Monday, June 5, 2017

Free Beading Pattern - Claudia Cali Bead Chain


CLAUDIA CALI BEAD CHAIN
  • 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
  • 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
  • Cali beads "Patina"
  • SuperDuo beads "Matte Chalk Picasso"

I'm not usually keen to try new bead shapes and there are so many unusual shapes coming on the market these days. However, every now and then I spot a new bead that has a pleasing shape and comes in pretty colors that I like. I was ordering a few beads on Etsy recently and decided to buy some Cali beads in two colors and see if I could find a way to use them. Cali beads come in some gorgeous and interesting colors so it was hard to choose. I hadn't seen many patterns online for Cali beads so I looked through all of my bracelet patterns for ideas. I found that they work quite well with the bracelet pattern that I blogged about HERE but I was hoping to come up with more ideas.

After making a bunch of THESE "Bisaneta Bracelet" samples recently, I had the idea to try the same pattern using  Cali beads. Although they don't work with that pattern, I was able to make a few changes which evolved into a new design that even makes use of the third hole in the middle of the Cali bead. The motifs look a bit like flowers so my first thought was to name this pattern "Cali-Flower" but that sounded too corny.

CALI BEADS

I made one of today's bracelets with Toho seed beads and they work equally as well as Miyuki beads with this design. For some reason the one with Toho seed beads came out a little shorter than the one with Miyuki beads so I added an extra motif to that one. It's slightly loose but I find that a loose bracelet is more comfortable to wear than a snug one. The bracelets in these photos fit a 6 to 6 1/2 inch wrist measurement.


Donna from Queen City Bead on Etsy sells pretty much every Cali bead color that they make HERE.




  • 11/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • 8/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
  • Cali beads "Chalk Lumi Punch"
  • SuperDuo beads "Opaque Blue Luster"



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 my 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 other patterns in a class.
 






10 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for sharing this pattern - always on the lookout for something new to make. Had to smile at your proposed name for this bracelet - guess cali-flower would be a step to far really!!

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  2. I think I am the opposite with regard to new shapes. I have to try them all. All the bead shops whose newsletters I get will do something like put a new shape on sale and that is all it takes for me to bite. (I most recently bit on Arcos and Minos Par Puca and some AVA beads, but I do have some Cali beads in my stash too.)

    I sorted my shaped and seed beads yesterday and, well, I probably have more than some Etsy sellers (and I don't sell anything).

    I do try to stick to a single color palette I came up with for myself so I have lots of things that go together. I like the look of this one and of course I am well-stocked on Superduos and seed beads of various sizes.

    Anyway, thanks for the pattern!

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    1. I like trying the new ones as well :). I just got some EVA to play with. Would love if Linda did a bracelet using both AVA and EVA beads

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  3. Wow! This is the first pattern I see using the Cali beads that I'd actually like to try, it's SO beautiful. Great job, as usual, and thanks for sharing the pattern!

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    1. Thanks, Helen. I hope you have fun making it.

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  4. I just can't stop making this bracelet. Thank you. I love it!

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    1. I'm glad to hear that you're having fun with it, Jo.

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  5. Thanks for sharing! I love this one and have truly enjoyed experimenting with Cali beads. I've been reluctant to try new beads as well.

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