Friday, December 9, 2016

New “Mini” Silky bead!

When Linda Genaw of Linda’s Crafty Inspirations first emailed to tell me of a new smaller 5x5mm Silky bead on the market, my first response was, “Oh, dear god, just kill me now….I can understand a 4mm Silky bead—that would be cool—but 5mm? 1mm difference? 1-freaking-mm difference? It is just enough to throw off an entire pattern but serves no other real purpose that I can see, sigh.” 

Then Linda measured them and determined that they are, in fact, a bit smaller than 5x5mm. Betsy Ramsey of RedPandaBeads.com hunted some down and sent samples to me and yes, okay, they are adorable!

However, the 5mm Silky beads cannot be substituted for 6mm Silky beads in any of my designs without some tweaks. At this time, I have no plans to tweak all of my patterns that use 6mm Silky beads to accommodate the new “mini” 5x5mm Silky beads but they worked so well with my Silky Squares Bracelet and Earrings pattern that I created what I am calling an “addendum” of substitution instructions. 

 Silky Squares Bracelet and Earrings

For those of you who have already purchased my Silky Squares pattern, this one-page addendum is a free download on the pattern page here: http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Patterns/SilkySquares.html.

The addendum is now (and forever) part of the PDF for purchase, which is on sale for $2.50 through next Friday at my website only, AroundTheBeadingTable.com. Betsy at RedPandaBeads.com has the new “mini” 5x5mm Silky beads for sale here: http://www.redpandabeads.com/category_s/3669.htm.

You’ll find links to exact beads used in the photo above at the bottom of the pattern page but I will also include them here. Note: One strand of 40 “mini” silky beads is enough to make a 7-inch bracelet but not enough for the earrings as well.


Mini Silky Squares bracelet:
• About 400 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #1052 Galvanized Gold
• About 36 size 8/0 seed beads: Miyuki #454 Metallic Dark Plum Iris
• About 36 SuperDuo beads: Pastel Bordeaux
• About 36 two-hole 5x5mm “Mini” Czech Silky beads: Chalk Luster


Mini Silky Squares earrings:
• About 100 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #1052 Galvanized Gold
8 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Czech Iris Purple
• 8 SuperDuo beads: Pastel Bordeaux
• 4 two-hole 5x5mm “Mini” Czech Silky beads: Chalk Luster
• 4 two-hole 5x5mm “Mini” Czech Silky beads: Lilac Luster

Friday, September 2, 2016

New FREE pattern: DiamonDuo Star!

Free DiamonDuo Star pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com


DiamonDuo Star

©2016 Deborah Roberti

This pattern can be used to make a pendant or ornament.

NEW!
Although originally created for DiamonDuo beads (top photos), this design also works great with GemDuo beads (photo below). However, because the GemDuo beads are slightly different in size, I recommend that you use size 8/0 seed beads or 3mm round beads instead of Color2 size 11/0 seed beads at the tip of each star point:

 

DiamonDuo Star beaded up with "backlit" GemDuo beads

 

MATERIALS
• 4 feet of 6 lb. FireLine
• 72 Color1 size 11/0 seed beads*
• 6 Color2 size 11/0 seed beads* (Or more Color1 11/0 seed beads. If your size 11/0 seed beads are smaller than the norm or you want more pronounced pointy tips, use size 8/0 seed beads. If you are using GemDuo beads instead of DiamonDuo beads, size 8/0 seed beads or 3mm round beads work best.)
• 6 size 8/0 seed beads
• 6 Color1 DiamonDuo beads (or GemDuo beads)
• 12 Color2 DiamonDuo beads (or GemDuo beads)
• 6 Color3 DiamonDuo beads (or GemDuo beads)
• a 4-6mm closed jump ring
• a chain (for the pendant) or a hook (for the ornament)

* Toho brand size 11/0 seed beads work best for this pattern because they are fatter.


Step 1: Thread your needle with four feet of FireLine.

Leave about a 5-inch tail that you can weave in and make disappear at any time (the sooner you do this, the better) and string six Color1 DiamonDuo beads.

