Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Bracelet of the Day: SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet

 
SUPERDUO ROSETTE BRACELET

  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (11-457D)
  • 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (15-457D)
  • Super Duo beads "Turquoise Bronze Picasso)"
  • 3mm Druks "Gold & Smoky Topaz Luster"
  • Clasp
This pattern is by Sam Wescott and I fell in love with it the moment I saw it on Etsy. It's pretty but casual, which suits my style perfectly. At the time I bought the pattern, I had very few colors in 3mm druks. This lead me on a quest to find more so that I could make this bracelet in lots of color combinations. I've really only found two good sources for that size and they are Red Panda Beads and Artbeads. My local bead shop had a nice selection of 3mm druks from Nirvana Beads for a while but I've pretty much bought out all the pretty colors that they had in stock. For some reason 4mm druks are plentiful but not the 3mm size, which are at least as useful. I probably have just as many patterns calling for 3mm as 4mm. I don't have a lot of use for the plain, opaque or clear colors of 3mm druks but if anyone knows of good source for the ones with Picasso and other interesting finishes on them, please let me know. I see bits and pieces here and there on Etsy but it's not usually worth the postage to buy just one color when I see it.

Although the pattern calls for FireLine, I don't recommend it. I'm not sure why but, when I used it, it showed too much between the SuperDuo beads and the netting along the edge. I suggest using regular Nymo D thread in a color that's close to the color of the SuperDuo beads, or use black with dark colored beads.


 

10 comments:

  1. Hello, Linda! I'm Sam Wescott, who designed this pattern. I wanted to thank you for such a nice review and I definitely agree with your thread suggestion. I usually go with Fireline because it has that nice waxy quality. Anyway, your bracelet looks great - I love the colors!

    Happy Beading!

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    1. Hi Sam! Do you know of any good sources for 3mm druks? I particularly like the matte bronze ones you used in the example on the cover of the pattern.

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    2. They actually weren't druks, they were brass spacer beads. You can buy 3mm in various metals for a much lower price than the druks, which, as a starving college student, is always something I look for!

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    3. Great minds think alike then! I made another one using cheap metal beads from Hobby Lobby. They look similar to the ones you used but mine are smooth and yours appear to have a texture on them. I will post that bracelet as a "Bracelet of the Day" sometime soon.

      Have you tried doing the edging on that bracelet with only 11/0 seed beads? That actually works quite well. I tried that once when I didn't have a matching color for some 11/0's in 15/0 and was happy to find that it worked. I also made one using 11/0's with 8/0 hybrid picasso accent beads.

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    4. Sam, did you see my "Bracelet of the Day" for today? I posted the one with the Picasso accent beads.

      http://craftyinspirationbylinda.blogspot.com/2014/02/bracelet-of-day-superduo-rosette_25.html

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  2. I've used only 11/0s, but I'm addicted to my little fiddly 15/0s.

    The 8/0s combinations sounds lovely, though. I adore Picasso beads!

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  3. thank you for sharing.this is pretty.

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  4. Hello again Linda, I am not exactly sure how you get the patterns, I know you donate but i am not sure how. Please help. Lisa

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