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Orca Amulet Bag: Part Two

Dateline: 01/19/98



Okay, so I didn't get the strap done. Are you surprised? (g) Don't worry, I'm still going to tell you how to make it. It's very simple, but it has a neat twist to it that I think you'll like. But first, the fringe!

What You'll Need:

• 2 Capri Czech tear drops
• 12 AB matte medium blue pony beads
• 30 clear miniature tear drops. There are several different kinds of these out now. Delica fringe beads, magatamas, raindrops, etc. Any of these should work.
• Dark blue transparent matte, aqua transparent matte, opaque white and black seeds.
• 1 1/2 yards of aqua satin cord (otherwise known as rattail)

First take the tube you made from last week's pattern and flatten it so that the bottom two edges interlock with each other. Then zip up the bottom with your needle and thread.



We will attach the fringe to the 2 rows we just zipped up to form the bottom edge of the bag. Begin with your thread coming out of the right-hand side of the left-most bead. Pick up 6 dark blue beads and 5 light blue ones. Make a circle by going down through the top of the first light blue bead you added. Pick up 6 more dark blue and 5 more light blue and make another circle with the light blue beads. Pick up one more group of 6 dark blue and 5 light blue and make yet another circle with the light blue beads. Pick up 6 more dark blue and one miniature tear drop (hereafter referred to as "fringe beads"). Skip the fringe bead and go back up through the whole fringe. You don't have to go around the circles again, just go up through the one bead in each circle that is part of the main strand. Go through the back of the bead you originally left and on through the bead next to it in the other row. Make the second fringe the same as the first.



Now that you know how the fringes are made, I will just give the details for each fringe. When I say "circle" that means add 5 light blue and make a circle out of them. Light blue beads are used only in circles, all the rest are dark blue so I will just list a number that refers to the dark blue beads.

3 & 4 - 3, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, fringe bead.

5 & 6 - 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, fringe bead.

7 & 8 - 3, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 5, fringe bead.

9 & 10 - 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 5, fringe bead.

11-20 - 3, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 6, circle, 4, fringe bead.

Then repeat in reverse order from 9 & 10 back .

Now we'll add the dangles on the sides. Weave up to the top of the bag so that your thread is coming out of the right-hand side of the bead in front of the edge column. Pick up 6 sets of 5 light blue beads and 1 pony each. Add 3 more light blue and one capri tear drop. Pick up 3 more light blue and go up through the last pony bead and up through the rest of the dangle except for the first two seed beads. Pick up 2 more light blue and go through the back of the bead behind the edge column. Then weave over to the other side of the bag and do the same thing.



Now for the invisible strap. (g) What we are going to make is an adjustable strap using rattail and seed beads. Cut your cord in half, and stitch the end of one piece into one side of the bag and one end of the other piece into the other side of the bag. First stitch through the beads and through the cord to secure it, then stitch around the cord and through the beads to make it look more finished. Trim the cords to about 21 inches each.

Then use the following pattern to make two identical odd-count flat peyote pieces.



Put a dab of glue on the end of each cord to keep it from fraying. Turn one of the peyote pieces so that the 2 tiny orcas are pointing down. Stitch the free end of the right-hand cord across the center of the peyote piece from right to left so that the end of the cord is just short of the left side of the peyote piece. Then take the end of the left cord and lay it parallel to the right cord across the piece from left to right with about 6 inches free on the right side. Don't stitch it down.



Now zip up the peyote piece to make a tube around both cords. Make sure not to let the free left-hand cord slip out. Turn the other peyote piece so that the 2 orcas are facing up and stitch the end of the left cord across the center from left to right. Then wrap the second peyote piece around the right-hand cord past the first tube you made and zip it up. It should look something like this except the short ends won't be sticking out. I left them so it would be easier to see which cord is which.



You should now be able to slide the two tubes apart to adjust the length of the cord. Neat huh? This is nice for when you are making a bag for someone who's preferred necklace length is unknown.



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As always, you are invited to write to me at beadwork.guide@about.com with any questions or comments you may have. I'd love to hear from you!

All text and graphics by Emily Hackbarth © 1998

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