Free Instructions: Bee's Journey Spiral Crystal Bracelet
A cute little bee has taken a little spiral journey around and around this bracelet to reach its flower clasp. This project is perfect for a beginner to bead weaving and produces an eye catching piece featuring beautiful crystal bicone beads. The technique used to create this bracelet is Spiral Rope stitch. The little bee charm we have used is our charity charm! For every multi pack of our tiny bee charm we sell, we donate 50% of the retail value to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust (Learn More)
Materials Needed:
- 4mm Bicones in 3 tonal Colours (We used 2 packs each of 53284mm226, 53284mm203 and 53284mm220)
- Pack of 5 g Size 11 Silver Lined Gold Seed Beads (S1132C)
- Pack of 1g Size 15 Silver Lined Gold Seed Beads (S1532M)
- 2 x Calottes (CASP)
- 2 x Crimps (CRSP)
- 1 x Clasp (TOG36AS)
- 2 x Jump Rings (JR5SP)
- 1 x Bee Charm (MT1CJ)
- Reel of Nymo Beading Thread (NMD15)
Tools Needed:
- A Size 13 Beading Needle (ND13)
- A pair of sharp Scissors (SCIMX)
- A pair of chain nosed pliers (BEECN-1)
Legend = 4mm Dark Bicone (A), Size 15 Seed Beads (B), Size 11 Seed Beads (C), 4mm Medium Bicones (D), 4mm Light Bicones (E)
Ending and Adding Thread
To secure your thread, pass the needle under a thread between beads and pull through until there is a small loop remaining. Pass over the original thread and through the loop and pull tight ensuring the knot forms between the beads. Pass through a few more beads and repeat. Pass through some more beads and trim the thread.
- Thread your needle with 2m of stretched beading thread. Leaving a 15cm tail, pick up 3C, 1B, 1A and 1B. Circle round and pass all the way through the 3C again to form a ring. Push the other beads over to the left. (Picture 1)
- Pick up 1C, 1B, 1D and 1B. (Picture 2)
- Circle round and pass through the last 3C, this will be 2C from the previous steps and the new C picked up at the beginning of this step.(Picture 3)
- Push the other beads over to the left (Picture 4). It is important to keep moving the crystal you have just added to the left - this is what creates the spiral pattern.
- Pick up 1C, 1B, 1E and 1B. Circle round and pass through the last 3C, this will be 2C from the previous steps and the new C picked up at the beginning of this step. Push the other beads over to the left.(Picture 5)
- Repeat step 2 to 5 until the bracelet is the required length minus 2.5cm for the clasp. (picture 6)
- Pass through the base of a calotte and pick up a crimp bead, pass back though the bottom of the calotte and into your beadwork. (Picture 7)
- Weave around your beadwork so that you can go back through the calotte and crimp bead again. Pass back through the bottom of the calotte and into your beadwork. Weave in and secure your thread. Repeat to add a calotte using the tail thread.
- Use a pair of chain nosed pliers to gently close the calotte.
- Open a jump ring and thread on your bee charm and one half of the clasp. Close your jump ring. Repeat on the other end to complete your bracelet. (Picture 8)
