The base of the project is made with 3mm fire polish crystals.
The top is embellished with size 8 seed beads, size 11 seed beads and
4mm fire polish crystals.
Size B Nymo and #12 needle.
Ladder stitch - construct a 2-bead ladder four rows
wide as follows: using approximately two yards of thread, add four 3mm
crystals to the needle, moving the beads to within 4 inches from the tail
thread. Go back through the same four beads again to form a tight circle
then go through two more beads. Pinch the beads together so that you have
two rows of two beads each.
Hold the base so that the two beads with the tail and lead thread are
toward the right (this is Row 2). The tail should be at the bottom, the
lead thread at the top. Add two beads. Bring the needle to the right and
up through the bottom of Row 2 and back down through the beads you just
added (Row 3). Your thread will be coming out the bottom of Row 3. Add
two more beads. Bring the needle up and down through Row 3 and back up
the two beads you just added (Row 4). This completes a two-bead ladder,
four rows wide. The tail is at the bottom left, the lead thread is at
the top right.
Herringbone stitch - when working the Herringbone stitch,
work right to left and flip the work over at the end of each row. Continue
working with the 3mm beads.
Hold the ladder so that the tail is at the bottom and the lead thread
is on the top right, *add two beads. Go into the top bead of the second
row to the left, then back up the top bead of the third row to the left
(1 “v” formation completed). Add two (B) beads, go down into
the top bead of the fourth row (2 “v” formations completed).
One row completed.
Turn your work over so that the lead thread is to your right (tail remains
at the bottom). To start the next row, you must first hide the thread
and get into position. Bring the needle up through the second bead in
the second row to the left, then cross over and go up through the first
bead in the first row to the right. The thread is now hidden and you are
ready to start the next row from the top right position. Keep your tension
consistent throughout the project.
Keep adding rows until the Herringbone base is 1/2 inch shorter than your
wrist.
Adding thread – when needed, add a new two-yard
length of thread to a new needle then tie a small single knot at the end.
Begin working the new thread into the base for several rows until it feels
secure and will not pull out. End the new thread where the old thread
stops. Work the old thread through several rows of the base to secure
it in place.
Connection - when the finished length for the base has
been reach, flip the base over as if to continue the pattern. Bring the
needle across and up through the second and top bead in the second row
to the left. The thread is coming out the top of Row 2. Go down through
two beads in Row 3 then up through two beads in Row 4. This will connect
Rows 2 and 3.
Button - add five size 11 beads, a shank button and five
more 11’s. Go into the bead on the opposite side to form a loop.
Work the thread over the reinforce the button loop ending on the outside
row. Go down three beads and over two more bead ending between the center
beads of Row 5.
Accent row – this is worked down the center between
the threads connecting the two center beads. Add one size 8 bead. Go down
through the center hole. Go under the thread and up through the next hole.
The size 8 bead should be on the top of the base. Continue down the center
with 8’s. Stop five rows before the end. Go through two beads in
the center. Go down three beads on the outside and out the end of the
base.
Button loop - add 25 size 11 beads. Go into the opposite
side to form a loop. Make sure the button goes easily over the loop before
continuing.
Go down three beads on the outside and two beads in the center ending
at the first size 8. Go through the 8.
Zig -Zag – hold the base so that the accent row
is on top with the lead thread pulled to the right. Keep tension on the
thread. Add one 11, one 4mm and one 11. Go through the next 8 heading
out the left. Press into place between your thumb and forefinger. Add
one 11, one 4mm and one 11. Go through the next 8 heading out the right.
Press into place between your thumb and forefinger.
Repeat the zig-zag pattern across working left to right. Hold the beads
in place as you go to keep them on opposite sides. When the center row
is complete, bury the thread in the work.
With the remaining tail thread reinforce the loop then bury the thread
Design, Graphics and Copyright Instructions by Stephanie Eddy
©2007
Stephanie Eddy
|