Tag: patterns

Three-strand necklace

Another in the series of beading patterns from my distant past.

black/white necklace

This necklace was devised to use some large, colorful, gold-streaked beads I had acquired via a yard sale necklace. The original necklace had them all together, separated by small gold beads if I remember rightly, giving it a loud ’80s vibe. This necklace displays a single large bead against a much more subdued background. With these beads the shortest strand is approximately 16 1/2 inches long.

To make your own:

Materials:
1 centerpiece bead (15mm in sample)
158 small round beads (4mm)
48 large round beads (6mm)
108 large rocailles (2mm)
clasp
about 54″ beading thread

Continue reading Three-strand necklace

Koala vault

I’ve been designing my own cross-stitch patterns almost as long as I’ve been cross-stitching. The oldest one that still exists is of a koala on a tree.

koala pattern koala legend

I stitched it up again this week, though I made a counting mistake (per usual) and used three strands for everything including backstitch, which was also a mistake.

koala almost done koala done

What a difference a face makes! I wasn’t sure whether the eyes and nose were to be outlined in tan or black, nor whether the box around the pattern was backstitched or not, since it was not explicitly addressed in the backstitch color instructions and I didn’t see a clear inference to be made. The non-mouth facial features were probably intended to be outlined in tan, upon reflection, although that would make the mouth stand out a lot. As it is, though, he kind of looks like he’s wearing thick-rimmed glasses with an attached nose and mustache.

Why I thought a koala should be tan, however, is one question that cannot be answered.

Self-fastener necklace

Once upon a time (high school, and to some extent college) my main craft was beading. Now that I rarely wear jewelry and have plenty of beloved pieces for the occasions on which I do, there is less pull to it, though I have been known to use beading to accent crafts in other media. I’d like to start sharing my beading patterns gradually; I was pleased to discover I was substantially more obsessive in writing notes at the time than I am now!

straw/brown necklace

I love the colors of this necklace and still have it, despite the fact that it doesn’t really coordinate with anything in my wardrobe. I was experimenting with beaded closures at the time. This is approximately 19 inches long.

Materials:
at least 45″ beading thread
appx 2 grams rocaille beads, background color (dark coppery brown in sample)
9 8mm facet beads, color A (rusty brown in sample)
3 8mm facet beads, color B (straw gold in sample)
4 6mm facet beads, color A
9 6mm facet beads, color B

To make loop of closure, string 20 rocaille beads and feed thread through them a second time so they form a loop, centered on the thread, with both ends of thread emerging between the same two beads. String the rest of the necklace on both strands, as follows:
3 7/8″ (9.9cm) rocailles
*8mm color A, rocaille, 6mm color B, 3 rocailles*, repeat *…* for a total of four pairs of facet beads
22 rocailles (in addition to the final 3 above)
*6mm color A, rocaille, 8mm color B, rocaille*, repeat *…* for a total of three pairs of facet beads
6mm color A
25 rocailles
*6mm color B, rocaille, 8mm color A, 3 rocailles*, repeat *…* for a total of three pairs of facet beads
add rocailles so with the final 3 above the line measures 3 7/8″ (9.9cm)

With a single strand, string 6mm color B, rocaille, 8mm color A, rocaille. Skipping final rocaille, thread back through previous three beads to meet unused strand. Knot together and run back through final rocaille line. Trim.