If you've never tried tubular right angle weave, this is a good project to get you started. It's a simple basic beaded rope that works up into a soft and slinky necklace that feels like a woven metal chain. Accent it with a beautiful handmade ceramic dragonfly slide for a sophisticated necklace.
1. Beads and Materials
Jennifer VanBenschoten
To make this necklace, you will need the following beads and materials:
- 30 grams size 11 Japanese seed bead, ceylon dark cream (A)
- 30 grams size 11 Japanese seed bead, permanent galvanized metallic gold (B)
- 2 10mm gold bead caps (or size needed to fit over the ends of your rope)
- 6 inches gold colored craft wire
- Gold S-clasp
- 2 closed jumprings, 9mm
- 1 handmade ceramic dragonfly slide
- Beading thread of your choice - Wildfire 10 lb. test in white recommended
- Size 12 beading needle
- Wooden dowel or pencil
- Scissors or thread cutter
- Wire cutters
- Flat nose and round nose pliers
Resources:
- Handmade Ceramic Dragonfly Slide: Amazing Porcelain Fantasies
- Seed beads: Whimbeads
- S-Clasp: Artbeads
- Bead caps: Fire Mountain Gems
2. Getting Started
Cut a comfortable length of thread.
Pick up 1 A, 1 B, 1 A and 1 B. Tie into a ring.
Pass needle through the next bead in the ring. (Should be an A.)
Work a strip of single needle right angle weave that is 5 units long, or long enough to comfortable fit around your wooden dowel or pencil. As you stitch, make sure to keep B beads on the bottom and top of the units and the A beads on the sides.
3. Join the Ends of the Strip and Work in Tubular Right Angle Weave
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Following the directions for tubular right angle weave, join the strip and slide it onto your wooden dowel or pencil. Joining the strip into a ring will result in the addition of an extra unit.
Work in tubular right angle weave until you have a rope approximately 19 inches long. (You can adjust the length of the rope and make it longer or shorter, but be aware that a longer rope will require more seed beads.)
4. Prepare the Craft Wire
Cut the craft wire into two 3 inch pieces.
On one piece, make a small wrapped loop on one end.
5. Setting Up the Beaded Rope for Finishing
Jennifer VanBenschoten
To finish the beaded rope, you will work in tubular even count peyote stitch.
Pick up 1 A and pass through the next bead. Repeat until you have an even number of beads in the ring. Step up at the end of the round.
Work 2 rows in tubular even count peyote stitch.
6. Make the Decrease
Jennifer VanBenschoten
To decrease in tubular even count peyote, add a bead in the next stitch as you normally would and skip the next space by stitching through the next bead in the ring without adding a bead. Pull snugly so that the beads close over the gap.
Repeat around the ring, making a step up at the end.
Repeat until you have four beads left. Pull snugly so that the beads pull together and close the end of the rope.
Repeat the thread path several times to secure.
7. Secure the Wire to the Rope
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Coming out of one of the last four beads at the end of the rope, stitch through the loop in one end of one piece of craft wire.
Stitch into the bead directly across from the bead you were coming out of at the beginning of this step.
Repeat several times until you have secured the wire to the end of the rope.
Weave the thread back into the rope, tying a few knots as you go. Weave in a bit more, then trim the thread close to the beadwork.
Repeat for the other end of the beadwork.
Put the slide onto the beaded rope and center it.
8. Attach the Bead Caps
Jennifer VanBenschoten
Slide a bead cap onto one of the wires and make a wrapped loop, including one of the closed jumprings in the loop for the S-clasp.
Repeat for the other side of the rope.