DIADEM BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Lila Vega"
- SuperDuo beads "Purple Iris Matte"
- 2mm bicones "Purple AB" (from China)
I made this pretty little bracelet and earring set from Sam Wescott's "Diadem Bracelet" pattern, which you can buy HERE in her Etsy shop. I used bicones as directed by the pattern but I also tried a few other options for accent beads for times when I don't have any matching bicones in the required size. Note that the 2mm Chinese bicones that I used are about the equivalent of 3mm Swarovski bicones. I haven't tried them but I'm pretty sure that 3mm Chinese bicones would be too large. The other things I tried in place of the bicones were some 8/0 seed beads, 2mm pearls and more of the same 11/0 seed beads that I used in the bracelet. The pearls and 11/0 seed beads worked great but I don't like how much the holes show on the 8/0 seed beads.
I changed Sam's clasp loop slightly by replacing the two center 11/0 seed beads with an 8/0 seed bead so that I could insert a jump ring for the clasp. When I went around to reinforce the loop, I popped out the 8/0 bead by skipping it the first time around.
Although Sam calls for FireLine, I used Nymo D thread and it worked just fine. You'll need about 3 yards for pretty much all bracelet sizes.
The pattern is quite easy to follow and you'll quickly get the hang of the motif after making the first one. The first one is actually a little more tricky because you don't have a complete motif to build off of.
Below are some tips that will help you get the best results:
When you make the inner circle of SuperDuo beads, be sure that you pull them snug or they might end up a little loose and have gaps where they come together in the center of the motif. In fact, make sure that you pull the beads good and tight after each step for neater results.
Also, if you're omitting the small "in-between" motif, like I did, make sure that you add the "X" of seed beads with the bracelet right side up (so that you can see the bump in the center of the Silky beads) so that the "X" will be raised up and not go underneath the motif. As you'll read in Sam's comments at the end of the pattern, you will need to alternate between going clockwise and counter-clockwise with every other motif when not adding the small motifs. It's while switching the direction that you will be working from the back of the bracelet with every other motif and should keep this tip in mind.
In Step 14, pull the 5 seed beads tight to form a little "v". This will help keep your "X" beads snug and neat.
For my earrings, I omitted the bicones and replaced them with 11/0 seed beads. I also added an 8/0 seed bead at the top for a jump ring and added an 11/0 seed bead at the bottom to create a point. I added the extra 11/0 bead after creating the initial ring of beads. I added it while going around the perimeter again to reinforce the earring.
Below are some samples that I made before making my final bracelet. I bought all of the Silky beads from Aria Design Studio. Lisa has the best selection of colors that I've seen online.
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads "Light Purple" (410C - no other info available)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Lila Vega"
- SuperDuo beads "Purple Iris Matte"
- 2mm bicones "Purple AB" (from China)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Lazure Blue"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Olive Copper Picasso"
- 2mm bicones "Taupe" (Chinavoski)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Silver Lined Milky Montana Blue" (8-2102PF)
- Silky Beads "Alabaster Blue Luster"
- SuperDuo beads "Chocolate Bronze"
- 2mm pearls "Bronze Satin" (Aria Design Studio)
I love these. Where do you find the silky beads? I have never seen them before. Rhonda Williams
ReplyDeletewinterroad3@aol.com. I am subscribed but the messages will not send so I am trying to get my message in this way.Thanks.
Rhonda, there's a link to Aria Design Studio in my above post. Look just above the sample bracelets.
DeleteI love the idea of using an 8/0 to attach a jump ring. Please share which size jump ring works best for this. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMost of the time I use 4mm jump rings but it also depends on the bracelet and also how thick the clasp is. If it's a large, chunky style bracelet or the loop of my clasp is too fat to fit on a 4mm ring, I will use 6mm rings. Those are a bit hard to find though but I just recently bought a huge stash of them in various colors from THIS eBay shop.
DeleteThank you for the info. Wow, small world--that is the same vendor on Ebay that I was waiting to order from. I have ordered her ear hooks in Champagne gold--they are the best color match to the dark bronze and lighter bronze seed beads and are also Nickel-free. Now I can order the matching jump rings!
ReplyDeleteAll of your samples are beautiful! I especially like the Silky earrings.
ReplyDeleteI ordered some clear Silkys because I didn't know what pattern I was going to use, and I haven't used them yet, they have no personality! Now I want some of these beautiful colors.
I tend to avoid buying the clear or translucent versions of beads such as these because they are trickier to work with color-wise. The thread tends to show more and the colors can look dark and dull against my skin. However, I'm sure that you'll come up with something pretty to make with yours. Every now and then I come up with a color combo using transparent or translucent beads that I really love.
DeleteHi, Linda
ReplyDeleteI love your work. Where do you purchase your miyuki 11/0 dark bronze seed beads from?
I follow your boards on pinterest.
Thanks, Linda M.
Hi Linda. I buy my bronze seed beads from Charlene's Beads. The link will take you directly to the Metallic page. Charlene has the best prices on "metal" seed beads. A large tube 11/0 Dark Bronze is $5.00 from Charlene and they're at least $15.00 for the same size tube at the local shop. Even with shipping they're a bargain.
DeleteI love this style! How would you adjust it for a necklace, I like sets!! Love all your colorways!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I don't have much experience making necklaces but I think you'd have to add some kind of extra motif between the Silky ones to help it curve. Or, maybe use jump rings between the motifs.
DeleteHermoso
ReplyDelete