rows.

Scalloped Bracelet
If you make this bracelet, we want to see it! Remember to email us a picture of your version and we’ll post it on the blog for everyone to admire.

Projects — 3 Comments
19
Nov 09

Long Magatama Necklace

Our full-page ad in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Beadwork included a bracelet made with Miyuki’s new long magatama beads. Since the ad came out, we’ve gotten quite a few questions from people who want to make something similar, so this post is our attempt to help out.

The first, and most important thing to know, is that after the bracelet was photographed for the ad, it evolved into a necklace—

It’s strung on C-Lon® Micro Cord. When stringing the long magatamas, you need to always insert the thread in the same direction if you want the beads to hang as they do in this necklace. There is some decorative base-metal chain attached by the pendant.

Here’s a close-up of the spiral stitch. In addition to the long magatamas, we used Miyuki beads sizes 11/0 and 8/0. (The items are LMA-2008, 11-2015 and 8-217).

And here’s a detail shot of the clasp and cones. The cones are sterling silver and we dipped them in silver black to darken them.

That’s the quick overview. Please email if you have additional questions.