Monday, December 7, 2020

Free bead pattern: WibeDuo Star Earrings!

 

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

Create some pretty star earrings using size 11/0 seed beads, 3mm fire-polished beads and Czech WibeDuo beads—8mm star-shaped beads with two parallel holes, a “pillowed” front side and a flat back side.

My free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern is available on my website here:
https://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/WibeDuoStarEarrings.html
A link to a downloadable PDF is available at the top of the page and links to exact beads used can be found at the end of the Step text.

I beaded up three colorways but this one that uses Metallic Crystal Marine Ice WibeDuo beads one is my favorite:

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

For the second version, I used some Crystal AB WibeDuo beads. They really catch the light and reflect whatever colors used in the fire-polished and seed beads: 

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

For the last colorway, I used Backlit Petroleum WibeDuo which, like most of the “backlit” coated beads, are really beautiful but hard to photograph and capture their true beauty:

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern

Again, links to the exact beads I used can be found at the end of the Step text, as well as a downloadable PDF of the design here:
https://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/WibeDuoStarEarrings.html

For more color combinations, visit the RedPandaBeads.com Gallery of Color Suggestions:
https://www.redpandabeads.com/WibeDuo_Star_Earrings_s/5778.htm

free WibeDuo Star Earrings pattern



Saturday, November 14, 2020

Free bead pattern: WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings!

 WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern

WibeDuo beads have been around for a while but I finally got a chance to play with them. Produced by the manufacturers of ZoliDuo beads, WibeDuos are 8mm star-shaped beads with two parallel holes, a “pillowed” front side and a flat back side.

My free WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings patterns is available on my website here:
https://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/WibeDuoTile.html
A link to a downloadable PDF is available at the top of the page and links to exact beads used can be found at the end of the step text.

Along with WibeDuo beads, the design calls for 3mm fire-polished beads and Miyuki rocaille (round) seed beads. Other seed bead brands may work but I tend to use Miyuki because they are so consistent in size.

I beaded up three colorways for the WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings design but used Aztec Gold WibeDuo beads for all three because that is all I have for now. The first colorway is my favorite. I used Miyuki #4514 Picasso Matte Seafoam Green size 11/0 seed beads and 3mm Milky Peridot fire-polished beads.

 
WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern

The second colorway uses my go-to gold seed beads, Miyuki #4204 Duracoat Champagne Rocailles, and 3mm Siam Ruby Marbled Gold fire-polished beads. You can’t really see the gold marbling in the photos but it is very pretty.

WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern


WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern
 

For the last colorway, I used Miyuki #454 Iris Purple size 11/0 seed beads and 3mm Iris Purple fire-polished beads. You just can’t beat the color combo of gold and purple.

WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern

WibeDuo Tile Bracelet & Earrings, free pattern

Again, links to the exact beads I used can be found at the end of the Step text, as well as a downloadable PDF of the design here:
https://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/WibeDuoTile.html

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Byzantium Bands Redux

 

Byzantium Bands

I gave my Byzantium Bands design a facelift! 

The pattern now includes instructions for two designs! The original crystal version, which is a great beginner beading project, uses size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads, 3mm fire-polished beads, 4mm bicone crystals and 4mm round beads (glass pearl or druk). The second version is an elaboration of this simple band where you will add SuperDuo beads to give the band some width and wow. Both designs are fully illustrated with detailed step-by-step instructions. 

Just click on a picture to get to my website for pattern and bead details. Exact beads used are listed on the bottom of the pattern page.

These bands (below) use Swarovski Red Magma bicone crystals and my favorite SuperDuo beads—White Apricot:

These bands use a mix of Swarovski Topaz and Crystal Satin Olivine bicone crystals. Both the SuperDuo beads and the fire-polished beads have the Halo Sandalwood coating, which is quite lovely: 

Byzantium Bands

This set is my favorite. I used Swarovski Montana bicone crystals, some Iris Blue fire-polished beads, Opaque White Picasso round beads, Chalk Travertin Dark SuperDuo beads and my favorite Miyuki #457 rocaille seed beads:

Byzantium Bands



Saturday, May 30, 2020

Free pattern for GemDuo beads: Diamond Chain Band

Diamond Chain Band, free GemDuo pattern

Diamond Chain Band

2020 Deborah Roberti)
By request, my Paragon Band design using all GemDuo (or DiamonDuo) beads, as well as 4mm round or fire-polished beads and Miyuki 11/0 seed beads.
MATERIALS
(for a 7.25-inch bracelet, not including clasp)
• 3 yards of 6 lb. FireLine or Toho One-G
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads (Toho brand seed beads will be a bit too fat)
• About 32 size 4mm beads (round or fire-polished)
• About 18 Color1 Gemduo beads (or DiamonDuo beads)
• About 34 Color2 Gemduo beads (or DiamonDuo beads)
• clasp



Step 1: Thread your needle with a length that you feel comfortable working with and add more as you need it.


Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching the clasp, go through the bottom hole of a Color1 Gemduo bead, the top hole of a Color2 Gemduo bead and the bottom hole of another Color1 Gemduo bead:



NOTE: You will not be making a knot until Step 4 so keep the tension tight and hold onto this tail thread for now.

Step 2: String four seed beads. Go around the Color1 Gemduo bead that you just exited and across through the top hole of this same Color1 Gemduo bead:



Step 3: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of the Color1 Gemduo bead that you added in Step 1 (highlighted in RED):



Step 4: String four seed beads, grab your tail thread and tie a tight double knot:



Step 5: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:



Step 6: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):



Step 7: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead.

String four seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same Color2 Gemduo bead:



Step 8: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of another new Color2 Gemduo bead:



Step 9: String four seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):



Step 10: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:



Step 11: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):



Step 12: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color1 Gemduo bead.

String four seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same Color1 Gemduo bead:



Step 13: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of a new Color1 Gemduo bead:



Step 14: String four seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the Color1 Gemduo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):



Step 15: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:



Step 16: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):



Step 17: Repeat Step 7 to Step 16 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus about a half-inch and the length of your clasp:



Next you will add 4mm beads in the gaps between seed beads along the outer edge.

Step 18: String four seed beads. Go down through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:



Step 19: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:



Step 20: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:



Step 21: Continue to add 4mm beads in the gap between seed beads all the way down the side of the band:



Step 22: When you get to the end, string four seed beads. Go across through the bottom hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead highlighted in RED:



Step 23: String four seed beads. Go up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:



Step 24: Add 4mm beads in the gap between seed beads all the way up the other side of the band:



Step 25: String four seed beads. Go across through the top hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead highlighted in RED:



Step 26: To attach one end of the clasp, string three seed beads.

Go through your clasp and then back through the last seed bead that you just strung.
String two more seed beads and go across through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):


NOTE: To make your band longer, just add more beads (or larger beads) than directed in this step.

Step 27: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:



Weave back into the bracelet, using the extra tail thread to go back through both outer edges of beads to add some extra strength to your band. Knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 28: To attach the clasp to the other end of your bracelet, thread your needle with the tail thread from Step 1.

Go around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the top hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):



Repeat Steps 26-27.