Thursday, February 22, 2018

Updated beaded Flower Earrings pattern!

Flower Earrings, free bead pattern

Flower Earrings
(©2009, updated 2018 Deborah Roberti)

I have updated my free Flower Earrings pattern so that they are a little stiffer, have a prettier attachment to the jump ring and also work with 6mm Czech 2-hole cabochons instead of 6mm round beads in the center.

Materials:• about 2 yards of 6 lb. FireLine
• two 6mm round beads (or two 6mm Czech two-hole cabochon beads--see end steps)
• about 140 size 11/0 seed beads (Miyuki rocaille brand preferred)
• 34 size 3mm fire-polished beads
• two small (2-4mm) jump rings
• a pair of ear wires, or whichever type of earring finding you prefer


STEP 1: Thread your needle with about a yard of FireLine.

String a round bead and eight seed beads.

Leaving about a six-inch tail, go around the right side of the round bead and back up through the round bead. Pull tight:


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

Step 2: String eight more seed beads. Go around and back up through the round bead so that this set of eight seed beads is on the left side of the round bead. Pull tight:


Step 3: Go back down through the eight seed beads on the right side of the round bead that you added in Step 1:


Step 4: Go back around through the nine seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 5: Go all the way back around through the ring of ring of sixteen seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 6: String a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go around and back across through the two seed beads on the ring (highlighted in RED) to form your first "petal":


NOTE: To guarantee that the earring lines up right upon completion, you do want to make sure that you go through those two seed beads highlighted in RED--one seed bead on each side of the round bead hole.

Step 7: Go back around through the beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):


Step 8: Go through the next two seed beads on the ring of sixteen seed beads (highlighted in RED):


Step 9: String a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and back down through the fire-polished bead that you added in Step 6 and back through the two seed beads on the circle of sixteen seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED) to form a second "petal":


Step 10: Go back around through the beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):


Step 11: Go through the next two seed beads on the ring of sixteen seed beads (highlighted in RED):


Step 12: String a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and back through the fire-polished bead that you added earlier and back through the two seed beads on the circle of sixteen seed beads that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED) to form another "petal":


Step 13: Go back around through the beads that you just added (highlighted in RED):


Step 14: Go through the next two seed beads on the ring of sixteen seed beads (highlighted in RED):



Step 15: Repeat Step 12 to 14 four times to create four more "petals":



Step 16: Go up through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:


Step 17: String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and down through the fire-polished bead, across through the two seed beads on the circle of sixteen seed beads and up through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:


Step 18: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED:


Step 19: Go back through the seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 20: String four seed beads.

Go around the fire-polished bead in the first petal and through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 21: String four seed beads.

Go around the fire-polished bead in the next petal and through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 22: Repeat the last step six times:


Step 23: Go up through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 24: String a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go through your jump ring and then back down through the fire-polished bead and seed bead that you just strung.

Continue down through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 25: Go back around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 26: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the jump ring:


Step 27: Go back around through the seed beads highlighted in RED:


Weave your way back into your earring, knot and cut your thread. Thread your needle with the tail from Step 1, weave your way into your earring, knot and cut your thread. Attach your earring finding to the jump ring.

Czech Two-Hole Cab Version

Flower Earrings, free bead pattern

Instead of 6mm round beads, you can use 6mm Czech two-hole cabochons. Just replace Step 1 to Step 5 with the following steps.

Step 1: Thread your needle with about a yard of FireLine.

Leaving about a six-inch tail, go up through the left hole of a 6mm Czech two-hole cabochon. String two seed beads. Go around and down through the right hole of this same cabochon:


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

Step 2: String two seed beads and go up through the left hole of the cabochon. Go across through the two seed beads that you added in the last step (highlighted in RED):


Step 3: String six seed beads and go across through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 4: String six more seed beads and go across through the two seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 5: Go all the way back around through the ring of ring of sixteen seed beads highlighted in RED:


Continue on with Steps 6 to 27.

Monday, February 12, 2018

DiamonDuo Mini Star Earrings!


DiamonDuo Mini Star Earrings, free pattern

DiamonDuo Mini Star Earrings
©2018 Deborah Roberti

The DiamonDuo bead has a new baby sister—the DiamonDuo Mini! This two-hole, diamond-shaped Czech bead measures 6x4mm, about the size of a SuperDuo bead. With a few bead substitutions and step changes, my DiamonDuo Star works beautifully with these new beads to create some fun earrings.


