- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Antique Silver-Nickel" (464A)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Antique Silver-Nickel" (464A)
- Silky beads "Oil Rubbed Light Sapphire"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet White Luster"
As I mentioned a few days ago, I went ahead and made a pair of these earrings for myself to go with the Silky Stacker bracelet that I blogged about HERE. I had used "pewter" seed beads to make the sample earrings that I blogged about HERE but my bracelet has the shiny "Antique Silver" seed beads. Although I like the smooth, rounded look that I got with the pewter beads, I think these turned out quite nice too. I also used violet SuperDuo beads this time because that's what I used in the bracelet.
Below are the links to the patterns that I used. Both are from Deborah Roberti.
Silky Squares Earrings
Silky Stacker
I got the Silky beads from GC Supplies Texas on Etsy, HERE.
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Transparent Montana Gold Luster" (204)
- Silky beads "Ivory Copper"
- SuperDuo beads "Crystal Bronze Copper"
Here is one more Silky Stacker made with Deborah Roberti's free pattern. You can download the PDF file HERE. I also made a pair of matching earrings using my free Silky Deco Earrings pattern, which you can download HERE.
The pale, coppery bronze seed beads that I used are kind of unusual. I first saw them in a free seed bead mix sample that I received with an order from Artbeads.com. I really liked that color so I asked them what they were so that I could buy some. They wouldn't tell me but I accidentally got a clue one day when I held them up to a bright light. I discovered that they're actually transparent blue (Montana) beads with a bronze luster coating on them. They really look metallic in normal light. I managed to track down some 8/0 and 11/0 beads in that color but I still need to find them in 15/0. I got the 8/0's from Artbeads and the 11/0's from Aura Crystals. Charlene's Beads also has them in 11/0 on THIS page. She calls them "Bronze Mint - 11-319O" with a note that they're actually Toho #204.
PEYOTE FAN EARRINGS
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Cassiopeia" (708)
- 5mm brass corrugated beads (Hobby Lobby)
I made some minor changes to the final version of this pattern since I last blogged about these earrings. I decided that I preferred not to have the accent color beads go all the way to the edge of the earring. So, I add 8/0 main color seed beads on the outer edge of each of the accent color rows and they form an outline or border around the accent color. I also moved the accent color rows up to the top of the 8/0 bead rows and I add two rows of the color rather than just one. Of course you can alter the placement of the beads as you like.
It does make a difference in the outcome if you use Fireline rather than Nymo B thread. Both will work but Nymo B doesn't give the work enough structure. You'll get tighter stitching if you use Fireline and the earrings will be firmer and not as soft and flexible as with Nymo B thread.
I'm trying something a little different with this pattern. Because there are nine pages of step-by-step photos in the illustrated PDF file, I'm making a 2-page text version available as well. If you have a tablet or Kindle-type device, you could view the photo version on that and print out the text version. It's up to you how you'd like to view the pattern but this gives you the option of saving on paper and ink. Feel free to download either or both versions.
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Light Pewter" (4221)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Light Pewter" (4221)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Light Pewter" (4221)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Higher Metallic Matte Blue Haze" (512F)
- 4mm round crystals "Sage AB" (Chinavoski)
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Opaque Avocado Pink Marbled" (1209)
- 4mm druks "Opaque Sky Blue Picasso"
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Matte Silver Lined Pale Rose" (23F)
- 4mm bicones "Pale Bittersweet" (Chinavoski)
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- 8/0 seed beads Matsuno "Avocado Iris" (F460V)
- 4mm antique brass beads (Hobby Lobby)
Click HERE to download the illustrated version of the pattern
Click HERE to download the text version of the pattern
If you like this tutorial, 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 patterns in a class.
TIP: I mentioned in the tutorial that it may be necessary to take some shortcuts when you reach the point where it's too hard to get your needle through the beads at the top of the earring. However, I don't tell you exactly where to take the shortcuts because there is no right or wrong way to do it. I just try to find a spot that will allow me to loop back around through the seed beads so that the thread doesn't show. Below is an example showing how I would take a shortcut to weave around and reverse direction to start adding the next row of beads.
At the stage that you see in the photo, I
had just added the second row of pink 8/0 seed beads along the edge and
then I had gone up and around through the 8/0 bead, the metal bicone and
the other 8/0 bead at the top. Pretend that my thread is coming out of
the 8/0 seed bead just after the bicone and I have already gone down
through all of those bronze beads on the outer edge just before the pink
beads. I had added the second row of pink beads and was just coming up
through the two 8/0 bronze beads on the right hand side. Instead of
continuing up through the rest of the outer beads and going up around
through the top of the earring again, I would come out of the 11/0 bead
just above the second 8/0 bronze bead on the outside edge. Then, I would
go to the left of that 11/0 bead and down through the 15/0 bead next to
it. I then would double back over to the outer row and down through the
8/0 bead just below the 11/0 where I originally came out. From there I
can continue on through the second 8/0 bronze bead and then start adding
the beads that will make the next row.
I find that if I do this carefully enough, it doesn't matter which side of the earring I take the shortcut from because the thread is well hidden between the beads. Because the beads are stacked like bricks with peyote stitch, it's quite easy to hide the thread in this manner.
So, don't struggle to get your needle through those tight spots at the top because it's not necessary once you've got enough of a foundation of beads to weave around through. I generally don't start taking shortcuts until I've reached about this point in the tutorial. I've never had trouble getting through the top beads every time until I've added at least one row of 8/0 beads when I use 6 pound FireLine. If you've got 4 pound FireLine, you might even be able to go around the top beads a few more times but there's no sense in doing that when taking a shortcut is easier and saves thread too.
I blogged about this pattern once before HERE. This time I made them with a pretty Silky bead color called "Oil Rubbed Light Sapphire" which I bought HERE at GC Supplies Texas on Etsy. I used pewter colored SuperDuo beads in the sample on the left and very dark purple ones in the sample on the right. I can't decide which is my favorite combo.
Or, I could make a pair to go with this Silky Stacker bracelet which I blogged about HERE.
I hadn't made that bracelet yet when I made these samples so I hadn't thought of trying that color combination. I used different silver seed beads, and some pale violet SuperDuos in that bracelet.
The Silky Squares pattern, which also includes a bracelet, is from Deb Roberti and you can buy it HERE.
Left Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
- Silky beads "Oil Rubbed Light Sapphire"
- SuperDuo beads "Pearl Luster"
Right Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Duracoat Galvanized Pewter" (D4222)
- Silky beads "Oil Rubbed Light Sapphire"
- SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede Dark Purple"
Although I haven't tried the bracelet pattern yet, I did make samples of the matching earrings in four different color combinations. I used two Silky bead colors and varied the other beads that I used with each of them. The pattern is for sale at Around the Beading Table HERE. My favorite in each photo is the earring sample on the right.
Left Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Senegal"
- 3mm fire polished beads "Rosaline Moon Dust"
Right Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Senegal"
- 3mm druks "Opaque Luster Gold Smoky Topaz"
Left Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- Silky beads "Garden Fire Picasso"
- 3mm druks "Jet Copper Picasso"
Right Earring:
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- Silky beads "Garden Fire Picasso"
- 3mm druks "Jet Copper Picasso"
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Iris" (83)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Olivine" (458)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Lazure Blue"
- SuperDuo beads "Metallic Suede"
This is another bracelet made with the free pattern from Deborah Roberti. You can download the PDF file HERE. This is one of my favorites of the five that I've made. The odd thing is that each of the other four fit me perfectly with nine Silky beads but this one came out much too long. I'll eventually remake it with one less Silky bead and add some extra jump rings if necessary.
The SuperDuos that I used are an unusual "Metallic Suede" color that I found at Beadoholique, which is a local bead shop. The label just said "Metallic Suede" with no color mentioned. The color is very similar to "Suede Gold" but it's quite a bit darker. It's also a lot lighter than the color called "Suede Dark Green". It could just be a different dye lot of the gold ones but I can't say for sure. I'm pretty sure that the shop also had some of the gold ones what were labeled "Suede Gold".
