Gail Nettles

Archive for the ‘Beading Tutorial’ Category

This freeform peyote bracelet took me longer than I expected, because I couldn't decide how I wanted it to end up! Between deciding colors, design and a clasp, I was running out of ideas.

Nevertheless, I did finish it. For additional embelishments I used size 11 silvered clear seed beads, in a random pattern around the bracelet. No particular design or idea, just where I though it might look interesting.

Freeform Peyote Bracelet, Completed

 

For the clasp, that was tough. I had originally thought button and loop; I did the loop then realized that I had no button!  Well, I had some in gold-tone that were perfect, but the gold didn't quite go with the rest of the bracelet.

Hmmm, rummaging around in my button bag, I found plenty that were too big or too small.  Drat.  Then I came across the dark blue button.  Right size, but a little dark.  Well, let me add some seed beads and try to lighten it up some.

And that actually turned out to be a good idea, because the button fits well against the bracelet; it's not so tall that it hurts when I put my armon the table and type.  Or write.  So it turned out well.

The Next Project - Retro

OK, I decided that I was going to do something that had a retro/vintage look about it, but with a little modern-day flair.  The decision?  A necklace with a large pendant.

I started off pretty well, with a moss jasper cabachon glued onto some Lacy's Stiff Stuff (I think that's what it's called).  OK, I confess; the cab has been glued onto the backing for...how many years?  Several, at any rate.

So, I added a ring around the base of the cab with white 3-cut size 15 seed beads.  Now I remember why I dislike working with size 15; they're so tiny!  But, I finally got them all put on.

Next was a ring of turquoise around the cab.  Kind of rough-looking turquoise, but it had the green-y color that picked up on the colors in the cab.  Done.

Retro Jewelry Necklace, Step 1

 

But it didn't look right yet.  Ahhh, I found a tube of silver seed beads, around a size 6.  Turquoise and silver go well together, so why not?  So I sewed some of the silver beads around and between the cab and the turquoise.  And that's where I'm at so far, as you can see.

Then I did something really silly, even for me.  Not thinking, I cut away the Stiff Stuff from the back of the cab.  Totally forgetting that I really needed to glue it to some suede before cutting.  Argh.

So now I have to slightly modify my original design before continuing, because I need to get a backing on and hide all the stitches.  But I have some ideas.

I'm off to find the glue, more Stiff Stuff, some suede and some jump rings.  The glue will take a few hours to set, so I'll have to continue tomorrow.

For today, I'll leave you with some lampwork auctions to look at and enjoy.  Have fun!

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OK, since you folks have requested it, here's a freeform peyote bracelet tutorial.  This is day one, where we make the basic bracelet.

Before I start, I'm assuming that you know how to do the regular peyote stitch, as it's the basis of this bracelet.  If you don't, check out the basic peyote tutorial video.

One other item of note.  This is more of a structured freeform peyote bracelet.  By that I mean I am not going as freeform as I would normally do (with holes, netting, etc.).  Instead, this is a middle ground between a normal peyote stitch and a full-blown freeform.  In other words, if you've always been a structured person, this will let you let loose a tiny bit. 

Materials Needed

I'm not going to give you exacts, because freeform peyote isn't an exact science.  Instead, gather up the following in whatever amounts are suitable for you:

• Size 8 seed or tube beads, single color.
• Size 11 seed or tube beads, two or three colors.
• Six beads or crystals, from 5mm through 8mm.  Various colors to coordinate with the seed beads.
• Thread; I used 6-lb Fireline, in the grey color.
• Needle, size 10 or 12.
• Clasp of your choice.

Step 1:  The Base Bracelet

Make the base bracelet out of the peyote stitch, using the size 8 seed beads.  I made mine 6 beads wide by about 6.75 inches long.  You can make yours as long as needed, minus the size of your clasp.  Here's the photo of the base bracelet.

Freeform Peyote Bracelet Tutorial, the Base (Click to Enlarge)

Note:  Don't worry if your bracelet isn't arrow-straight.  Because this is freeform, it doesn't matter.

Step 2:  Add the Beads or Crystals

Next, I decided where I wanted my crystals.  Since I have been talking about vintage beads, I decided to use three of them in this bracelet.

I placed the beads with the smallest towards the bracelet ends, and the largest in the middle.  I spaced them out so they were more-less even.  Here's how it looks now.