Tie the beads together in a circle with a tight double knot, forming a ring six of DiamonDuo beads:


Step 2: Go back around through this ring of six DiamonDuo beads, grab your tail thread and tie another tight knot:


Step 3: Go back through the DiamonDuo bead next to the knot (highlighted in RED):


Step 4: Go around and through the outside hole of the Color1 DiamonDuo bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED):


Step 5: String two Color2 DiamonDuo Beads and go through the outside hole of the Color1 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 6: String two Color2 DiamonDuo Beads and go through the outside hole of the Color1 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 7: Repeat the last step four times:


Step 8: Go back around through the inside holes of the Color2 DiamonDuo beads and the outside holes of the Color1 DiamonDuo beads:


Step 9: Go through the inside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED and then around and through the outside hole of this same Color2 DiamonDuo bead:


Step 10: String a Color3 DiamonDuo bead and go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 11: String a Color1 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead and a Color1 11/0 seed bead. Go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 12: String a Color3 DiamonDuo bead and go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 13: String a Color1 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead and a Color1 11/0 seed bead. Go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 14: String a Color3 DiamonDuo bead and go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 15: String a Color1 11/0 seed bead, an 8/0 seed bead and a Color1 11/0 seed bead. Go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 16: Repeat Step 14 and Step 15 three times:


Step 17: Go through the inside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead, the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo bead, the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 18: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 19: String three Color1 11/0 seed bead. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 20: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED:


Step 21: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 22: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED.

String three more Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 23: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED.

String three more Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 24: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED.

String three more Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 25: String three Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo bead highlighted in RED.

String three more Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the Color1 11/0 seed bead, the 8/0 seed bead and the Color1 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 26: Go through the three Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 27: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads, a Color2 11/0 seed bead and two more Color1 11/0 seed beads.

Go around the Color3 DiamonDuo bead and through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


NOTE: As I mentioned in the Materials list, instead of Color2 11/0 seed beads, you can use more Color1 11/0 seed beads or if you want more pronounced pointy tips, use 8/0 seed beads instead of Color2 11/0 seed beads. If you are using GemDuo beads instead of DiamonDuo beads, size 8/0 seed beads or 3mm round beads work best.

Step 28: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads, a Color2 11/0 seed bead and two more Color1 11/0 seed beads.

Go around the Color3 DiamonDuo bead and through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 29: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads and a Color2 11/0 seed bead.

Go through a jump ring and then back down through the Color2 11/0 seed bead that you just added:


Step 30: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads. Go through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 31: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads, a Color2 11/0 seed bead and two more Color1 11/0 seed beads.

Go around the Color3 DiamonDuo bead and through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 32: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads, a Color2 11/0 seed bead and two more Color1 11/0 seed beads.

Go around the Color3 DiamonDuo bead and through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 33: String two Color1 11/0 seed beads, a Color2 11/0 seed bead and two more Color1 11/0 seed beads.

Go around the Color3 DiamonDuo bead and through the four Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next four Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 34: Skip the next Color2 11/0 seed bead and go up through six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED.

Pull tight and as you do, the skipped Color2 11/0 seed bead should pop out and give you more of a pointy tip:


NOTE: If you prefer, you can just go through the Color2 11/0 seed bead instead of skipping it. Depending on the size of your 11/0 seed beads, this may be your only option.

Step 35: Skip the next Color2 11/0 seed bead and go up through six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped Color2 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 36: Go through the Color2 11/0 seed bead, through your jump ring and then back down through this same Color2 11/0 seed bead. Continue on down through the six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the next six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 37: Skip the next Color2 11/0 seed bead and go down through six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped Color2 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 38: Skip the next Color2 11/0 seed bead and go down through six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped Color2 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 39: Skip the next Color2 11/0 seed bead and go down through six Color1 11/0 seed beads, the 8/0 seed bead and the six Color1 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped Color2 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:

Step 40: Go around through the beads highlighted in RED and your jump ring:

Weave your way back into the star, knot and cut your thread. 

Attach the jump ring to a hook for an ornament or slip a chain through the jump ring for a pendant. 

If you want to make your star more stiff, dip it into some floor polish and let it dry overnight on wax paper. Sandra Halpenny has instructions at the end of one of her free snowflake patterns here:
https://sandrahalpennybeading.blogspot.com/2015/10/snowflakes-falling-ornament-pattern.html

You can mix up the DiamonDuo colors and create different star patterns. Here are some examples and a blank star so you can create your own: