Iris Beaded EarringsBeading & Jewelry Making Tutorial Series I26
Copyright
Copyrights DIY Beading Club 2013
Published By DIY Beading Club
Introduction
Inspired by the flower Iris, here is a pair of blue and yellow colored beaded earring!
The Iris beaded earrings are created using Circular Brickstitch around a ring.
Unlike regular hoop earrings the edges are embellished with bicones to mimic a flower. With this tutorial, you'll learn techniques on how to adjust and use both Increase and Decrease Brickstitch to make the beads fit and create almost perfect rounds of beads.
The number of beads for every round suggested in this tutorial may be differ than the number of beads you may need, if you use a different brand of beads as every brand has a slight difference in size. You can also create a variation of the design and create your own edging than what is shown and taught in this tutorial, but the techniques used will be the same.
The tutorial is catered for intermediate. For beginners you can consider this tutorial your 1st step in honing your Brickstitch skills, if you already have a basic knowledge of Brickstitch. It has in-depth instructions and ultra-clear, close-up photos at each step. Additionally, you can ask me question you have on the tutorial. No more getting stuck and frustrated on a confusing or just plain inaccurate pattern.
Materials and tools needed:
Materials Needed
A 11/0 Dandelion Toho round seed beads
B 8/0 Opaque Frosted Navy Blue Toho round seed beads
C 11/0 Opaque Navy Blue Toho round seed beads
D 5mm yellow bicone crystals
2 pcs 21ga jump ring
2 ear wires
2 pcs 36 inches beading thread
2 12mm closed jump rings
Tools Needed
Beading Needle
Scissor
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1:
With a 36-inch beading thread, tie a knot 2x onto your closed jump ring, leaving 6 - 7 inches tail.
Step 2: 1st Round of Circular Brickstich
Pick up 2A and pass the thread under the ring. Pull the thread and as you pull pass the thread into the 2nd A added.
Pull the thread and you'll have 2 beads sitting on the outer diameter of the jump ring.
Step 3:
Pick up 1A and pass the thread under the ring. Again, as you pull pass the thread into the new A added.
Pull the thread.
Step 4:
Repeat previous step and go all the way around the jump ring.
Step 5:
Here you have added the last A to complete the round. You then need to connect the beads to close the circle.
Coming out of the last A added, pass the thread into the 1st A of the round.
Then come back up the last A added and pull the thread.
Here you have completed your 1st round. You can now secure the tail by passing the thread back through several beads and cut off excess thread. All in all you have 19A for the 1st round.
Note:
The number of beads used on this tutorial may differ if you use a different brand of beads as brand per brand has a slight difference in size.
To continue, this is how the sides will look like. You'll see threads connecting the beads and we'll call this "bridge."
Now, you're ready to weave the 2nd round.
Step 6: 2nd Round of Brickstitch
Pick up 2A and pass the thread under the bridge.
This diagram is showing half view of the circle. The blue line is your working thread and the red line is the bridge. See that the blue line is passing under the bridge and as you pull, the thread is passing the 2nd A added.
Step 7:
Pick up 1A and pass the thread under the next bridge and pull.
Tip 1:
Pause for awhile and look at the pictures as you might arrive at this stage of your beadwork.
Let's try and add another A by passing the thread under the next bridge, and come back up the new A added, and pull the thread.
You will notice that there is a big gap. shown in red circle, between the last bead and the new bead added.
As you weave your round you will often see a big gap in between the last bead and new bead added. This is because of the circumference and as the round gets bigger, bigger gaps will be visible. In order to avoid these gaps you need to weave using Increase Brickstitch.
Let's continue and try on Step 8.
Step 8: Increase Brickstitch
Pick up 1A. This time, pass the thread under the previous bridge and then come up and out the new A added.
Pull the thread. Now, there is no big gap.
Step 9:
After the increase you can now continue and do a regular brickstitch.Pick up 1A and pass the thread under the next bridge and continue to complete the 2nd round.
Note:
Again, you may find that at some stage of your beadwork the gap gets bigger, simply repeat Step 8 and perform an Increase Brickstitch.
Step 10:
When you're nearing to complete the circle, repeat Step 5 to close and connect the round. All in all, the 2nd round consists of 25A.
At this stage of your beadwork you are now ready to embellish the edges.
Step 11: Embellishing the edges
Repeat Step 6 and 7. With the same weaving technique, perform regular brickstitch using B.
Tips 2:
Now, pause for awhile and look at the image...
After weaving a number of B, in this case 4B you may find that the last B added tend to take up the space for the next bridge, shown in red arrow. This is because the beads are now bigger. If you happen to arrive at this stage of your beadwork you then need to perform a Decrease Brickstitch.
Let's try on Step 12.
Step 12: Decrease Brickstitch
Pick up 1B. Skip the next bridge, shown in red arrow and pass the thread under the next immediate bridge shown in black arrow.
Pull the thread and then you can now continue with a regular brickstitch.
Note:
At some stage of your beadwork you may find that the bead again may take up the space for the next bridge, simply perform Decrease Brickstitch.
...and here, you have now completed your 1st edging with 11C
Step 13:
Flip your beadwork so you weave from left to right and let's continue...
For your 2nd edging, pick up 2A and perform a regular birckstitch with several Increased Brickstitch until you reach the other end.
Here is a finished 2nd edging, with19A.
Step 14:
Flip your beadwork and pick up 2B. Take note, pass the thread under the 2nd bridge. Come back up the last A added and pull the thread.
Continue weaving until your reach the other end. Don't forget that if you see B taking up the space for the next bridge repeat Step 12 for Decrease Brickstitch, if needed
Step 15:
Here is the finished 3rd edging with 15B.
Flip the beadwork and again, take note where to pass the thread.
Pick up 2B and pass the thread under the 2nd bridge. Come back up the last B added and pull the thread.
Immediately, perform an Increased Brickstitch by following Step 8. Pick up 1B and pass the thread under the previous bridge.
Continue to finish the 4th edging with Decrease or Increased Brickstitch, if needed until you reach the other end.
Here is the finished 4th edging with 17B.
Step 16:
Flip your beadwork again and be ready to start the final edging.
Now, mark the 1st B of the 4th edging as #1. Have your thread pass back through several B and come out #2.. Pick up 1D, 1C and 1D. Skip #3 and pass into #4.
Step 17:
As you pull the thread, come back up #5. For this earring design repeat Step 16 and 17 about 4x
Step 18: Bail
After you are through with your final edging pass the thread into several A and aim where you want your bail.
Note:
You may have to count the beads to pinpoint the center.
Pick up 7A. Skip several A and pass back through your chosen A to make a loop. Secure your thread by passing back through seveal beads, making knots and then cut off excess thread.
Attach a jump ring onto the middle bead then attach your ear wire.
Repeat from start and you're done! You have your Iris Beaded Earrings!
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About The Author
I consider myself a late bloomer when it comes to crafting. I’m a self-taught jewelry maker. Jewelry making wasn’t really a hobby of mine, but unforeseen events lead me to learn jewellery making. My family put up a craft store where we sell cross stitch, beads and all sorts of crafting materials. I fell in love with the beads and tried to create accessories only for myself. Clients liked the pieces and I started customizing handmade jewelleries. The craft store was a success for 6 years, but like any other small businesses we had to close it down and I was confined to staying at home. While at home I had all the time using the internet and now working as a home-based jewelry designer
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