Freeform Peyote Bracelet Tutorial, Step 2 (Click to Enlarge)

Don't worry about thread showing at the ends of the beads; it will end up being hidden in the next set of steps.

I encourage you to not use evenly matched beads/crystals in this step.  If you noticed, I have one large bead, two medium, two slightly smaller mediums and one small cyrstal.  It's part of being freeform!

Step 3:  The Basic Freeform Peyote Stitching

OK, now comes the fun part!  It's kind of hard to explain this part since it's freeform, but here's how I basically did it.  The freeform part was done with the size 11 seed beads.

Come up from a hole next to the crystal and string however many beads needed to just about loop around the crystal; the seed bead loop should lay just slightly to the back of the crystal.  Bring the needle down through the size 8 bead, then back up through the one right next to it.

String on two seed beads, then begin a peyote stitch across the loop, back towards the original direction.  Once you reach the end, bring the needle down through a size 8 bead, then back up through the next.  String 2 seed beads and peyote your way back across again.

Once you've made a peyote ring across the back of the crystal. string maybe 8 or so seed beads and lay it across the base bracelet.  Go down through a size 8, back up through the next one.  Add 2 seed beads and peyote back the way you came.  When you get to the end, turn atound and peyote back down.

Thread your needle through the size 8 beads, until you come up through the bead next to the next crystal and repeat.

It's one of those times that a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's what I have up to this point:

Freeform Peyote Bracelet Tutorial, Adding the Freeform (Click to Enlarge)

As you can see, I've made a loop around the crystals, and down across the base bracelet, which I have then added the peyote stitch.

Well, that's it for today.  I'm going to embellish this bracelet further in the next post.  If you like what you have up to this point, put the clasp on it and call it good!  But if you'd like to go a little further, stop on by for the next set of steps.  I should have them up in a day or so, once I decide how fancy I want to get! 

Meanwhile, here are some pretty eye-candy pieces of vintage costume jewelry that you might like looking at.

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The ndebele stitch is one that I've been wanting to learn, but I just haven't gotten around to.  Well, I got my chance to try it out this morning, thanks to one of the video tutorials I watched last night.  And I decided to start with tubular ndebele.

You know what?  It's fun!  And once you get three rows done, it's pretty easy.  Actually, the hardest part of learning was that I decided to try the tubular ndebele stitch using size 11 beads instead of my usual size 8.  (And here's the reason -- I'm fast running out of size 8s!)

Ndebele Stitch

Also known as the herringbone stitch, this starts out with a ladder stitch as the base.  I don't know about you, but a ladder stitch with size 11 seed beads is a little challenging; I might have had an easier time had I used Delicas, but I didn't want to use Delicas for a learning experiment.

While there's no real claim that the Ndebele people in Africa came up with this stitch, it is something widely recognized as being central to their beading culture.  And although herringbone may describe it better from our point of view, I think using the African name is more appropriate.

So, I am working on my tubular ndebele, and trying to decide how long I want to make it.  I have an idea for a bracelet, but I haven't quite decided.

If you haven't tried this beading stitch, either flat or tubular, I encourage you to try it.  Below are two links to learning this beading; one for flat, one for tubular.  Be aware, it's at the Bead & Button website, so you'll need to register to see it (but registration is free).

Tubular Ndebele Stitch Tutorial

Flat Ndebele Stitch Tutorial

In part two of this peyote bracelet tutorial, you'll see how to finish off the bracelet you made in part one of the peyote stich beading tutorial.  Part one, of course, was how to do the basic peyote stitch.

As I mentioned previously, my Mermaid's Garden bracelet has its basis in peyote.  Now I go the more organic, freeform route for that bracelet.  Still, before you experiment with freeform, you really do need to know how to accomplish the basic peyote stitch beading.

I really like how in this video Karla (the instructor) uses size 6 seed beads to demonstrate the stitch.  I watched quite a few videos before I settled on this one, and usually the instructors used size 11 seed beads.  Sure, maybe that's what you'll eventually end up using, but for learning, size 6 or 8 is the way to go when possible.  Well, that's my opinion at any rate!

I hope you enjoy part two of this peyote stich tutorial.  I know it's one of my favorite stitches.  This tutorial will let you understand better my next bracelet that relies on the basic peyote stitch beading for its base.

Peyote Bracelet Tutorial, Part 2

Remember, this is the continuation of the bracelet.  If you missed the beginning, please go back to the peyote bracelet tutorial part 1 to understand how you construct the bracelet.

Enjoy!