Jo McIntosh Knitting Beading Feltmaking Jewellery Artist Workshops

This page contains details of a simple project that you can try, together with information about where to get the materials you need.

I have included step by step instructions to take you from assembling materials through to the completed piece.

Project One - Beaded Pendant

To complete this project you will need to know how to do basic Brick Stitch - but if you don't there are instructions on Kimberley Chapman's excellent beading web site:
Brick Stitch Instructions

What You Will Need

210 cubes (2 tubes)
1 tube single colour and 1 tube mixed shades of colour seed beads
4mm crystals
Small charms
Nymo
Beading Needle

Where to Get Materials

Everything you need for this project can be purchased from:
GJ Beads, Court Arcade, The Wharf
St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 1LG

Tel: 01736 793886
www.gjbeads.co.uk

They have a full colour catalogue and offer a very good mail order service. However, if you have a supplier you already use you should be able to obtain what you need from them.

Step 1 - Foundation Row

Thread on 2 cubes. Pass needle back up through first bead (nearest tail) and down through second bead. The beads should now be sitting next to each other (don’t pull too tight as this tends to make them sit one below the other). Thread on another cube, go back down through the 2nd bead and back up through the bead just added. Continue adding a cube in this way until there are 20 cubes.

Step 2 - Create Triangle

Hold row with thread at left end. Pick up one cube and take needle under threads on top of first 2 cubes. Take needle up through the cube now sitting on top of first 2 beads. Continue adding cubes to end of row (you will have 19 cubes as these are sitting between the cubes on the first row). When the row is complete, turn the work so thread is again on the left.

Step 3 - Complete Triangle

Continue until you have a complete triangle. Sew in any “tails” before continuing.

Step 4 - Strap

Thread needle with enough Nymo for a strap. Bring thread out of end cube on Foundation row. Thread on seed beads (either all one colour or different shades). Take needle down through cube on opposite end of Foundation row and weave thread in securely before cutting.

Step 5 - Twisted Strap

Bring another long piece of Nymo out of end cube and thread on other seed beads, twist this around the first strap as you go until you reach the opposite end of the row. Secure thread as before.

Step 6 - Triangle Plus Strap

You will now have a completed triangle with strap and be ready to add loops and fringing.

Step 7 - Adding Loops (1)

Take needle out of end cube on Foundation row. Thread on 4 seed beads, l crystal and 4 seed beads. Take needle down next cube and back up out of following (3rd) cube on Foundation row.

Step 8 - Adding Loops (2)

Continue in this way until you reach the end of the row.

Step 9 - Adding Fringing (1)

Bring needle and thread out of cube where first fringe will be and thread on 10 seed beads, 1 charm and 1 seed bead. Ignoring last seed bead go back up through charm and 10 seed beads and then back through the cube. Work needle thread down to place for next fringe and repeat.

Step 10 - Adding Fringing (2)

Continue in this way until fringes are on both sides of triangle.

Step 11 - Attaching Crystals and Finishing Off

Work needle and thread to position for first crystal and thread on crystal. Take needle and thread through next cube. Place crystals on rest of triangle as desired in this way.

Step 12 - The Finished Pendant

Ensure that any "tails" are securely woven in before being cut.

Enjoy !

Notes

Some instructions given for Brick Stitch tell you to add 2 beads at the beginning of the row. For this project please only add one, I know some thread will show, but if you have used the same colour thread as beads this should not be a major problem ( anyway people should be too busy admiring your work and saying how clever you are to notice ! ).

Remember to leave a “tail” each time you add a new thread, so you can weave it in securely.

This project is intended as a starting point for you. Please feel free to change anything that you wish to, and remember, you don’t have to use the same colour!

As this is the first project on my website I would welcome any comments you may have, particularly if there is anything you didn’t understand, or anything you particularly liked!