Paragon Band
(©2020 Deborah Roberti)
If you love GemDuo beads, you will adore the Starman MiniGem beads! They are about the same size as the SuperDuo bead but with that wonderful diamond shape.
I got my Starman MiniGem beads from RedPandaBeads.com here:
https://www.redpandabeads.com/MiniGem_Beads_s/5612.htm
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 44 size 3mm round beads
• About 42 3x5mm Starman MiniGem beads
• About 22 5x8mm Matubo GemDuo 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 Gemduo bead, the top hole of a MiniGem bead and the bottom hole of another 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 GemDuo bead that you just exited and across through the top hole of this same GemDuo bead:
Step 3: Go through the bottom hole of a new MiniGem bead and the top hole of the GemDuo bead that you added in Step 1:
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 MiniGem bead:
Step 6: Go around and through the top hole of the MiniGem bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):
Step 7: Go through the bottom hole of a new MiniGem bead.
String three seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same MiniGem bead:
Step 8: Go through the bottom hole of a new MiniGem bead and the top hole of another new MiniGem bead:
Step 9: String three seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the MiniGem bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent MiniGem 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 MiniGem bead:
Step 11: Go around and through the top hole of the MiniGem bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):
Step 12: Go through the bottom hole of a new GemDuo bead.
String four seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same GemDuo bead:
Step 13: Go through the bottom hole of a new MiniGem bead and the top hole of a new GemDuo bead:
Step 14: String four seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the GemDuo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent MiniGem 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 MiniGem bead:
Step 16: Go around and through the top hole of the MiniGem 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 3mm round beads in the gaps between seed beads along the outer edge.
Step 18: String a seed bead and a 3mm round bead. Go down through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:
Step 19: String a 3mm round bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:
Step 20: String a 3mm round bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:
Step 21: Continue to add 3mm round 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 a 3mm round bead and a seed bead. Go across through the bottom hole of the MiniGem bead highlighted in RED:
Step 23: String a seed bead and a 3mm round bead. Go up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:
Step 24: Add 3mm round beads in the gap between seed beads all the way up the other side of the band:
Step 25: String a 3mm round bead and a seed bead. Go across through the top hole of the MiniGem 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 MiniGem 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 seed beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:
Weave back into the bracelet, using the extra tail thread to go back around 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 MiniGem bead (highlighted in RED):
Repeat Steps 26-27.
