Beading Tips & Tricks - Canterbury Bracelet

Today I was making another Canterbury bracelet and thought that I'd share the little tricks that I use whenever I make that pattern. I've already mentioned in previous posts that I leave off the final row of netting for a narrower bracelet. In doing it that way, I find that the scalloped strands of netting have a tendency to go a bit wonky and/or curl under if you don't take steps to prevent it. 

Here are some of my tips:

1. I highly recommend using 6 lb. FireLine instead of regular Nymo D type thread. That alone helps give the netting a bit more stability.

2. I like to add an accent bead in between the motifs to add a bit of interest. The point where you add this bead is in Step 4 of the tutorial where you pick up and add three seed beads. The second bead picked up is the accent bead. I've highlighted it in yellow in the diagram below:

3. After I've added the scalloped netting to both sides of the bracelet, I weave back around through each scallop to shape it then I make a half-hitch knot just after the pair of seed beads between each of the scallops. This little knot secures each scallop. What I do is weave through the 7 seed beads of a scallop and proceed through the next pair of seed beads before the next scallop (as shown in the diagram below). Using firm but not tight tension, I pull the scallop beads snug and shape them neatly. While holding the scallop beads firmly in place between my fingers, I make the knot with my other hand. Then, I continue on through the next scallop and pair of seed beads and add another knot. Don't make the knot just after the scallop. Going through those two seed beads helps keep the beads from shifting around too much while making the knot. I make a knot after every scallop on both sides of the bracelet.

In the diagram below, the 9 pink dots represent the 7 scallop seed beads plus the 2 seed beads between the scallops. The green dot is showing where to make the half-hitch knot. You really make the knot around the thread between the last pink bead and the one to the right of it. I had to place the green dot slightly out of the way so you could see the beads. It does show where you will insert your needle to start your knot.

4. After I've gone all the way around the bracelet shaping the netting and adding a knot between each scallop, I go around through the netting, and pairs of seed beads between the scallops, one more time for good measure. All of this is a bit time-consuming but I think it's worth it for a neater bracelet.

You can buy Nancy Peterson's "Canterbury Bracelet" pattern HERE.