Thursday, June 26, 2014

Pretty Beaded Leather Bracelet

Photo via cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com

Beaded Leather Bracelet
bracelet 8 in. (20 cm)
Materials list
18-20 4-6 mm rondelle gemstone beads
4 6 mm fire-polished beads
4 6 x 4 mm glass rondelles
12 4 mm fire-polished beads
40 4 mm bicone crystals
4 3 mm fire-polished beads
11/0 seed beads
   3 g color A
   1 g color B
   1 g color C
Fireline, 6 lb. test and 14 lb. test
Beading needles, # 11
Four-strand leather bracelet
Talk about to figure 1 for placement of the additions on the leather bracelet.
Photo via cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com

Tubular netted tube
This tube will be stitched around an outside strand of the bracelet.
[1] On 1½ yd. (1.4 m) of 6 lb. Fireline, pick up nine color A 11/0 seed beads, wrap the beads around an outside strand of the bracelet, and tie the beads into a ring with a square knot, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Sew through all the beads again.
[2] Pick up three As, skip the next A in the ring, and sew through the next A. Repeat around the ring, and step up through the first two As added in this round.
[3] Pick up three As, and sew through the center A in the next stitch of the previous round. Repeat around the ring, and step up through the first two As added in this round.
[4] Repeat step 3 for the desired length of the tube. If desired, stitch several rounds using color B 11/0 seed beads to make an interesting pattern. End the threads.

Wrap bracelet
This technique is used for the two center strands of the bracelet.
[1] On 2 yd. (1.8 m) of 14 lb. Fireline, wrap the Fireline around the first center strand near one end, and tie several square knots to secure , leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Wrap the Fireline around the same strand, and tie a half-hitch knot . Sew under the Fireline, and tie another half-hitch knot.
[2] Position a gemstone rondelle between the two center strands, and hold it in place with your non-needle hand. With the needle on the back of the bracelet, sew behind the first center strand, through the rondelle, and sew behind the second center strand.
[3] Bring the needle to the front across the top of the second strand, sew through the rondelle, and across the top of the first leather strand (figure 2), snugging up the thread.
[4] Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the desired length. End the thread by sewing between the thread and the strand several times and tying half-hitch knots.
Photo via cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com

Beaded beads
My bracelet has three beaded beads using 4 mm fire-polished beads in the center, one using 6 mm fire-polished beads, and one using 4 x 6 mm glass rondelles.
[1] On 18 in. (46 cm) of Fireline, pick up a repeating pattern of a 4 mm fire polished bead and a color C 11/0 seed bead four times. Wrap the beads around the available strand on the bracelet, and tie the beads into a ring with a square knot, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Sew through the beads again to exit a 6 mm.
[2] Pick up seven color A and B 11/0 seed beads, and sew through the 6 mm your thread is exiting in the same direction (figure 3). Push the seven 11/0s to one side of the 6 mm. Repeat this step on the same 6 mm, but push this new loop of 11/0s to the other side of the 6 mm (figure 4).
Photo via cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com
Photo via cs.jewelrymakingmagazines.com

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Kumihimo Friendship Bracelets




Kumihimo Series - A fashionable version of the friendship bracelets you dress in as a kid. Necklace and bracelets are made of a braided cord using the Japanese method of Kumihimo.* Beads are then hand-stitched on the braid. They are complete with a hook and a charm on the end to give them an adult feel. Wear bracelets set on your wrist just like you did when you were young! All pieces are one of a kind owed to the nature of their design.

*Kumihimo: The best projecting historical use of the cords by samurai as both a useful and attractive way to lace their lamellar armor and their horses’ armor (barding). Kumihimo cords are now used as ties on haori coats and obijimes, which are used for tying on an obi (kimono sash).