Similar to my “Rondelle Radiance” challenge, this design was inspired by a single package of round beads on sale at Michael’s, which included four sizes (4mm, 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm).
Round beads: 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm
I wanted to design a necklace using all four sizes of the round beads, and this “Sarina Necklace” is the result. The finished necklace is about 19 inches long (including clasp), but can be made longer by making the “chain” section longer than 5 inches at both ends. The pattern also requires 2 colors of 11/0 TOHO seed beads (one color matching the round beads, plus an accent color), as well as two 6/0 or 8/0 seed beads to connect a clasp at both ends via jump rings. This is a 2-page pattern, and materials are listed on the 2nd page.
Click on the photos below (or the free beading pattern) to zoom in.
If you wish to print the pattern, download it in PDF format:
Click on the photos below (or the free beading pattern) to zoom in.
The original inspiration for this piece was a sale at Hobby Lobby, specifically this Metal Gallery piece:
I thought this would be great as a focal point, with some natural stone. I have both drilled medium chips and round beads made of natural stone, so wanted to incorporate those somehow. I thought having the chips as a backdrop to the focal piece would be great, but they are too heavy to make an entire necklace out of with enough width for the focal piece to lay on top of. Plus I only had 30 inches or so of each chip variety. So what I finally came up with was more of a method than a pattern, which is easier to show with a mix of pictures and diagrams. Usually my PDF patterns are 1 page, but this one is 5 pages, to illustrate this method with images.
This pattern requires two 8/0 seed beads and jump rings for clasp, 11/0 seed beads, 4-mm round beads, 30-inches of medium drilled chip beads, and (optionally) a 1 1/2″ focal piece or bead (with 5 inches of 20-guage wire to attach).
I started by making 2 end pieces (each in an L-shape) to frame the center chip section (shown in steps 1 – 10 below).
Steps 1 – 10
Then I added some decorative stability strands (with accent color), so the end components would keep their shape with the weight of the chips added later. The first outer strand is made of alternating 4mm round beads and seed beads, and should measure 3″ – 3 1/16″ long, connecting from the last vertical diamond, to the 9th horizontal diamond from the right. This ended up being 13 round beads for the aqua/gold piece pictured below, but 14 for the blue/silver piece (as the size of 4mm beads can vary).
Step 11
Connect the strand at the 9th horizontal diamond from the right (see diagram below, step 12). After step 12, the 2nd strand should measure 2 1/4″, and connect from the 7th horizontal diamond from the right to the 4th vertical diamond. This ending up being 9 round beads for the aqua/gold piece pictured below, but 10 for the blue/silver piece. (I adjusted the strand to the right length by adding an extra seed bead on the end, which can be done with any of the strands).
Steps 12, 14, and 15Step 13
When diamond links are at 90 degrees, the 3 longer strands will have some slack.
When you pull it apart past 90 degrees (as the gravity of the chip beads will do), the four strands should all be straight.
Next, string on 5 inches of chips.
Step 16
Connect it to the other end component, per diagram below:
Step 17
After connecting first row of chips, connect clasp with jump rings through 8/0 seed beads at either end, and place on a necklace display bust. (The weight of the chips can affect how long each of the next four chip strands will be, so it is good to finish the necklace while it is on the display bust).
Before step 18 (1st strand of chips)
As you add chip strands, ensure they are the right length so they lie close together without gaps or overlapping. (Step 18 indicates what these lengths were for my chips).
Step 18 (2nd strand of chips)Step 18
After the 5th strand, the weight of the chips will pull the end component strands straight. This can be the finished necklace, or you can continue to add a focal piece on top of the chips.
Finished chip section (after step 18)
For the focal piece, first put about 5 inches of 20-guage wire through the focal bead, and bend the ends 90 degrees back on both sides.
Step 19
Put the necklace on the display bust backwards, then place the focal bead behind it. Be sure it is in the center.
Step 20
Bend the wires down with your thumbs, in between the chip beads. Use round nose pliers to curl the wire ends inward so they don’t poke out.
Step 21
Put the necklace back on the display bust frontward, showing the focal piece. Enjoy the finished piece!
Chip Statement Necklace
If you wish to print the pattern, download it in PDF format:
Here is an earring design to coordinate with the Coral Superduo Earrings from my last post. It requires 11/0 seed beads (2 to 3 colors), and Superduo beads (1 – 2 colors, or a coordinating bead mix), plus a 6/0 or 8/0 bead to connect the ear hook via jump ring. The branches of the coraled strands (and each section of the spine) have one less seed bead than in the coraled strands of the necklace/pendant, in order to make this earring component slightly shorter (not too long).
Since these earrings are quicker to make than the necklace, I was able to experiment more with different colors and superduo bead mixes. The “organic” feel of this design lends itself well to designer superduo bead mixes in a family of colors and varying finishes (matte, gloss, textured, etc). I love how they turned out! I hope you enjoy this free beading pattern.
Click on the photos below (or the free beading pattern) to zoom in.
If you wish to print the pattern, download it in PDF format:
One more design for the holidays! I was curious how superduo beads would look on a “coraled” pendant, and I love how it turned out! They resemble tri-petal florets on the end of each coral branch, and look great with either two accent colors or one. This design requires only TOHO 11/0 seed beads (two to three colors) and superduo beads (one or two accent colors).
In the red/green piece, I used a base color of silver (Permafinish galvanized aluminum TOHO 11/0) with two accent colors of red and green (requiring matching seed and superduo beads in both colors). In the purple/rose-gold piece I used a rose-gold base color with one accent color of purple (requiring purple seed and superduo beads). The last aqua/white piece was made with smaller Czech 11/0 seed beads, but the thread showed a little more on the chain part of the necklace, so I feel TOHO seed beads work slightly better with this design. The aqua/white color scheme did not have a base color – instead I just alternated the 2 colors (requiring matching seed and superduo beads in both colors).
Click on the photos below (or the free beading pattern) to zoom in.
If you wish to print the pattern, download it in PDF format:
This is an earring design to coordinate with the Christmas Diamond Necklace from my last post. These earrings are much quicker to make than the necklace, which is a nice way to test different color schemes before committing to the necklace. Two sizes of bugle beads are required: #2 (5mm) green bugle beads, and #3 (7mm) red bugle beads. I made these in a different color scheme as well, using black and clear/irridescent bugles. 8/0 and 11/0 TOHO seed beads are also required, as are jump rings and ear hooks to finish them off. I hope you enjoy this free beading pattern!
Click on the photos below (or the free beading pattern) to zoom in.
If you wish to print the pattern, download it in PDF format:
