Free beading Pattern: XOXO Band

 XOXO BAND
(©2023 Deborah Roberti)

Use size 8/0 and 11/0 Miyuki seed beads and 6mm round beads for this simple love band.

MATERIALS
(For about a 7-inch bracelet, not including clasp)
• About 4 yards of 6 lb. FireLine
• About 325 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads
• About 90 size 8/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads
• About 10 size 6mm round beads

Step 1: Thread your needle with a length of FireLine that you feel comfortable working with and add more as you need it.

Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching one end of your clasp, string an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Tie the beads together with a tight double knot:

Step 2: Go back around through seed beads that you just added:

Step 3: Go back around through 8/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 4: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead below and across through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

NOTE: When you add the 8/0 seed bead in this step and subsequent steps like it, use your fingers to push the new 8/0 seed bead toward the existing 8/0 seed bead so that the two 8/0 seed beads are somewhat stacked next to one another and pull your thread tight to keep them in this position as much as possible. This will give you a nice “x” formation when you are fished with the motif.

Step 5: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead below and down through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 6: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead above and up through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 7: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead above and up through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 8: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 9: String an 11/0 seed bead, a 6mm round bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go around and back across through the five 11/0 seed beads that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go back around through the 11/0 seed bead and 6mm round bead that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 11: String seven 11/0 seed beads. Go around and back through the 6mm round bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 12: Go back around through the seven 11/0 seed beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 13: String two 11/0 seed beads. Go around through the seven seed beads below the 6mm round bead (highlighted in RED) so that the two 11/0 seed beads sit between the top and bottom sets of seven 11/0 seed beads:

Step 14: String two 11/0 seed beads. Go up through the four 11/0 seed beads above (highlighted in RED) so that the two 11/0 seed beads sit between the top and bottom sets of seven 11/0 seed beads:

You should now have eighteen 11/0 seed beads around the 6mm round bead.

Step 15: Go back around through these eighteen 11/0 seed beads that surround the 6mm round bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 16: String an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead and an 8/0 seed bead.

Go around and back across through the 11/0 seed bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 17: Go back around through the seed beads that you just added in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 18: Go down through the two 11/0 seed beads along the top left side of the 6mm round bead below (highlighted in RED):

Step 19: String an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead above and up through the bottom 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

NOTE: Again, when you add the 8/0 seed bead in this step and subsequent steps like it, use your fingers to push the new 8/0 seed bead toward the existing 8/0 seed bead so that the two 8/0 seed beads are somewhat stacked next to one another and pull your thread tight to keep them in this position as much as possible.

Step 20: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead below and across through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 21: String two 11/0 seed beads, an 8/0 seed bead and two 11/0 seed beads.

Go around (but not through) the 8/0 seed bead below and down through the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 22: String two 11/0 seed beads and an 8/0 seed bead.

Go up through the three 11/0 seed beads along the top right side of the 6mm round bead below (highlighted in RED):

Step 23: Continue up and around through the beads highlighted in RED to exit from the top right 11/0 seed bead:

Step 24: Flip the band over horizontally so that you are now exiting from the left side and can follow the repeat instructions as written:

Step 25: Repeat Step 9 to Step 24 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus the length of your clasp and about a half-inch:

NOTE: You can add more beads when you attach the clasp to make your bracelet longer.

Step 26: String two 11/0 seed beads and an 8/0 seed bead.

Go around through the clasp end and then back through the 8/0 seed bead that you just added:

NOTE: To make your band longer, just add more beads than directed in this step and the next.

Step 27: String two more 11/0 seed beads and go back around through the five 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 28: Go back around through the seed beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave back into the band, knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 29: To attach the clasp to the other side of your band, thread your needle with the thread tail from Step 1.

Weave your way up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Repeat Steps 26 to 28.

Beads used in the photo above:

Red/White/Gold version:
• About 325 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold Rocailles
• About 90 size 8/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #304 Garnet Gold Luster
• About 10 size 6mm round beads: Sueded Gold Crystal (getting hard to find) or Pearl Shell Cloud

Turquoise/Bronze version:
• About 325 size 11/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #457L M Light Bronze Rocailles
• About 90 size 8/0 Miyuki “rocaille” seed beads: Miyuki #4514 Picasso Opaque Seafoam Green
• About 10 size 6mm round beads: Luster Turquoise

Free bead pattern: Alchemy Bracelet & Earrings

 

Alchemy Bracelet & Earrings
(©2022 Deborah Roberti)

Use size 11/0 Miyuki seed beads, 3mm beads (round or fire-polished), 6mm round beads and most any two-hole beads (including Beadsmith Cymbal Connector beads) to make this versatile bracelet and matching earrings.

MATERIALS
Bracelet
(For about a 6.75 to 7-inch bracelet, not including clasp—length will vary depending on the two-hole beads you use.)
• About 2-3 yards of 6 lb. FireLine
• About 100-150 Miyuki “rocaille” size 11/0 seed beads
• About 36-42 size 3mm beads (fire-polished or round beads)
• About 6-7 size 6mm round beads
• About 5-6 two-hole beads (You can use most any two-hole beads, including Beadsmith Cymbal Connector beads, and the bigger the better, I find.)
• Clasp

Earrings
• About 4 feet of 6 lb. FireLine
• About 40 Miyuki “rocaille” size 11/0 seed beads
• About 12 size 3mm beads (fire-polished or round beads)
• Two size 6mm round beads
• Two drop beads of your choice in type and size (You can also use more 6mm beads, bicones, stacks of smaller beads—the sky’s the limit!)
• Two 3-4mm closed (soldered) jump rings or Two Beadsmith Bead Ending Cymbal Elements (I used the Beadsmith Remata Bead Ending Cymbal Elements in my samples but many others will also work.)
• A pair of earring findings

Step 1: Thread your needle with a length of FireLine that you feel comfortable working with and add more as you need it.

Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching your clasp, string seven seed beads and a 6mm bead. Tie the beads together with a tight double knot:

Step 2: Go back across through the 6mm bead that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 3: String seven seed beads. Go around and back across through the 6mm bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 4: Go back around through the seven seed beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 5: String a 3mm bead.

Go around through the seven seed beads beneath the 6mm bead (highlighted in RED) so that the 3mm bead sits between the top and bottom sets of seven seed beads:

Step 6: String another 3mm bead. Go back around through the seven seed beads above the 6mm bead (highlighted in RED) so that the 3mm bead sits between the top and bottom sets of seven seed beads:

Step 7: Go back around through the seed beads and 3mm beads highlighted in RED:

Step 8: String a 3mm bead and a seed bead. Go up through the left hole of a two-hole bead.

String a seed bead, a 3mm bead, a seed bead, a 3mm bead and a seed bead. Go around and down through the right hole of this same two-hole bead.

String a seed bead and a 3mm bead. Go across through the seed bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 9: Go back around through the beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go back up through the 3mm bead, the seed bead, the left hole of the two-hole bead, the seed bead, the 3mm bead and the seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 11: String three seed beads, a 6mm bead and three more seed beads.

Go around and back across through the seed bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 12: Go back around through the three seed beads and 6mm bead that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 13: String seven seed beads. Go around and back across through the 6mm bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 14: Go back around through the seven seed beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 15: String a 3mm bead. Go around through the seven seed beads beneath the 6mm bead (highlighted in RED) so that the 3mm bead sits between the top and bottom sets of seven seed beads:

Step 16: String another 3mm bead. Go back up through the four seed beads highlighted in RED so that the 3mm bead sits between the top and bottom sets of seven seed beads:

Step 17: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 18: Flip the bracelet over horizontally so that you are exiting from the left side of the top seed bead instead of the right side to continue to follow the directions as written and illustrated:

NOTE: When you add the two-hole beads, many of which have a front and back side, in subsequent repeats of Step 8 to 18, make sure that they are all facing in the same direction.

Step 19: Repeat Step 8 to Step 18 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus the length of your clasp and about a half-inch:

NOTE: You can add more beads when you attach the clasp to make your bracelet longer.

Step 20: To attach your clasp, string a 3mm bead and two seed beads. Go through your clasp and back down through the last seed bead that you just strung:

NOTE: To make your bracelet longer, just add more beads than directed in this step and the next.

Step 21: String a seed bead and a 3mm bead. Go back across through the seed bead at the top of the bracelet that you exited earlier (highlighted in RED):

Step 22: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave into the bracelet, knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 23: To attach the clasp to the other end of your bracelet, thread your needle with the tail thread from Step 1.

Go up through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:

Repeat Steps 20-22.

Alchemy Earrings

 

Step 1: Thread your needle with about two feet of FireLine.

Leaving about a 6-inch tail that you can cut and weave in later, string seven seed beads and a 6mm bead. Tie the beads together with a tight double knot:

Step 2: Go back across through the 6mm bead that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 3: String seven seed beads. Go around and back across through the 6mm bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 4: Go back around through the seven seed beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):

Step 5: String a 3mm bead. Go around through the seven seed beads beneath the 6mm bead (highlighted in RED) so that the 3mm bead sits between the top and bottom sets of seven seed beads:

Step 6: String another 3mm bead. Go back around through the seven seed beads above the 6mm bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 7: Go back around through the seed beads and 3mm beads highlighted in RED:

Step 8: String a 3mm bead, two seed beads and a 3mm bead.

Go around and down through the three seed beads, the 3mm bead and the three seed beads along the left side of the earring (highlighted in RED):

Step 9: String a 3mm bead, two seed beads and a 3mm bead.

Go around and up through the three seed beads, the 3mm bead, the three seed beads, the 3mm bead and the seed bead along the right side of the earring (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: String a seed bead, go through your jump ring and then back down through the same seed bead that you just strung.

Continue down through the seed bead, the 3mm bead, the three seed beads, the 3mm bead, the three seed beads, the 3mm bead and the seed bead along the left side of the earring (highlighted in RED):

OPTIONAL: Instead of using a jump ring, you can use a Beadsmith Bead Ending Cymbal Element.

I used a Remata Cymbal for my samples but many other Bead Ending Cymbal Elements will work in much the same fashion.

Go through the bottom hole of your Cymbal. Continue back down through the beads highlighted in RED:

Step 11: To add a drop bead, string a seed bead, your drop bead and three more seed beads:

NOTE: You can also use more 6mm beads, bicones or stacks of smaller beads as drop beads—the sky’s the limit!

Step 12: Go around and back up through the drop bead, the two seed beads, the 3mm bead and the three seed beads above (highlighted in RED) so that the three seed beads that you added in the last step form a seed bead picot below the drop bead. You may have to position the seed beads into place with your fingers:

Step 13: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and your jump ring/Cymbal Element:

Weave back into the earring, knot and cut your thread. Attach your earring finding to the jump ring/ Cymbal Element.