Beads by Mail Beaded Bracelet Projects

You can create some truly outstanding designs with bead weaving. On the left is a bracelet you can do quickly. The photo on the right shows a bracelet made with the same stitch only using larger beads: aqua pillow beads, aqua big brother beads, and 5mm crystal ab machine cut faceted round beads. It works up even more quickly, and is very comfortable. You can use a chunky toggle clasp with this version.

Bead weaving is usually done with seed beads or Delica beads, tiny beads (12 or more to an inch) that take quite a while to finish. The holes are small so you need a tiny needle and very thin thread. But my eyesight requires larger beads, and I prefer projects that I can finish quickly.

On the other hand I am simply crazy about many of the fabulous artistic works done in seed beads by bead weaving artists. Just take a look on the Internet! There are hundreds of sites featuring wonderful bead woven creations.

There are two basic categories of bead weaving: loom and off-loom. I am sure you have seen beautiful beaded belts and regalia that were woven on a bead loom. I learned to do loomwork in Camp Fire Girls. I wish I still had the projects I made on my loom many years ago.

Since I learned off-loom bead weaving, I like it better. It allows me more flexibility in terms of designs, color arrangements, and shapes.

Peyote, or gourd stitch, is the most well-known off loom stitch. I finally learned to do it by starting out with larger beads so I could follow the printed charts without getting lost.

The bracelet in the photo above was made with right angle weave and embellished with additional beads sewn into the openings. Since right angle weave has a lot of open space it works up very quickly.

When I saw a right-angle weave bracelet project I decided to adapt it for larger 3mm beads without losing any of the styling interest, yet making a quicker project.

As a matter of fact, the bracelet shown above does not resemble the original that motivated me to create this project. It's my own version. The right angle weave foundation is 3mm color-lined fire polish beads. I added 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm fire polish beads after finishing the foundation. You can also attach charms or dangles to the edges of the bracelet very easily.

Whenever I attempt to learn a new bead weaving stitch, I always make the first project using larger beads. I find that I can't control the tiny seed or delica beads well enough unless I have acquired some skill with the stitch. This was my first attempt with right angle weave. It's really an easy stitch, and fun as you get into the rhythm.

This bracelet would be a wonderful Mother's Day gift in her favorite colors. It's quite stunning on any wrist.

Of course you can also make it with Delica or seed beads. It takes longer.

Instructions follow.

Woven Bracelet--Beads & Findings Needed

• 200 3mm hot pink fire polished colorlined beads. They are 50 for $3.99.
• 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm fire polish beads in sympathetic colors. We used 4mm aqua colorlined, 5mm crystal AB, and 6mm Alexandrite AB and fuchsia metallic. The largest bead to fit in the opening is 6mm. You can use any trim beads that fit.
• Needle small enough to pass through the 3mm beads several times. Due to the construction of right angle weave, the needle goes through most of the beads more than twice.
• Beading thread, Nymo or similar. You can color it to match the beads by drawing it over the tip of a magic marker.
• Optional: charms or dangles for fringe along the edge.
• Toggle clasp. We used the sterling heart and arrow, $4.99 per set.
• Scissors. Glue.

Making the Right Angle Weave Foundation, Row 1

• Step 1. Cut about a 5-foot length of thread. You want the longest thread you can work with comfortably because ending and starting new threads is unpleasant. Thread needle; do not tie a knot at end.
• Step 2. Pick up 8 of the 3mm beads. Slide them to within about 8" of the end. Tie into a tight circle with a square knot. Make sure this knot is very secure. You will use the tail to attach the clasp later.
• Step 3. Starting at the knot, pass the needle through (PT) 6 of the beads. Pick up (PU) 6 new beads. PT beads 5 and 6 of the original circle/square, with the needle pointing in the same direction as it did originally (see Figure 1). Pull very snug.
• Step 4. * Make a right-angle turn (90 degrees) and PT the 2 beads on the new circle/square immediately adjacent to where the needle came out. Make another right-angle turn and PT the next 2 beads.
• Step 5. PU 6 new beads * and repeat between * * to make a third square pattern. As you progress your circles will start to look like squares. The first few may seem misshapen. Don't worry, they will be OK.

Always pull the thread snug as you progress.

Measure your wrist to see how many inches you need. The foundation should be a bit shorter than your wrist since you will add length with the clasp. You want a snug fit. After you have made 7 or 8 patterns, you'll be able to measure their length to decide how many more you need.

Making the Right Angle Weave Foundation, Row 2

When you have enough length it is time to "turn around" and weave squares that "sit" on the original row.

• Step 1. Your needle will come out of the last 2 beads at the end of the row. Make a right-angle turn and PT the 2 beads that are at right angles to the end beads (Figure 2). PU 6 beads, PT the 2 beads you went through before picking up the new beads, and pull snug.
• Step 2. Now PT the 2 "top inside" beads on the next square. PU 4 beads, PT 2 beads on the previous square, and PT the same 2 beads on the current square, continuing to make 90 degree "turns". Continue in this pattern until you come to the end of the row.
• Step 3. Take a couple of half hitches around the threads between beads. Tie the original tail and your working thread into a secure knot.

Attach a Clasp

Try on the bracelet to make sure the length is right. If it is too short, you can easily add squares, now that you are an expert with this technique. If it is too long, fold under and sew the beads together before continuing.

If possible, thread the needle with both the tail and the working threads. If not, use your working thread to attach the heart shape of the clasp by working several passes of thread through the loop of the heart. Tie off securely. On the other end, attach your working thread by weaving through several beads. Leave a tail to be tied off later. You need to add 2 or 3 beads for "play" before adding the arrow bar, so the arrow will be easy to slip through the heart. Refer to the photo at the top. Then sew several times through the loop on the arrow and tie off securely. PT several rows of beads to "bury" the thread.

Add the Embellishments

Now you can lay the bracelet out on your work surface and make different arrangements of trim beads. We used 4mm aqua colorlined, 5mm crystal AB, 6mm metallic fuchsia fire polish, and 6mm Alexandrite AB. The largest bead to fit in the opening is 6mm. You can use any trim beads that fit. You could decorate with seed or Delica beads to get a different effect.

Try different layouts. Ours is a 4-bead pattern which just happened to fit the number of openings. You could do a chevron shape arrangement. If you get complicated, make a sketch as a guide. An excuse to buy that box of colored pencils you always wanted!

To add the trim beads you sew up one side from end to end and then reverse and sew down the other side. Details:

• Step 1. To start, thread a needle with about 3 feet of thread and PT several beads at one end to secure the new thread. Leave a tail for tying off later.
• Step 2. Go through the 2 end beads. PU a trim bead. * PT the 2 beads at the top of that square in the same direction, forming a "Z" shape stitch as shown in Figure 4. Pull thread snug. PU a trim bead. Repeat from * . At the end, make a "turn" and add trim beads to the other side in the same manner.
• Step 3. Tie off all threads and hide them as best you can.
• Step 4. Put a dab of glue on all the knots and let dry. Trim thread tails close to knots.
• Step 5. (Optional.) Add dangles or charms to the edge of the bracelet.