This hefty beaded bracelet uses a double flat spiral technique. The round green focal beads are glass that glows in the dark.
Please click on any image in this tutorial for a full-size view.
1. Gather Your Materials
The completed bracelet.
This bracelet uses round seed beads in two sizes, crystal bicone beads in two sizes, and round Czech glass "druk" beads in glow-in-the-dark green. To save space in this tutorial, I've posted the bead and supplies lists on a separate page:
2. String the First Set of Beads
The first set of beads strung.
Cut a length of FireLine that is as long as you feel comfortable working with. Although you can add a new length of thread if you run out, starting a new thread is slightly more difficult than it is with many other stitch types. Because I don't like working with super-long thread, I used about an arms' span plus three feet. (With this length, I ran out of thread twice before I finished.)
Thread the needle for single-strand beadweaving. Using the bead key in the bead list, string the following beads and slide them down to about three feet from the end of the thread: 1C, 1A, 1C, 1A, 1C, 7B, 1D, and 10B.
3. Complete the First Spiral Loop
The first spiral loop completed.
While holding the first five beads between your fingers, pass the needle through all of those beads again and pull the thread tight. This creates the first spiral loop, which is made up of the Bs and the D. Position this spiral loop to the right of the first five beads, as shown.
Tip: After completing each stitch in this project, tug on the thread to pull it tight.
4. Make the Second Spiral Loop
Two spiral loops completed.
Pick up the following beads: 10B, 1E, and 7B. Slide them down, and then pass up through the very first five beads again. Position this spiral loop to the left of the first five beads, as shown.
Note that the first five beads, which you're passing through again, are part of the center of the beadwork. These are referred to as the core beads.
5. Make the Third Spiral Loop
Three spiral loops completed.
Pick up the following beads: 10B, 1E, and 4B. Pass the needle up through all of the core beads again. Stack this spiral loop on top of the first one you made.
6. Make the Fourth Spiral Loop
Four spiral loops completed.
Pick up the following beads: 4B, 1D, and 10B. Pass up through the core beads again. Stack this loop on top of the first spiral loop you made.
7. Begin the Next Segment
How to begin the next segment of the bracelet and complete its first spiral loop.
Making sure that the first four loops remain in the positions you stacked them, pick up the following beads: 1A, 1C, 10B, 1E, and 7B. Pass up through the last three core beads. I've indicated this thread path with a blue arrow in the upper part of the image on the left. (Please remember that you can click on the image for a larger view).
Now pass up through the next two core beads, which are the 1A and 1C that you picked up at the beginning of this step. This thread path is shown in the lower part of the image on the left.
Position this new spiral loop to the right of the core beads. Make sure that it stacks on top of the spiral loops in the previous section.
8. Make the Second Spiral Loop in the Second Segment
The first and second spiral loops in the second segment completed.
Pick up 7B, 1D, and 10B, and pass up through what are now the last five beads in the core. Position this spiral loop to the left of the core beads, as shown.
9. Make the Third Spiral Loop in the Second Segment
The third spiral loop in the second segment completed.
For this spiral loop, pick up 4B, 1D, and 10B. Pass up through the same five core beads. Stack this loop on top of the first loop you made for this segment.
10. Make the Fourth Spiral Loop in the Second Segment
This is the motif of beads you'll repeat as you stitch the rest of the band.
Pick up 10B, 1E, and 4B. Once again, pass up through the last five core beads. Stack this loop on the left side of the core.