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LEARN and CREATE – the “Feather” bracelet - part 2

CONTINUATION: the "Feather" bracelet

  • to go to the 4th row and fill the gap, you pull the thread upwards between the beads
  • round 4: pick up a Delica A and pass your needle through the next bead – repeat three more times – till you reach the middle
  • pick up 2 beads B for the middle part and go on without skipping a bead

Feather bracelet - adding 2 middle beads

  • continue the Peyote stitch in color A to fill out the next three gaps
  • note: in order to maintain the V-shape, you will no fill out the fourth gap at the end of each row
  • important: each row has the same pattern – add 4 beads, 2 middle beads and 3 beads

Feather bracelet - each round, add 4 and 2 and 3 beads

  • whenever you change color, check if both sides have the same number of rounds
  • to finish your bracelet, zigzag towards the two beads at the top of the bracelet
  • make a small loop and add a button to it
  • pass your needle several times through the loop
  • when finished, zigzag again through your work and cut off the thread
  • with the tail thread add a larger loop – depending the size of your button – in between the V-shape and make several passes through it
  • zigzag through your piece and cut off the thread
  • … have fun !

Feather bracelet - view sample

Suggestions:

  • for a wider bracelet start with 8 beads in color A, 4 beads in color B and 8 beads in color A
  • you can make each section of the V-shape as large as you want and use as many colors as you like
  • you could also keep each section in the same color, without accentuating the middle line
  • and of course, you could incorporate a pattern in the sides too

We used the following beads:

https://dunebeads.com/en/db001-delica-size-11-gunmetal-metallic 
https://dunebeads.com/en/db105-delica-size-11-garnet-red-gold-luster 
https://dunebeads.com/en/db041-delica-size-11-crystal-silver-lined  
https://dunebeads.com/en/db907-delica-size-110-crystal-champagne-beige-sparkling-light-bronze-lined

Thank you for choosing your beads and finding @ https://dunebeads.com/en/ !

Happy day, see you soon!

LEARN and CREATE – your Spring and Summer 2020 in Cyan - part 1

As an artist you have probably developed your own color scheme, one you feel comfortable working with. But as you are also part of the fashion industry, it would not harm you to refresh it every once in a while.

Each year Pantone offers 12 trendy colors and 4 neutrals and gives a clear indication of what will be high fashion with its color of the year. These colors are used during the London and New York Fashions Shows, but in different combinations and with different intensities.

The Pantone color of 2020 is Flame Scarlet, a shade of pink-red. The London Show used an even brighter variant (Fiery Red) of it though. Also overall, we could say that all shades of green-blue cyan, the complement of red, will find their way to your wardrobe.

Orange to red colors:

Pantone 2020 - orange to red colors

  • Flame Scarlet: will the pink-red color of red Coral, red Agate, red Carnelian or red Jade illuminate your confidence?
  • Orange peel: a medium light shade of orange you find back in red Aventurine, orange-red Striped Agate and Sunstone.
  • Coral pink: a comforting light shade of red-pink that makes you think of Rose Quartz, pink Sunstone and pink Opal.
  • Cinnamon Stick: a medium orange-red brown. Will Petrified Wood or red Pietersite be your match or are you going for Botswana Agate and Opal?

Yellow to green colors:

Pantone 2020 - yellow to green colors

  • Saffron: a warm amber to spice up your pink wardrobe that will brighten up golden brown tones. What will it be: Mookaite, Crazy Lace Agate, Red Creek Jasper or yellow Opal?
  • Biscay Green: a shade of light cyan-green (aqua) or light turquoise green that hints at Amazonite and African turquoise.
  • Chive: this medium dark yellow-green, for those who love a herbal touch, will complement all the golden tones. Bloodstone, Canadian Jade and Common Opal will become their favorites. At the London Show this deep shade was replaced by the much lighter Lemon Curry that leans towards olive yellow.
  • Sunlight: this shade is described as a pale yellow … but looks rather like a light golden brown or medium champagne color. A peachy yellow Sunstone or a Picture Jasper will certainly please you.

Blue colors:

Pantone 2020 - blue colors

  • Classic Blue: a shade of deep cyan-blue with a hint of evening red in it. The frosted color of Lapis Lazuli will englobe this.
  • Faded Denim: this comfortable lighter shade of cyan-blue could be represented by blue Aventurine and jeans blue sponge quartz.
  • Mosaic Blue: a medium shade of cyan-blue that will match well with browns and pinks. It is a blue that will make you think of electric blue Striped Agate and sky blue Crazy Lace Agate.
  • Grape Compote: this medium purple or muted shade of blue-magenta might make you reach for Amethyst, (Amethyst) Sage Agate, purple Striped Agate and indigo blue Spotted Jasper.

