Taking a Beading Break

 After sewing up a bunch of tees and a pair of wide-legged pants (Style Arc Fifi), it seemed time to take a break from clothing and try a beading project.

Most of the things I do with beads are off-loom weaving using Peyote stitch and brick stitch and most of the projects are earrings. Two reasons really -- I wear earrings daily, and an earring project is small and manageable. I have several bracelet bodies laying around, but somehow have never gotten around to actually finishing them up with fasteners. OK, the sensible thing to do would be to finish up one of those, but nope -- I felt the need to start something new.

I decided on a design by Deb Roberti -- Parquet Band. It's a modified square stitch pattern using Tila beads by Miyuki. Her instructions are very clear and very beginner friendly. Although I've been playing with beads for a while, I don't do it often enough to have everything be second nature and I really appreciate thorough instructions.

So, my version of Parquet Band:

Beading progress

Taking a little break from fabric and fiber to play with beads. I'm waiting for findings to arrive in order to finish them up, but progress so far is pleasing to me.

Both patterns are from Deb Roberti's Around the Beading Table and both are free patterns -- Petite Paisley earrings and Astral bracelet. There are many attractive patterns on her site, both free and to purchase. I have made several of the free patterns, and purchased a couple of others, and what stands out to me about Deb's patterns is the clarity of her instructions. The written instructions are clear and concise, and her diagrams help even a beginner beader like me achieve good results.

I used Zoli Duo (both right and left facing) in Pastel Purple for the earrings and the seed beads are silver-lined crystal. Ran out of jump rings in the size/finish I wanted to use to attach them to ear wires, but it should be a quick finish once they are in hand. 

The bracelet is made with CzechMates 2-hole 7mm beads in Metallic Aurora Red, with 11/0 seed beads (Miyuki Silver Lined Grey) and 3mm fire polished crystal beads.

I was trying for a look of antique silver with the grey seed beads, and I think it comes fairly close. This one is waiting on a clasp.