Japanese Beading Needle
C-lon Thread (Size D)
2 colors of Miyuki Tila Beads
(shown in TL-468 and TL-2008)
15/0 Seed Beads (15-453)

1. Begin bracelet by adding one Tila, one 15/0 two times (I alternate colors each time I add a Tila but this is optional), then another Tila. Add three 15/0s and go back down through the opposite side of the Tila beads, adding one 15/0 between each. Add three 15/0s and go back up though the first side where you began. You will have created a bar of Tila beads separated by 15/0s, with three 15/0s on each end from hole to hole.

2. Go down though the right side of your first Tila so your thread is emerging from the bottom hole. Add a new Tila bead, and loop back through the first Tila (square stitch) from top to bottom. Go through the 15/0 and the next Tila bead on the first row and repeat. You will have three new Tila beads each one attached to the three Tila beads on the first row, but one level above. Make sure your new Tila beads are sitting on top of the previous row.

3. Go up through the bottom Tila bead of your new row, and add one 15/0. Go up through the next Tila and repeat. Go through the top Tila and add three 15/0s and arch across the top of the Tila and go down through the opposite side of the same bead. Add one 15/0 between each Tila hole, and add three 15/0s across the bottom of the Tila row. Go up through the entire left-hand side of the row and back down through the right side of the top Tila so you can begin your next row.

4. Repeat steps two and three until you reach your desired length. Add a clasp. This will also make a wonderful necklace. Please share your own images of Tila bead work with us, and we will post them on the blog!

Materials –

Japanese Beading Needles
C-lon Beading Thread (Burgundy)
2 Tubes of Long Magatamas (LMA-134F)
1 Tube of 11/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (11-641)
1 Tube of 15/0 Miyuki Seed Beads (15-460)
3mm Copper Heishi
Copper S Clasp

Step 1 – Tie your thread securely around one end of the clasp. Add one 15/0 seed bead and three 11/0 seed beads (repeat pattern) until desired length is reached. Finish with one 15/0 seed bead, and knot around the other end of the clasp. Then thread back through all the beads to reinforce the top row.

Step 2 – Add three 11/0 seed beads, one 15/0 seed bead, one Magatama, one heishi and one 15/0 seed bead. Skip the bottom 15/0 seed bead (stopper bead) and sew back up through the heishi, Magatama, and 15/0 seed bead.

Step 3 – Add three 11/0 seed beads and sew through the 15/0 seed bead that is next in the top row, sewing away from the clasp end you are closest to in your work.

Step 4 – Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until one third of the necklace is completed.

Step 5 – Repeat Step 2 and then instead of adding beads and going back to the top, add three 11/0 seed beads one 15/0 seed bead, one Magatama, one heishi and one 15/0 seed bead. Skip the bottom 15/0 seed bead (stopper bead) and sew back up through the heishi, Magatama, and 15/0 seed bead. Then sew back up through the three 11/0s, so your thread is next to the top Magatama. Add three 11/0 seed beads and sew through the 15/0 seed bead that is next in the top row, sewing away from the clasp end you are closest to in your work.

Step 6 – Repeat Step 5 until about 5 sections from the middle of the necklace. Continue to increase your branch to 3 Magatama drops and then 4 Magatama drops for the center four sections of the necklace. (A section is the space between two of the 15/0 seed beads in the top row.

Step 7 – Reduce the length of your Magatama drops back to 3 and then 2 and 1, mirroring the other side of your necklace. Sew in ends, and complete.

Miyuki Delicas - Japanese cylinder seed beads in four sizes

Miyuki Delica beads are cylinder shaped Japanese seed beads. These glass cylinder beads were first introduced by Miyuki in 1982 as a replacement for antique french metal cylinder beads. They are now available in four sizes – 8/0, 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0. There are approximately one thousand colors available in the most popular 11/0 size.

Delicas are used widely for peyote stitch, brick stitch, and weaving on looms because their cylinder shape gives the finished piece a flat surface maximizing any design or pattern. Their exceptional uniformity of size and shape create tiny rectangles which lock together to present an unbroken surface. Bead artists have used them to create detailed portraits and sculpures with each bead acting as a single pixel of color.

Miyuki Lazuline Butterfly Brooch Kit

Delica beads also have a proportionally thin wall and large hole for their size which allows more threads to pass through the woven work. As every beader knows, this gives you more room for invention as well as being helpful for correcting mistakes or securing the finished ends. We recommend Delicas (especially the largest 8/0 size) as perfect for beginners learning peyote or brick stitch, since it is easy to see when you make a mistake.

Delicas are also available in a hexagonal cut version, with six faceted sides cut into the outside of the cylinder. Cut Delicas are available in all four sizes – 8/0, 10/0, 11/0 and 15/0 but in a smaller range of colors than their standard counterparts.

See all 1000+ colors here.

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!

Using the smallest seed beads we have to offer, she made this lovely fellow from illustrations of real turtles found in nature. His toes are made from toothpics colored black with magic marker.

Send us pictures of your beaded art and we’ll put them up on the blog for other beaders to admire.

Scalloped Brick Stitch Bracelet with miyuki japanese seed beads

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.

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.