Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Free Beading Tutorial: Lovely Lace Bracelet


The tutorial is finally finished and I made a bracelet so that I could add a photo. This beautiful pattern was created by my dear friend, Teejay. She sent me a rough outline of the steps along with some helpful photos. I gave it a run-through and then I typed up the final draft of the tutorial and made the graphic illustrations. It was a fun collaboration and I hope that you like the pattern as much as I do.

As I mentioned the other day, you can make the bracelet with either 3mm druks or 8/0 seed beads in the connector motifs and on the lace edging. For the centers of the "flower" motifs, you can use either 3mm or 4mm druks or other round beads. For the bracelet in the photo, I used 3mm druks in all three places. However, I made another bracelet with 8/0 seed beads on the edging and I will post that one on Wednesday as my Bracelet of the Day.

The pattern uses a LOT of thread and you will definitely have to add more at some point. I don't recommend using more than 3 yards at a time or the thread gets too ragged. You'll need about 3 yards of thread for about a 12-inch tail and the first 6 motifs. After adding another 3 yards of thread, I had plenty to make the remaining 5 motifs, attach the other end of the clasp and weave in the end. I probably had enough thread left over for another couple of motifs. My bracelet is 5 3/4-inches long and has 11 motifs. For a bracelet longer than about 13 motifs, you may need to add thread twice. I used Nymo thread so it's possible that you could get away with 4-yard lengths of FireLine.

I like to use magnet clasps when I can but I've given two clasp loop options so that you can attach a clasp with jump rings, if you like. The instructions for both methods are at the end of the tutorial and here is a sample photo showing two types of clasps:



These are the supplies that I used in today's bracelet:

  • 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (15-457D)
  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (11-457D)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (8-457D)
  • 3mm druks "Champagne" (Nirvana Beads)
  • 3mm druks "Bronze Antique" (Nirvana Beads)

Click HERE to download the free pattern.


If you like this pattern, please consider making a voluntary donation through PayPal using the DONATE button on the right.

NOTE: I don't mind if you sell the projects that you make with our patterns, but please mention that you got the pattern from Linda's Crafty Inspirations.Please contact me for information about teaching this or any of our patterns in a class.


85 comments:

  1. Oh my! I love your site and REALLY like this pattern! Just my style. The feminine lace is so pretty. Thank you so much for sharing this. I can't wait to begin-but first need to head out to a bead shop!

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  2. I can't wait to make this. It's next up on my beading mat, after I finish the Celestial Spheres bracelet I started yesterday. Thank you both, TeeJay and Linda. TeeJay- for designing such a gorgeous bracelet, and Linda, for refining the piece and doing the hard work of writing the pattern. You are both so appreciated!

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    1. I just got "Celestial Spheres" today. How is yours coming along? I hope you'll post it on the Pinterest board, Jeanie.

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  3. This bracelet pattern is so cool! Can't wait to start . . . but, alas, I have to wait for my bead order. I love your imagination and style -- you are not "afraid" of the beads. You are very inspirational -- again, thank you and TeeJay -- you make a wonderful team!

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    1. Yes, Teejay and I have a lot of fun even though we live thousands of miles apart. I'm in Texas and she's in England.

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    2. I agree. Just my style with good integrity. Thanks Linda. But yes very inspiring.

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  4. I definitely will. I have finished the first row and will begin with the saraguro next. I am such a fan of 2-needle work, and this is the pattern for me.

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    1. That's interesting because I tend to avoid 2-needle patterns or I figure out how to make them with one needle. Is this the saraguro you're talking about? http://tinyurl.com/mc79uqw. If so, I really like that one too.

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    2. The Elaine bracelet on that page is similar. Maybe it's not really saraguro. But it looks like it.

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    3. Yes, the Linda Elaine is also Saraguro ;)

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  5. Thank you so much for this beautiful pattern and for all the work you have put into creating it! I have waited for it since you first posted pictures of the bracelet. :-)

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    1. I hope you enjoy making the bracelet. I also hope that people will post photos on Pinterest of the bracelets that they make from the tutorial.

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  6. Thank you so much for this pattern! I am about half way done with it. Can't wait to wear it.

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    1. What colors are you using? Will you be able to take a photo of your bracelet and post it on Pinterest? I'd love to see how it turns out.

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  7. Remember that you can interchange 8/0s for 3mm druks or firepolish in your patterns.
    this gives you a lot of versatility so you don't always have to wait for beads to come in.
    You can wing it with whatever else is in your stash. You will get some very interesting and
    pretty designs by doing this. Have fun!!