MATERIALS
• 2 yards of 6 lb. FireLine
• About 150 size 15/0 seed beads (I used 15CZ55006 Crystal Labrador Full Czech Coating on Miyuki Rocailles)
• 24 size 11/0 seed beads (I used Miyuki #454 Purple Iris)
• 6 Color1 DiamonDuo Mini beads (I used Matte Silver)
• 12 Color2 DiamonDuo Mini beads (I used Prismatic Peacock)
• 6 Color3 DiamonDuo Mini beads (I used Pastel Blue Zircon)
• Two small (2-4mm) jump rings
• A pair of earring findings


Step 1: Thread your needle with about a yard of FireLine.

Leaving about a 5-inch tail that you can weave in and make disappear at any time, string six Color1 DiamonDuo Mini beads.

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


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


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


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


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


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


Step 7: Repeat the last step four times:


Step 8: Go through the inside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED and then around and through the outside hole of this same Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead:


Step 9: String a Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead and go through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 10: String a 15/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead and a 15/0 seed bead. Go up through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 11: String a Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead and go up through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 12: String a 15/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead and a 15/0 seed bead. Go up through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 13: String a Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead and go up through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 14: String a 15/0 seed bead, an 11/0 seed bead and a 15/0 seed bead. Go across through the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 15: Repeat Step 13 and Step 14 three times:


Step 16: Go across through the inside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead, the outside hole of the Color2 DiamonDuo Mini bead, the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 17: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go up through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 18: String two 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead and two more 15/0 seed beads. Go around and back up through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):


Push the seed beads that you just added into more of a point with your fingers by pulling the 11/0 seed bead outward.

Step 19: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go up through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 20: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go up through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 21: String two 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead and two more 15/0 seed beads. Go around and back up through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED), pushing the seed beads that you just added into more of a point with your fingers:


Step 22: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 23: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 24: String two 15/0 seed beads and an 11/0 seed bead.

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


Step 25: String two 15/0 seed beads. Go across through the top hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 26: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go down through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:


Step 27: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 28: String two 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead and two more 15/0 seed beads. Go around and back down through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED), pushing the seed beads that you just added into more of a point with your fingers:


Step 29: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go down through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED.

String three more 15/0 seed beads. Go down through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 30: String two 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead and two more 15/0 seed beads. Go around and back down through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED), pushing the seed beads that you just added into more of a point with your fingers:


Step 31: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go across through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the 15/0 seed bead highlighted in RED.

String three more 15/0 seed beads. Go across through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead highlighted in RED:


Step 32: String two 15/0 seed beads, an 11/0 seed bead and two more 15/0 seed beads. Go around and back across through the outside hole of the Color3 DiamonDuo Mini bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED), pushing the seed beads that you just added into more of a point with your fingers:


Step 33: String three 15/0 seed beads. Go across through the 15/0 seed bead, the 11/0 seed bead and the six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 34: Skip the next 11/0 seed bead and go up through six 15/0 seed beads, the 11/0 seed bead and the six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


NOTE: If you prefer, you can just go through the 11/0 seed bead instead of skipping it.

Step 35: Skip the next 11/0 seed bead and go through six 15/0 seed beads, the 11/0 seed bead and the six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip.

Continue up through the 11/0 seed bead, through your jump ring and then back down through this same 11/0 seed bead (highlighted in RED):


Step 36: Go down through the six 15/0 seed beads, the 11/0 seed bead and the next six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:


Step 37: Skip the next 15/0 seed bead and go down through six 15/0 seed beads, the 11/0 seed bead and the six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 38: Skip the next 11/0 seed bead and go down through six 15/0 seed beads, the 11/0 seed bead and the six 15/0 seed beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 39: Skip the next 11/0 seed bead and go up through six 15/0 seed beads and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED, pulling tight so that the skipped 11/0 seed bead pops out to create a pointy tip:


Step 40: If you think you can get your needle through, go back 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 your earring finding.

You can mix up the DiamonDuo Mini colors and create different star patterns. Here is a blank star so you can create your own colorway: