MINI BRIDGES BRACELET
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 11/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- 8/0 seed beads Miyuki "Light Bronze" (457L)
- Mini Silky beads "Chalk Red Luster"
- 2mm Czech pearls "Antique Ivory"
- MiniDuo beads "Ruby Luster"
In THIS post on Tuesday, I showed you some "Mini Bridges Bracelet" samples including two in this colorway. I did make some changes when I made today's bracelet. I switched from Toho seed beads to Miyuki beads and I made a small tweak to the pattern instructions so that I could do so. In the steps where you are told to pick up two 15/0 seed beads near the Mini Silky beads, I picked up three beads. Later, when adding the MiniDuos, I went through the middle bead in each trio of seed beads. Doing this created a little more space between the pearls and the Silky beads. It also allowed me to use 11/0 seed beads between the motifs even though the Miyuki seed beads are so much smaller than the recommended Toho beads.
Because you'll be using lots of tiny 2mm beads and 15/0 seed beads to make this bracelet, make sure that you use either 6 pound Fireline or Nymo B thread. You'll also need to use a size 12 beading needle. Even though I did this, I had to start over once while making this bracelet because one of the tiny pearls exploded when I tried to get my needle through it. I rarely have an issue with beads breaking so it took me by surprise when it happened.
You can buy Claire's "Mini Bridges Bracelet" HERE. When you buy this pattern, you'll also get a copy of her regular "Bridges Bracelet" pattern.
Baubles & Beads
The owners of Baubles & Beads are retiring and they're in the process of selling out their stock of beads and supplies. Everything is 50% off so click HERE for some great deals.
Claire, from Supply Emporium, has come up with a way to make her "Bridges Bracelet" with Mini Silky beads and MiniDuos. If you buy her pattern, you get both versions for one price HERE. I blogged about the original "Bridges Bracelet" HERE, HERE and HERE. I got a few colors of Mini Silky beads back when they first came out but I've been kind of stumped for ideas to make with them. Claire's bracelet is a great way to use them.
- 15/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- Mini Silky beads "Chalk Red Luster"
- 2mm Czech pearls "Antique Ivory"
- MiniDuo beads "Ruby Luster"
I made two samples in this colorway because of an issue that I ran into while making the top sample. The instructions call for 11/0 seed beads between each motif. Although you can't tell in the photo, this caused the sample to warp. I made the second sample with 15/0 beads between the motifs and that one is nice and flat. It turns out the beads you're using can make a difference. You'll just have to try it with 11/0 beads first and see how that goes. If the stitching warps, use 15/0 seed beads instead. Of my four colorway samples, I was only able to use 11/0 beads in one of them.
- 15/0 seed beads Miyuki "Hematite Green Iris aka Metallic Green" (453)
- Mini Silky beads "Green Luster"
- 2mm druks "Hematite"
- MiniDuo beads "Metallic Suede Light Green"
- 15/0 seed beads Toho "Gold Lustered Light Tanzanite" (325)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Gold Lustered Light Tanzanite" (325)
- Mini Silky beads "Purple Vega"
- 2mm fire polished beads "Iris Milky Amethyst"
- MiniDuo beads "Chalk Vega aka Amethyst Luster"
Besides the pink one above, this sample is the only other one that I used 11/0 seed beads between the motifs. I actually tried it first with 15/0 beads but it came out too wonky.
- 15/0 seed beads Toho "Nickel Plated" (711)
- Mini Silky beads "Green Turquoise"
- 2mm fire polished beads "Jet"
- MiniDuo beads "Jet"
The content of this post has been moved to my tangle blog HERE.
SEED BEAD LACY BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Bright Bronze" (221)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Bright Bronze" (221)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Matte Galvanized Peach Coral" (522PFF)
I had no trouble with the beads fitting nicely when I made my first bracelet. However, with this one, I think that the pink beads are slightly fatter than the bronze ones and they cause the inner beads to bulge out a little. I left off the picots along the outer edge this time for a different look.
Click HERE to watch the YouTube tutorial for this bracelet. Read my post about the video HERE.
I've been asked what I do differently to make this bracelet so here is a brief explanation:
1. I start by making a clasp loop and the first little "cross" of 4 yellow beads. After reinforcing this, I exit from the yellow bead farthest from the loop.
2. To make each motif, I pick up 11 yellow beads then go back around and through the bead that I started from to make a circle.
3. I weave around this circle and add picots on either side consisting of three bronze beads each. They are the bronze beads that are circled in the diagram below, NOT the picots that stick out along the outer edge. Those will be added later.
4. After
exiting from the sixth yellow bead from the one where I started the
motif, I add 3 yellow beads to form the next "cross". Every time I add
another cross, I reinforce it by weaving around it once again. I repeat
adding yellow circles with bronze picots and crosses in this manner for the length of the
bracelet.
5. When
I reach the other end of the bracelet, I add a cross and another clasp
loop. Lastly, I add bronze bead netting and picots on both sides just
like she does in the video. The only difference is that I circle back
around through each of the outer picots one more time to reinforce them
before moving on.
SEED BEAD LACY BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Antique Bronze" (223)
- 11/0 seed beads "Ivory Ceylon" (no info available)
I used Toho metallic bronze seed beads to make this bracelet but the pearly ivory beads are an unknown brand. I don't think they're Miyuki (they're too irregular) but size-wise they seem to be closer to Miyuki beads than Toho. Using slightly smaller beads for the inside color actually worked a little better than using all fat Toho beads. The beadwork seemed to be less prone to warping with smaller inside beads.
Click HERE to watch the YouTube tutorial for this bracelet. Read my post from yesterday about the video HERE.
SEED BEAD LACY BRACELET
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
- 8/0 seed beads Toho "Metallic Bronze Antique Gold" (225)
- 11/0 seed beads Toho "Permanent Finish Matte Galvanized Starlight" (557PFF)
Every Friday I browse about 150 Etsy shops and 100 YouTube channels looking for new beading patterns and tutorials. Last Friday I saw a new video for a cute bracelet made totally from seed beads. The design looks kind of like tatting but with beads. You can watch the video HERE.
Of course I had to give it a try. I made a small sample using the method described in the video but I wasn't keen on the method that she used. I was pretty sure that there was an easier way to make the design so I tried using basic Right Angle Weave and some netting and it worked perfectly. If you do follow the video tutorial, I recommend reinforcing the bracelet to give it more stability. The video doesn't call for any 8/0 seed beads but I added one on each end for attaching my clasp.
I needed about 3 yards of thread and I used all Toho seed beads to make today's bracelet. I thought that Miyuki beads might make the bracelet a little too delicate. I can't say that for sure though because I haven't tried using them with this design yet. I made two more of these bracelets and will blog about them tomorrow and on Tuesday.
