Jean Campbell - Beadwork Creates Bracelets

Bracelets are hot! Theyre beautiful, theyre easy to wear, and they work up quicker than many other beadwork projects.

As editor of Beadwork magazine, I get to see beautiful beadwork designs from all over the globe. Beadwork Creates Bracelets is a collection of thirty of my favorite bracelet designsall original pieces created by innovative beadwork artists. The projects include wirework, peyote and brick stitch, netting, stringing, loomwork, and even macram.

Ive included a Tips section at the back of the book () that clearly defines each stitch used in this book; its a useful tool for those who need to learn new stitches or are just feeling a little rusty.

So sit down and cozy up with your beads. Youve got some great bracelets to make!

Jean Campbell
Editor, Beadwork
magazine and books

Jean Campbell

Barb Grainger

Lucy Elle

Dona Anderson-Swiderek

Mindi Hawman

Sharon Bateman

Dustin Wedekind

Jane Tyson

Suzanne Golden

Jean Campbell

Ellen Sadler

Jean Campbell

Sharon Rawson

Judi Wood

Theresa Grout

Jan Wasser

Margo C. Field

Lilli Brennan

Judi Mullins

Jean Campbell

Jeri Herrera

Jane Tyson

Barbara Grainger

Dustin Wedekind

Jean Campbell

Suzanne Golden

Bill Monaghan

Jean Campbell

Margo C. Field

On the cover, Diamond Back, .

Jean Campbell

Assortment of beads

Soft Flex .019" beading wire

4 crimp beads

Clasp

Wire cutter

Flat-nose or crimping pliers

This basic bracelet can be made in under half an hour. Experiment with color, bead size, and placement to make your own special statement.

Step 1: Measure your wrist. Add 5". Take this measurement and cut that length of wire.

Step 2: String 2 crimp beads on the wire. Pass the wire through one side of the clasp and back through the two crimp beads leaving a 2" tail (). Crimp the beads.

Figure 1

Step 3: String an assortment of beads, making sure you cover the double tail at the beginning of the wire. When you reach about 2" from the end string 2 crimp beads.

Step 4: Pass through the other side of the clasp and then back through the crimp beads you just strung. Continue to pass back through as many beads as possible on the strand. Pull the wire tight, taking up any slack. Crimp the beads. Trim the tail close to the work.

Barbara Grainger

Size 11 green seed beads (vines)

Size 11 purple seed beads (leaves)

Size 15 seed beads in same color as size 11 green beads

Size B Nymo or Silamide beading thread

1 toggle clasp set

2 large jump rings

Size 12 beading or sharps needle

Beeswax or Thread Heaven

Scissors

Needle-nose pliers

This branched vine delicately encircles your wrist like a fairytale forest. These instructions make a 7" bracelet. Adjust bead counts as necessary to change size.

Make three.

Step 1: Using two yards of waxed thread, string a tension bead and leave a 6" tail. Counting 1 size 11 and 1 size 15 as a set, string 96 sets of vine-colored beads.

Step 2: String 8 more size 11 vine beads. Pass through all 8 beads two more times to form a secure circle.

Step 3: Working back up the vine, pass through 6 size 11 seed beads, skipping the size 15 beads. Pull tightly so the vine kinks ().

Figure 1

Step 4: Note: The thread path in this technique deviates from normal flat peyote because its worked in an oval-circular pattern instead of back and forth.

Rows 1 and 2: String 2 size 11 vine beads and 7 leaf beads and pass back through the fifth bead of the leaves ().

Figure 2

).

Figure 3

Row 4: Work regular peyote for the tenth and eleventh beads.

Row 5: String the twelfth bead and pass back down through the seventh bead. Work regular peyote for the thirteenth and fourteenth beads. Pass down through the first bead, the two branch beads, and six of the vine beads. Pull tight to kink the vine ().

Figure 4

Continue making leaves until you reach the end of the vine, then make another 8-bead loop, passing through it several times. Pass back through the vine and secure the thread in one of the leaves. Remove the tension bead from the original thread tail and pass through the loop. Secure the thread in a different leaf.

Step 5: To finish, use a needle-nose pliers to attach a jump ring to the clasp. Thread the vines onto the ring. Close the ring and repeat for the other end of the clasp.

Barbara Grainger is an internationally recognized beadwork author, instructor, and designer who specializes in innovative beadwork techniques.

Lucy Elle

1 tube or hank of 8 beads

3 strands of 11 beads in 2 colors

3mm round beads

1 clasp bead

Six 14 beads

Beading thread in color to complement beads

Size 12 beading needle

Scissors

This pretty bracelet resembles delicate ribbon from afar, but what a surprise when you learn its made of glass!

Row 1 and 2: Using a yard of thread and leaving a 10" tail, string a tension bead and ten 8 beads.

Row 3: Work two-drop peyote by passing through the fifth and sixth bead from the last of the 10 just added. String 2 beads and pass through the third and fourth beads from the last 2 beads worked.

Row 4: String 2 beads. Pass through the last 2 beads of Row 3. Repeat the steps for Rows 3 and 4 until you have the desired length of your bracelet. Weave your thread through the beads so that you exit toward the center of the bracelet from the last two-bead set added.

Half A: *String two 11s, one 3mm, and two 11s. Pass through the two-bead set 2 rows down as indicated in the diagram (). Repeat from * for the length of the bracelet. Weave your thread through the beads so that you exit toward the center of the bracelet from the second two-bead set added.