Saturday, October 31, 2015

Camille Bracelet Variation - Alternative Clasp Loop

Last Friday I showed you the two "Camille" variation bracelets below, HERE. You can read the pattern and bead color details in that post.

 

I made both bracelets for myself and I wasn't happy that I had to use so many jump rings to get the right length. I couldn't add another whole motif to the bracelets or they would end up much too long. So, I decided to add little seed bead motifs on the ends for attaching the jump rings. These little extenders look like they're part of the bracelet design. I still had to add two jump rings on each end but I don't mind that at all.

The loops that I added are the same "Sidonia" style loops that I use on a lot of my earrings and bracelets. You start by picking up seven 11/0 seed beads to make a loop, in this case adding an 8/0 seed bead as the fourth bead. Then, you go back around and up through the first seed bead of the loop, pick up an 11/0 seed bead and then go through the next five beads of the loop. Pick up another 11/0 bead and go through the last 11/0 of the loop. Weave around this loop to reinforce it, skipping the 8/0 bead as you go back around. I go ahead and add the first extender loop right away when I start the bracelet. I am able to do that because I don't start mine as the pattern instructs. I firmly anchor the seed beads to the first Kheop bead before adding any more beads to my thread. I add the loop to the other end in a later step when I reach that end of the bracelet.


Below is a close-up showing a bracelet with too many jump rings and one with the extension loops:

 
When I use this kind of loop for earrings, I usually use 15/0 seed beads and omit the 8/0 bead since an earring wire will usually fit on the smaller loop quite nicely with no jump rings needed.


 

1 comment:

  1. What a great idea! The ends look so much more polished with the seed bead motifs added.

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