Making this bracelet was the first time I got to use the Toho "Metallic Bronze Iris" seed beads that I bought recently. I didn't realize until I got them in the mail that they're almost the same color as Miyuki's "Olivine". They are a little different though. Olivine has a lot more color variations and more purple beads in the mix. The Toho version is a lot more brownish bronze and the beads seem a little larger than Miyuki's. I like these Toho beads better. They also have some purplish beads in their mix but it's a much more subtle color that blends in better with the brown/bronze beads. When I ordered them from Aura Crystals, they didn't have any in 8/0 but the Olivine color is close enough that the difference isn't noticeable in this bracelet.
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Brown Bronze Matte" (457P)
- Silky beads "Garden Fire Picasso"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Olive Copper Picasso"
This is a free pattern from Deborah Roberti. Download the PDF file HERE at Around the Beading Table.
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Antique Silver-Nickel" (464A)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Antique Silver-Nickel" (464A)
- Silky beads "Oil Rubbed Light Sapphire"
- SuperDuo beads "Opaque Violet White Luster"
Another "Silky Stacker" and it's a free pattern from Deborah Roberti. You can download the PDF file HERE. I'm wearing this bracelet today and the Silky beads don't seem as transparent when they're against my wrist and the light isn't going through them like it was in the photo. I bought them from GCSupplies Texas on Etsy HERE.
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Metallic Chocolate" (461)
- 8/0 seed beads "Chocolate" (no info available)
- Silky beads "Deep Amethyst Copper"
- SuperDuo beads "Jet Vega"
This is a free pattern from Deborah Roberti and you can download the PDF file HERE.
SILKY STACKER
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- Silky beads "Alabaster Senegal"
- SuperDuo beads "Crystal Gold Luster"
This lovely little bracelet is a free pattern from Deborah Roberti and you can download the PDF file HERE. This is one of my favorite Silky bead patterns. It's simple yet very pretty. I've got four more "Silky Stackers" to post over the next few days.
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Inside-Color Montana Blue/Oxblood Lined" (363)
- 4mm round crystals "Dark Wine" (Chinavoski)
Don't be fooled by the name of this pattern. It's not implying that this is a cheap-looking bracelet. It's called that because of a blog article by Sandra Halpenny, which you can read HERE. The subject of her article is to show that it is possible to get started with beading by buying inexpensive supplies at discount stores. To prove her point, she made this bracelet using beads that she bought at Walmart. At the end of the article she posts the tutorial for making this bracelet. I used slightly higher quality beads to make mine. I used top-quality Japanese seed beads but the crystals I used are cheap ones from China.
You'll get much neater results using Toho or Miyuki seed beads than you'd get with Chinese seed beads. I also found that the kind of thread that I used made a big difference. Sandra recommends FireLine but I haven't tried it with this pattern. When I made my first bracelet (the maroon one) I used Nymo B thread because I knew I'd have to go through the beads a number of times. That was a big mistake. The fine thread didn't give the netting enough structure and it came out all wavy and ruffled. It's not as obvious in my photos as it is in reality but it looks very bad. When I made my second bracelet (the green one), I used regular Nymo D thread and the netting came out perfect and the bracelet is nice and flat. Since I haven't tried FireLine, so I could be wrong, I suspect it might also be too fine for this pattern. Sandra mentions buying 8lb FireLine at Walmart but she doesn't say if that's what she used in the bracelet in her photo or not. That's thicker than the standard 6lb which might explain why her netting looks neat and flat.
If you look carefully at the tutorial on Sandra's blog, you'll notice that she says nothing about finishing off the ends of the bracelet or how to attach a clasp. I just used my typical method of making a loop with an 8/0 seed bead for a jump ring and it worked quite well.
UPDATE 9/14/17: I just discovered that Sandy has moved this pattern to THIS page. She also changed the name to "Small Wave Bracelet". The tutorial on her blog is still free. If you'd like a PDF version, she has a link that will take you to the site where you can buy a copy for 99-cents.
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Dark Bronze" (457D)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Dark Chocolate Bronze Gold Luster" (422)
- 4mm round crystals "Sage Green AB" (Chinavoski)