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    1. Have you seen Wednesday's post? I used 8/0 seed beads instead of 3mm druks in the lace edging on that one. The only place in this bracelet where I think you really do need to use round beads is in the center of the main motif. And, you can use either 3mm or 4mm there. If you use 4mm druks, just add some extra seed beads around them.

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  8. Thank you for the pattern. It's a lovely design.
    ~cryssT

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  9. Thanks a lot for the pattern. That's a gorgeous bracelet!!

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  10. Thanks so much for the lovely pattern,I will make one for myself for sure

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  11. beautiful! thank you so much for sharing!

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  12. Fantastic! I have a question: can you tell me what software you used to write this pattern? I am considering writing some patterns and don't know where to start. TIA!!!

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    1. Hi Gena. I didn't use any special bead pattern software to make the illustrations. I had to create the shapes and arrows, etc. myself in my graphics program, Paint Shop Pro. To get the scale of each kind of bead as close as I could to the right sizes, I traced the beads in one of my sample photos with the shape tool in PSP. Once I had one of each size bead, it was just a matter of copying and pasting them as many times as necessary. I have a lot more respect for Deb Roberti and other beadwork designers now because it's hard work getting the illustrations just right.

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    2. Well you did a great job! I'm not a very good graphics person so maybe this will have to wait until I have time to really "study" it out. Thanks for the info!!

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  13. Very beautiful and a huge thank you for making this available for free! My income is limited and fixed so I can't afford the newer pricier beads but I already have a good assortment of the usual beads. I looked at the pdf tutorial and it's exactly the sort of instructions I can follow easily. When I saw the two different clasps, I thought how lovely earrings would look as one unit with a larger drop bead on the end. Thank you again!!

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  14. Thanks for sharing the pattern. It is not everyday that you get a gorgeous pattern for free.

    Thanks again!

    annehisako

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  15. Thank you very much. This is gorgeous and you are generous for sharing this for free,

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  16. Thank you very much for sharing this pattern. The bracelet is lovely.

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  17. What a lovely pattern. Thank you for sharing the free pattern linda xxx

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  18. merci pour ce joli schéma!!!

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  19. Hello Linda, this is a beautiful bracelet and I would love to have the download. This is my first time visiting your site and when I click the HERE button it tells me the page is not available. What is the Tiny Uploads site and how do I access it? Thanks so much.

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    1. I just noticed too that the TinyUpload site isn't working right now. All I can suggest is that you wait a while and try again. They must be having trouble.

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  20. Its telling me the page is not available still. will try again later. thank you, its gorgeous!

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    1. You're right. It's down for me again too. They're obviously having a problem with their site today. Just keep trying.

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  21. Hi I so love this bracelet but I cannot bring link up no matter how I try. Can you help me pleasse!

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    1. Try again later. The TinyUpload site is apparently having a problem today.

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    2. Oh thanks so much for getting back to me I love this design and can't believe the pattern is free so thanks I will check later.

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  22. I wish I knew what was going on with TinyUpload. The site has been down for hours now. Hopefully they'll have the problem fixed by tomorrow.

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  23. I haven't been able to get the site to work today. I love this pattern and maybe others by this artist. Does she have an etsy shop?

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    1. No, this is the only place that the pattern is available. Perhaps TinyUpload was having problems earlier. It's working right now so try the download link again.

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  24. May I share this pattern with my beading friends ?

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    1. You can give them the link to this page so they can download it from here.

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    2. They don't have computers.

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    3. Sure, go ahead and print a few copies for your friends. Just don't sell the pattern.

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    4. May I teach this pattern ? Deb Roberti has given her permission for us to teach her free patterns . It is at a local bead store. I don't make any money off this , I just charge for printing. I have my mother in my house with dementia .I go to the bead store for my relaxation . I have donated to your site in the past. I would be willing to donate again. I love your site. Must be nice to bead all day. Thank-You Melody

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    5. Send me an email using the contact form on the right hand side of my blog, Melody. I sure wish that I could bead all day! That would be nice indeed.

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    6. I have sent you 2 e-mails .Have you received them ?

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    7. I don't know if I got your emails, Anonymous, since I have no idea who you are.

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    8. I am Melody D. I have sent you 2 e-mails from the contact form on the right side of your page. Have you received them ?

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    9. No, I haven't received any emails from you, Melody. All that I can suggest is that you try again. As far as teaching my patterns, I don't have a problem with it as long as you mention to your students that you got the pattern(s) from my blog.

