Material needed

The base of the project is made with 3mm fire polish crystals.
The top is embellished with size 8 seed beads, size 11 seed beads and 4mm fire polish crystals.
Size B Nymo and #12 needle.


Instructions:

Ladder stitch - construct a 2-bead ladder four rows wide as follows: using approximately two yards of thread, add four 3mm crystals to the needle, moving the beads to within 4 inches from the tail thread. Go back through the same four beads again to form a tight circle then go through two more beads. Pinch the beads together so that you have two rows of two beads each.
Hold the base so that the two beads with the tail and lead thread are toward the right (this is Row 2). The tail should be at the bottom, the lead thread at the top. Add two beads. Bring the needle to the right and up through the bottom of Row 2 and back down through the beads you just added (Row 3). Your thread will be coming out the bottom of Row 3. Add two more beads. Bring the needle up and down through Row 3 and back up the two beads you just added (Row 4). This completes a two-bead ladder, four rows wide. The tail is at the bottom left, the lead thread is at the top right.

Herringbone stitch - when working the Herringbone stitch, work right to left and flip the work over at the end of each row. Continue working with the 3mm beads.
Hold the ladder so that the tail is at the bottom and the lead thread is on the top right, *add two beads. Go into the top bead of the second row to the left, then back up the top bead of the third row to the left (1 “v” formation completed). Add two (B) beads, go down into the top bead of the fourth row (2 “v” formations completed). One row completed.
Turn your work over so that the lead thread is to your right (tail remains at the bottom). To start the next row, you must first hide the thread and get into position. Bring the needle up through the second bead in the second row to the left, then cross over and go up through the first bead in the first row to the right. The thread is now hidden and you are ready to start the next row from the top right position. Keep your tension consistent throughout the project.
Keep adding rows until the Herringbone base is 1/2 inch shorter than your wrist.

Adding thread – when needed, add a new two-yard length of thread to a new needle then tie a small single knot at the end. Begin working the new thread into the base for several rows until it feels secure and will not pull out. End the new thread where the old thread stops. Work the old thread through several rows of the base to secure it in place.

Connection - when the finished length for the base has been reach, flip the base over as if to continue the pattern. Bring the needle across and up through the second and top bead in the second row to the left. The thread is coming out the top of Row 2. Go down through two beads in Row 3 then up through two beads in Row 4. This will connect Rows 2 and 3.

Button - add five size 11 beads, a shank button and five more 11’s. Go into the bead on the opposite side to form a loop. Work the thread over the reinforce the button loop ending on the outside row. Go down three beads and over two more bead ending between the center beads of Row 5.

Accent row – this is worked down the center between the threads connecting the two center beads. Add one size 8 bead. Go down through the center hole. Go under the thread and up through the next hole. The size 8 bead should be on the top of the base. Continue down the center with 8’s. Stop five rows before the end. Go through two beads in the center. Go down three beads on the outside and out the end of the base.

Button loop - add 25 size 11 beads. Go into the opposite side to form a loop. Make sure the button goes easily over the loop before continuing.
Go down three beads on the outside and two beads in the center ending at the first size 8. Go through the 8.

Zig -Zag – hold the base so that the accent row is on top with the lead thread pulled to the right. Keep tension on the thread. Add one 11, one 4mm and one 11. Go through the next 8 heading out the left. Press into place between your thumb and forefinger. Add one 11, one 4mm and one 11. Go through the next 8 heading out the right. Press into place between your thumb and forefinger.
Repeat the zig-zag pattern across working left to right. Hold the beads in place as you go to keep them on opposite sides. When the center row is complete, bury the thread in the work.
With the remaining tail thread reinforce the loop then bury the thread

Design, Graphics and Copyright Instructions by Stephanie Eddy ©2007

Stephanie Eddy

Project Images