Beading Instructions: 5 Free
Beading Instructions: 5 Free
Beading Instructions: 5 Free
from
5 Free
5 FREE
2 4
4 5
Trs Turquoise
MARLENE BLESSING
Sweet Spring
MELINDA BARTA
5 FREE
1 Sorbet in August 2 Gothic Arabesque 3 Eye on Midnight 4 Trs Turquoise 5 Sweet Spring
Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE 6
Contents
iii
SORBET IN AUGUST
Michelle Mach
Lava beads are made of natural rock and have a great earthy appealwhats more, theyre lightweight for easy wearability.
MATERIALS
2 olive 1517mm lampworked off-round coins 1 rose 1517mm lampworked off-round coin 1 mustard 1517mm lampworked off-round coin 1 brown 1517mm lampworked off-round coin 13 multicolored 4mm moukite rounds 6 imitation black jade 4mm rounds 56 black 6mm lava rock irregular rounds 1 black onyx 15mm toggle clasp 2 black 2mm crimp tubes 21" of black .015 beading wire
TOOLS
Wire cutters Crimping pliers
TIP
Because the lava rocks are unevenly shaped, you may need to sort your beads for uniform size before you begin stringing them.
1: Use the beading wire to string 1 crimp tube and the bar half of the
clasp; pass back through the tube and crimp.
Resources: Contact your local bead shop or contact FusionBeads.com, (888) 781-3559 or: Lampworked coins: zBeadz .com. Lava rock: Alley Cat Beads, (303) 451-1900, www.alleycatbeads.com. Beading wire: Artbeads.com, (866) 715-2323. All other beads and findings: Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, (800) 355-2137, www.firemountaingems.com.
Originally published in Stringing, Summer 2009 2010 Interweave. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
page 1
MATERIALS
32 light amethyst 4mm crystal bicones 27 burgundy 4mm crystal pearl rounds 186 medium amethyst 4mm fire-polished rounds 9 jet 5mm pressed-glass cubes 16 light amethyst 65mm fire-polished cathedral beads 1 purple 4754mm etched shell pendant 32 gold-filled 3mm rounds 1 gold vermeil 1030mm 3-strand hook-and-eye clasp 1 gold-filled 7mm jump ring 6 gold-filled 2mm crimp tubes 6 gold-filled 3mm crimp covers 53 12" of .014 beading wire
The sophisticated colors in the beautiful etched shell pendant were the inspiration for this three-strand necklace. Its subtle enough to wear to the office and elegant enough for a night out.
GOTHIC ARABESQUE
SaraBeth Cullinan
TOOLS
Wire cutters Crimping pliers Chain-nose pliers
(SHORTEST STRAND)
Attach 16" of beading wire to the top loop of one half of the clasp using a crimp tube. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. String 11 fire-polished rounds, 1 gold-filled round, 1 bicone, 1 pearl, 1 bicone, and 1 gold round five times. String 11 fire-polished rounds, 1 crimp tube, and the top loop of the other half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube; crimp and cover. 2: Attach 1712" of wire to the middle loop of one half of the clasp using a crimp tube. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. *String 11 fire-polished rounds, 1 gold round, 1 bicone, 1 pearl, 1 cube, 1 pearl, 1 bicone, 1 gold round, 11 fire-polished rounds,* 1 gold round, 1 bicone, 1 pearl, 1 cathedral bead, 1 pearl, 1 bicone, and 1 gold round twice. Repeat from * to *. String 1 crimp tube and the middle loop of the other half of the clasp. Pass back through the tube; crimp and cover. 3: Attach 20" of wire to the bottom loop of one half of the clasp using a crimp tube. Cover the tube with a crimp cover. String 9 fire-polished rounds, 1 gold round, 1 bicone, 1 pearl, 1 cathedral bead, 1 cube, 1 cathedral bead, 1 pearl, 1 bicone, and 1 gold round three times. 4: String 1 cathedral bead. Attach the jump ring to the pendant, then string the jump ring and 1 cathedral bead. Repeat Step 3, reversing the stringing sequence and attaching the wire to the bottom loop of the other half of the clasp.
1:
Resources: Contact your local bead shop or contact FusionBeads.com, (888) 781-3559 or: Shell pendant: Lillypilly Designs, (303) 543-8673, www.lillypillydesigns.com. Vermeil clasp, gold-filled rounds, and jump ring: Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, (800) 355-2137, www.firemountaingems.com. All fire-polished and pressed-glass beads: Shipwreck Beads, (800) 950-4232, www.shipwreckbeads.com.
Originally published in Stringing, Winter 2007 2010 Interweave. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
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EYE ON MIDNIGHT
Sharon Borsavage
This cool, contemporary necklace owes its drama to a striking combination of black, yellow, and turquoise beads.
MATERIALS
6 hematite size 8 seed beads 4 gold 103mm lampworked discs 2 matte black 1410mm lampworked rondelles 1 black-and-cream 1813mm bumpy lampworked rondelle 14 hematite 4mm rounds 36 hematite 6mm rounds 2 turquoise 94mm faceted rondelles 1 sterling silver 1456mm hook-and-eye clasp 8 Thai silver 42mm dotted spacers 2 sterling silver 2mm crimp tubes 2 sterling silver 3mm crimp covers 20" of .018 beading wire
TOOLS
Wire cutters Crimping pliers
F I N I S H E D S I Z E : 1 5 1 2"
1: Use the beading wire to string 1 crimp tube and one half of the clasp; pass
back through the tube and crimp. Cover the crimp tube with 1 crimp cover. String 5 hematite 4mm rounds, 1 spacer, 2 hematite 4mm rounds, and 3 hematite 6mm rounds. String {1 spacer and 5 hematite 6mm rounds} three times. String 1 turquoise rondelle, 1 gold disc, 1 seed bead, 1 black rondelle, 1 seed bead, 1 gold disc, and 1 seed bead. 2: String the black-and-cream bumpy rondelle. Repeat Step 1, reversing the stringing sequence and attaching the wire to the other half of the clasp.
Resources: Contact your local bead shop or contact FusionBeads.com (888) 781-3559 or: Turquoise and lampworked beads: Jatayu, (888) 350-6481, www.conniefox.com. Hematite: Beadweavers, (570) 714-6700, www.beadweaver.com. Spacers: Silver in Style, (914) 573-9254, www.silverinstyleusa.com. Similar clasp (this one was handmade by the designer), wire, and findings: Rio Grande, (800) 545-6566, www.riogrande.com.
Originally published in Stringing, Fall 2009 2010 Interweave. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
page 3
Turquoise nuggets that increase in size toward the center of the necklace help spotlight the dramatic toggle clasp and cross pendant.
TRS TURQUOISE
Marlene Blessing
MATERIALS
2 turquoise 4mm rounds 18 turquoise 18351318mm graduated nuggets 6 copper 79mm top-drilled teardrop pearls 1 sterling silver 3860mm cross pendant 1 sterling silver 40mm decorative toggle clasp 3 sterling silver 10mm jump rings 2 sterling silver 2mm crimp tubes 20" of .018 beading wire
TOOLS
2 pairs of flat-nose pliers Wire cutters Crimping pliers
1: Attach the beading wire to the ring half of the clasp using
a crimp tube. Set aside 4 medium-size nuggets. String the 14 remaining nuggets, from largest to smallest. String {1 pearl, 1 medium nugget, 2 pearls, and 1 medium nugget} twice. String the turquoise rounds, 1 crimp tube, and the bar half of the clasp; pass back through the tube and crimp. 2: Attach 1 jump ring to the ring half of the clasp. Attach 1 jump ring to the previous jump ring. Use the remaining jump ring to attach the cross pendant to the previous jump ring.
Resources: Contact your local bead shop or contact FusionBeads.com, (888) 781-3559 or: Turquoise and pearls: Zeka Beads, (512) 206-0542, www.zekabeads.com. Clasp and pendant: Cathy Dailey, (407) 629-2721, www.cathydailey.com. Snapeez jump rings: Via Murano, (877) 842-6872, www.viamurano.com.
Originally published in Stringing, Spring 2008 2010 Interweave. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
page 4
SWEET SPRING
Melinda Barta
Small vintage Lucite flowers make for sweet bead caps. When stringing, make sure that the front sides of two flowers cup the larger round bead between them.
MATERIALS
14 peridot/bronze luster 64mm faceted pressed-glass rondelles 4 mottled green/brown 8mm cathedral beads 3 aquamarine/light olive celisan 128mm pressed-glass bell flowers 30 dusty teal 144mm vintage Lucite flowers 17 striped cream 12mm vintage Lucite rounds 1 gold-plated 16mm checkered round box clasp 3 gold-filled 1 12" head pins 2 gold-filled 2mm crimp tubes 2 gold-filled 3mm crimp covers 18 12" of .019 beading wire
Resources: Contact your local bead shop or contact FusionBeads.com, (888) 781-3559 or: Cathedral beads: Ravens Journey International, www.theravenstore.com. All other beads and clasp: The Beadin Path, (877) 92-BEADS, www.beadinpath.com.
Originally published in Stringing, Spring 2008 2010 Interweave. Not to be reprinted. All rights reserved.
page 5
Techniques
To explore stringing further, consult Getting Started Stringing Beads and Stringing Style (both from Interweave). e). e
flush/wire cutters
Crimping
are seamless metal tubes used to secure the end of a beading wire. To use, string a crimp tube and the connection finding (i.e., the loop of the clasp). Pass back through the tube, leaving a short tail. Use the back notch of the crimping pliers to press the length of the tube down between the wires, enclosing them in separate chambers of the crescent shape. Rotate the tube 90 and use the front notch of the pliers to fold the two chambers onto themselves, forming a clean cylinder. Trim the excess wire. CRIMP BEADS are serrated metal beads. Twisted crimp tubes and crimp beads can be secured by squeezing them flat with chain- or flat-nose pliers. CRIMP COVERS hide crimp tubes and give a professional finish. To attach, gently hold a crimp cover in the front notch of the crimping pliers. Insert the crimped placing a tube and crimp cover gently squeeze the pliers, encasing the tube inside the cover.
CRIMP/CORD ENDS
WIREGUARDS provide a smooth metal channel to protect the stringing material from chaffing against a connector. String a crimp tube, then pass up through one half of the wireguard guard and down the other half. Pass the guard and wire through the loop of the connector, pass the wire back through the crimp tube, snug the tube up to the guard, then crimp.
surgeons knot
The SURGEONS KNOT is a secure way to connect two threads: Wrap the two ends around each other twice, then wrap one around the other once in the other direction and pull snug.
eye pins
are straight wires with a flat disc, ball, or other shape at one end. EYE PINS are straight wires that end in a loop.
half-hitch knot
Knotting
overhand knot
The HALF-HITCH KNOT may be worked with two or more strandsone strand is knotted over one or more other strands. The knot may be worked from right to left, left to right, or in a combination of the two.
simple loop
Wireworking
METAL WIRE
consist of a loop attached to a tube. Dab the leather, plastic, ribbon, or other cord with jewelry crimp/cord glue, then place end it in the crimp/ cord end. If youre using a crimp end, crimp it as you would a crimp tube.
The OVERHAND KNOT is the basic knot for tying off thread: Make a loop with the stringing material. Pass the cord that lies behind the loop over the front cord then through the loop and pull snug. LARKS HEAD KNOTS are great for securing stringing material to another piece, such as a ring or a donut: Fold the stringing lark's head material in knot half. Pass the fold through a ring or donut, then pull the ends through the loop created and pull snug.
comes in many finishes and gauges. The lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire. The hardness or softness of wire is called temper. Most wire comes in dead-soft, half-hard, and hard tempers. Unless otherwise noted, wire used in this issue is half-hardthe best temper for making strong loops and other shapes.
To form a SIMPLE LOOP, use flat-nose pliers to make a 90 bend at least 1/2" from the end of the wire. Use round-nose pliers to grasp the wire after the bend; roll the pliers toward the bend, but not past it, to preserve the 90 bend. Use your thumb to continue the wrap around the nose of the pliers. Trim the wire next to the bend. Open a simple loop just as you would a jump ring.
opening a jump ring JUMP RINGS connect holes and loops. Open a jump ring by grasping each side of its opening with a pair of pliers; dont pull apart. Instead, twist in opposite directions so that you can open and close without distorting the shape.
wrapped loop
To form a WRAPPED LOOP, begin with a 90 bend at least 2" from the end of the wire. Use round-nose pliers to form a simple loop with a tail overlapping the bend. Wrap the tail tightly down the neck of
round-nose pliers
flat-nose pliers
crimping pliers
chain-nose pliers
the wire to create a couple of coils. Trim the excess wire to finish. Make a DOUBLEWRAPPED LOOP by wrapping the wire back up over the coils, toward the loop, and trimming the wire tail at the loop.
coils. Form a wrapped loop with the straight-up wire, wrapping it back down over the already-formed coils. Trim the excess wire.
chain-nose pliers and pushing the wire over the previous spiral with your fingers for as many revolutions as desired.
cone
can be strung as they are, attached using jump rings, or linked to other loops. Use a head pin or eye pin to string the bead(s), then form a simple or wrapped loop.
DANGLES
wrapped-loop links
Use CONES to finish a multistrand piece. Attach each strand of beads to a wrapped loop or an eye pin. Use the wrapped-loop wire or eye pin to string the wide end of a cone, covering the ends of the strands; form a wrapped loop at the tip of the cone that attaches to a clasp.
To HAMMER , place your wire on a steel bench block or anvil. Use the flat end of a ball-peen or chasing hammer to flatten the wire, then use the ball end of the hammer to add texture.
coil LINK a wrapped loop to another loop by passing the wire through the previous loop before wrapping the tail down the neck of the wire.
wrappedloop bail
To make a COIL, use one hand to hold the end of your wire against a mandrel (or whatever object you want to coil around). With the other hand, wrap the wire around the mandrel. When finished, slide the coil off the mandrel.
For ease of dipping your silver into the solution, use 12" of beading or sewing thread to string the bead(s), chain, or finding(s) you wish to oxidize; tie the ends in an overhand knot. If coloring small items that cannot be strung (such as crimp covers), you will need to drop them in the solution and then quickly scoop them out with a plastic spoon. Or, place small items on a paper towel and brush them with the solution; this method, however, often results in uneven coloring. Dip the silver in the solution as many times as necessary to achieve the desired patina. If the silver becomes darker than desired, it can always be lightened later by buffing or polishing. Rinse off the silver in cold water. To further stop oxidation, dip the silver in a weak solution (1:4) of baking soda and water. Remove any threads you used to suspend the metal. Allow the silver to dry, then, if desired, use a polishing cloth or #0000 (extra fine) steel wool to buff and polish it. Store all used solution in the disposable container. After about a week, it will degrade enough to be washed down a sink (preferably a utility sink) with a lot of water. Contact your local hazardous waste facility for more information on disposing of the liquid safely.
turn side-drilled beads, usually teardrops, into pendants. Center the bead on a 3" or longer piece of wire. Bend both ends of the wire up the sides and across the top of the bead. Bend one end straight up at the center of the bead, then wrap the other wire around it to form a couple of
WRAPPED-LOOP BAILS
spiral
To start a SPIRAL (or scroll), make a small loop at the end of a wire with round-nose pliers. Enlarge the piece by holding onto the spiral with
For additional technique information, including videos and illustrations, visit beadingdaily.com and click on the glossary tab.