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  25. Can get to the linked page, click on the download link, says it downloaded, but the file won't open?

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    1. I just checked the file and it's working fine for me. Do you have Adobe Reader installed on your computer? You need a program that can open PDF files. If you're using a tablet computer, such as an iPad, that might also be an issue, or so I've heard.

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  26. Linda,

    I have previously downloaded your patterns to my tablet without any problems. Using Adobe Reader I received an error message "... This is not a valid PDF document.

    Thank you for all your fabulous work.

    Kate

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    1. Kate, you have to go to the TinyUpload page to get the PDF file. Right-clicking the link won't work.

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  27. I have tried and tried downloading the file with no luck. Any other suggestions?

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    1. I got an Android tablet for Christmas and discovered that Google Chrome is unable to download files from TinyUpload but Firefox can. I don't know if that's the case on a regular computer because I use Firefox. Maybe it's time to use my Google Drive for my pattern downloads. The nice thing about TinyUpload is that you can see how many times a file has been downloaded. Google Drive doesn't provide that info.

      Send me an email using the email form on the right side of my blog and I will send you the pattern.

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  28. This Bracelet is gorgeous. I would like to make it as Gifts for my beautiful Daughters and Grand-daughters...I love it, thank you for sharing your Patterns and talent with us, it is appreciated xo

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  29. Hi Linda, I have to tell you... your beautiful beadwork - you are the reason I got into beads. Your blog is one of the best ones around. The effort and love you put into this is truly inspiring. I came across your masterpieces on Pinterest and that was 6 months ago. I am so addicted to beading that it consumes all my free time :) Thank you so much for your blog, for inspiration, and for sharing.

    Nella from Canada

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    1. Thanks for your sweet comments, Nella. You've put a smile on my face.

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  30. Thank you Linda and Teejay for your generosity in sharing this pattern. I am eager to try it out but I do much better with video tutorials. I wonder if you have a conpilation of video tutorials on DVD for sale? I would certainly buy such a DVD. Thank you so much.

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    1. I don't know about Teejay, but I have no means of making videos.

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  31. Just happened onto your blog. Lovely, lovely works, exquisite taste in colors and soooo generous with patterns!!! Thanks a million :-)

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  32. Downloaded and donating as this is gorgeous

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    1. Thank you, Louise. Teejay did create a beauty, didn't she?

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  33. Linda, the pattern has been deleted. Do you have a new link to this pattern?

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  34. Thank you for offering these wonderful tutorials! I have been designing jewelry for a long time, with wire and metal. But, these are beautiful! Hopefully I can do this? I will give it a try. I will try to be back to donate very soon. Thanks again! Teresa

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  35. Hello! Thank you for sharing such a darling pattern, just beautiful!

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  36. HELLO LINDA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING I REALLY LOVE ALL OFF YOUR PATTERNS, YOU ARE JUST A CREATIVE PERSON HOW MAKES BEAUTIFULL THINGS LOVE IT. GREETINGS FROM THE NETHERLANDS

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    1. You're welcome and thanks for your nice comments.

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  37. I simply LOVE your creations... especially when you use monotone colour combo and just play with bead sizes, shapes and weave patterns *heart*

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  38. Hello Linda, thank you for your wonderful pattern. I can't wait to start. I've been beading for seven years, and have some friends asking me to teach them. What do i need to do to teach them your pattern.

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    1. If they can, ask your friends to download the pattern from my site. For those who can't do that, mention that the pattern came from my blog. Have fun beading!

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  39. I just discovered your blog and d/l this pattern. So beautiful! Can't wait to make it and share at my LBS! Glad you added the link location to your blog at the bottom of the pattern, I will share that. Your blog is really amazing!

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  40. Hi I am trying to download the free Lovely Lace Bracelet pattern but everytime I click on "Here" it just loops back to the same window. Marie

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    1. It's working right now. When I click the link the download dialog box opens.

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  41. Does it work to use 3mm fire polish or bicones as well? I want to make this for my best friend to wear to her baby shower and she wants some sparkle.

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    1. I haven't tried either of them so I can't say for sure that they would work or if they would alter the way the beads fit together too much. If you already have those beads, go ahead and give them a try and see how it goes.

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    2. I just took a look at some photos that I saved of other peoples' bracelets and a few of them have fire polished beads and they look fine. I haven't seen an example with bicones though. The thing about Swarovski bicones is that they are 3mm wide/diameter but they're less than 3mm in length. They're very tiny compared to 3mm druks and fire polished beads.

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