Royal jewels bracelet

Gemstones and pearls complement golden cylinder beads, lending this bracelet an opulent look.

SUPPLIES 

bracelet 7 3⁄4 in. (19.7 cm)

• 6 6 x 5 mm flat faceted briolettes
• 14 6 mm flat hexagonal beads
• 6 6 mm bugle beads
• 16 5 mm freshwater pearls, cross-drilled
• 7 5 mm freshwater pearls, drilled lengthwise
• 71 4 mm fire-polished beads
• 37 2 or 3 mm round beads
• 35 seed pearls
• 1g 11/0 seed beads
• 15g 11/0 cylinder beads
• Nymo D conditioned with beeswax or Thread Heaven, or Fireline 6 lb. test
• beading needles, #12

INSTRUCTIONS

Hexagonal base

1. Center a needle on 3 yd. (2.7 m) of thread, and pick up six 11/0 cylinder beads, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Sew through all the beads again to form a ring, and continue through the first cylinder picked up (FIGURE 1, a–b). If you prefer to use Fireline, work with a single strand 1 1⁄2 yd. (1.4 m) in length.

2. To form a disk, work in increasing circular peyote stitch, stepping up through the first cylinder of each new round:

Round 2: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch (b–c).
Round 3: Pick up two cylinders in each stitch (c–d).
Round 4: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch, placing a cylinder between and in the middle of each pair (d–e).

Round 5: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch (FIGURE 2, a–b).
Round 6: Alternate picking up one cylinder and picking up two cylinders in each stitch (b–c).
Round 7: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch, placing a cylinder after each cylinder in the previous round, including in the middle of each pair (c–d).

Round 8: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch (FIGURE 3, a–b).
Round 9: Alternate working a stitch with two cylinders and working two stitches with one cylinder each (b–c).
Round 10: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch, placing a cylinder after each cylinder in the previous round, including in the middle of each pair (c–d).

3. To add sides to the disk, work five rounds with one cylinder per stitch. Snug up the beads to form the sides (PHOTO A). Do not end the working thread or tail.

4. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a second disk. End the working thread and tail, and trim.

5. Zip up the edges of the two disks, creating a hexagonal base (PHOTO B). End the working thread and tail, and trim.

6. Make three more hexagonal bases.

Base embellishments

Use a variety of beads to embellish the hexagonal bases. Sew through the base to attach the beads. Designer Elizabeth Townes created four embellishments combining fire-polished beads and round garnets; hexagonal garnets and seed pearls; bugle beads and seed beads; and round garnets, freshwater pearls, and garnet briolettes.

Embellishment options include Czech teardrops and fire-polished beads, glass or round sterling silver beads, or gemstones.

Place the beads in symmetrical patterns. Secure the larger beads first, and fill in around them.

Beaded spacers

1. On 1 yd. (.9 m) of thread or Fireline, pick up three 4 mm fire-polished beads, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Sew through all the beads again to form a ring (FIGURE 4, a–b).

2. Pick up two 4 mms, and sew through the 4 mm your thread exited and the two 4 mms picked up in this step (b–c).

3. Pick up two 4 mms, and sew through the 4 mm your thread exited and the first 4 mm picked up in this step (c–d).

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 (d–e and e–f).

5. Pick up one 4 mm, and sew through the end 4 mm added in step 1, the last 4 mm added in step 4, and the 4 mm picked up in this step (f–g).

6. To add the second side to the beaded spacer, pick up two 4 mms, and sew through the edge 4 mm your thread exited and the first 4 mm picked up in this step (FIGURE 5, a–b).

7. Pick up one 4 mm, and sew through the next edge 4 mm, the first 4 mm added in the previous step, the 4 mm picked up in this step, and the next edge 4 mm (b–c).

8. Pick up one 4 mm, and sew through the 4 mm added in the previous step, the edge 4 mm your thread exited, and the 4 mm picked up in this step (c–d).

9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 (d–e and e–f).

10. Sew through the second 4 mm added in step 6, the last edge 4 mm, the 4 mm added in the previous step, the 4 mm added in step 6, and the next edge 4 mm (f–g).

11. Pick up a 2 or 3 mm round bead and sew through the next edge 4 mm (FIGURE 6, a–b). Repeat to complete the round (b–c).

12. Sew through an interior 4 mm, pick up a 6 mm bead, skip two interior 4 mms, and sew through the next interior and edge 4 mms (c–d).

13. Flip the beadwork. Repeat step 12 on the other side. End the working thread and tail, and trim.

14. Make two more beaded spacers.

Toggle loop

1. On 3 yd. (2.7 m) of thread or Fireline, pick up 36 cylinders, leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail, and sew through the first cylinder again. Work three rows of tubular peyote (PHOTO C).

2. Work five rounds of increasing circular peyote, stepping up through the first cylinder of each new round:

Round 4: Alternate working two stitches with one cylinder each and one stitch with two cylinders.
Round 5: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch, placing a cylinder after each single cylinder and between each pair.
Round 6: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch.
Round 7: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch between the single stitches, and position a pair of cylinders to match the placement of the pairs of cylinders at the corners in round 6.

Round 8: Pick up one cylinder in each stitch, placing a cylinder after each single cylinder and between each pair (PHOTO D).

3. Sew through the beadwork to the opposite edge of the band, exiting at a point where you can begin a repeat of round 6 in step 2, mirroring the stitching of the first side. Repeat step 2.

4. Work three rows of peyote with one cylinder per stitch. Snug up the beads to form the side edge of the toggle loop.

5. Zip up the two edges (PHOTO E). End the working thread and tail, and trim.

Toggle bar

1. On 2 yd. (1.8 m) of thread or Fireline, attach a stop bead (Basics), leaving a 6-in. (15 cm) tail. Working in flat even-count peyote, make a strip that is 24 beads wide with seven beads on each straight edge (14 rows). Remove the stop bead.

2. Zip up the two edges, and sew through the beadwork to one end of the tube.

3. Pick up a 4 mm, and sew through the cylinder opposite the bead your thread exited at the start of this step.

4. Sew through the beadwork to the other end of the tube, and repeat step 3. Sew through the beadwork, exiting six cylinders from the end of the tube. Do not end or trim the working thread or tail.

Assembly

1. Using the working thread from the toggle bar, pick up 12 cylinders and a freshwater pearl.

2. Sew through a hexagonal base, exiting the opposite side of the base (PHOTO F).

3. Pick up a freshwater pearl, and sew through an edge 4 mm in a beaded spacer. Sew through the next six edge beads, exiting a 4 mm (PHOTO G). Pick up a freshwater pearl.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to attach the remaining hexagonal bases and beaded spacers.

5. After attaching the last hexagonal base, pick up a freshwater pearl and 12 cylinders. Sew through a cylinder in a corner of the hexagonal toggle loop, and continue through the cylinders to the next corner. Pick up eight cylinders, sew through the ninth cylinder from the toggle loop, and pick up three cylinders and a freshwater pearl (PHOTO H).

6. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to sew back through the bracelet, adding a second pearl at each connection point between a hexagonal base and a beaded spacer.

7. After sewing through the last hexagonal base, pick up a freshwater pearl and three cylinders. Sew through the fourth cylinder from the hexagonal base in the 12-cylinder section. Pick up eight cylinders, and sew through a cylinder six beads from the end of the toggle bar (PHOTO I). End the working thread and tail, and trim.