SEE - part 2

LEARN and CREATE – your Spring and Summer 2020 in Cyan - part 2

CONTINUATION: your Spring and Summer 2020 in Cyan

The Classics:

Pantone 2020 - the classic colors

  • Lark: a low-key brown that fills the gap between warm and cold color schemes. Some of our Petrified Wood and Tiger Eye will contain this shade.
  • Navy Blazer: as the name suggests, a dark shade of blue that makes you think of Dumortierite, midnight blue Goldstone and Hematite.
  • Brilliant White: a crisp, light cyan-blue that leans towards silver gray ... for a bright festive touch.
  • Ash: a timeless, light-medium gray that works well with cyan-green, purple and pink colors. Grey gemstones such as Labradorite, gray Quartz, gray Agate and gray Moonstone will give you that edge.

Pantone spring-summer 2020 - London Show colors

As you may have noticed by now, Pantone has worked around a theme of red and cyan this year.

Share a joyful 2020 … with https://dunebeads.com/en/dune-beads-beads !

LEARN and CREATE – the “Cross my Heart” bracelet - part 1

This cute bracelet is done in a breeze … the moreover, it is a technique we have used in quite a few of our tutorials … so if you like easy projects, go ahead and browse through our blog. The “Cross my Heart” bracelet is made by crossing threads within one of the beads … and leaves a lot of room for your creativity.

Cross my Heart, in blue

Challenge:

You should pay close attention when crossing the threads and check the thread tension.

Supplies for the «Cross my Heart» bracelet:

  • 8x8 mm Czech round beads
  • 3x5 mm Czech rondelle beads
  • 11/0 Japanese Delica beads
  • polyethylene thread (fishing line)
  • two needles size 10 or 12, scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the «Cross my Heart» bracelet:

  • cut off about 1,70 meters of thread
  • because you will fold the thread in two, this will quickly become an easy to handle length and you do not really want to have to add more thread in the middle of your work piece
  • to create a loop for the clasp:
  • pick up 20 Delica beads and slide them to the middle of the thread

Cross my heart - loop, start

  • pick up one 8 mm bead and go back through all the Delica beads and the 8 mm bead

Cross my heart - attach loop to central bead

  • to reinforce the loop go once more through all the Delica beads
  • as a result, there is a thread protruding on each side of the 8 mm bead

Cross my heart - ready to start bracelet

  • to weave the bracelet:
  • thread a needle on each of the two threads
  • pick up one Delica, one 3x5mm bead and one Delica with each needle

Cross my heart - add outside beads

  • with one needle, pick up a 8 mm bead
  • with the other needle, go in the opposite direction through the 8 mm bead

Cross my heart - add 8 mm bead and cross threads

  • you just crossed your threads in the 8 mm bead and at the same time you placed the bead horizontally

Cross my heart - ready to add next segment

  • repeat:
  • pick up a Delica, a 3x5 mm bead and a Delica with each needle

Cross my heart - ready to add central bead

  • pick up an 8 mm bead with one needle
  • go with the other needle in the opposite direction through the 8 mm bead
  • continue until you have reached the desired length
  • to create the other part of the clasp:
  • pick up a Delica bead, a 3x5 mm bead and a Delica bead on each side
  • with needle one: pick up an 8 mm bead and three Delica beads

Cross my heart - adding second part of clasp

SEE - PART 2

LEARN and CREATE – the “Cross my Heart” bracelet - part 2

CONTINUATION: "Cross my Heart" bracelet

  • as the 8 mm has to remain vertical, you will not cross the threads this time
  • instead, you go with the second needle through the 8 mm and the three Delica beads in the same direction as the first needle

Cross my heart - finishing the clasp with a picot

  • put both threads on the same needle and circle back through the 8 mm bead
  • you have formed a three-bead picot at top of the 8 mm bead
  • the middle bead of the picot will be horizontal while the others will remain vertical

Cross my heart - picot

  • make a few overhand knots underneath the 8 mm bead and cut off your thread
  • optional: secure your thread by zigzagging down through your work piece while making half hitch knots before clippinh the ends
  • enjoy your creativity!

Suggestions:

  • the rondelle beads could be replaced by 4x4 mm round beads and the Delica beads by seed beads
  • if you do not like working with size 11/0 beads, you could replace them with size 8/0 beads
  • you could replace the Czech beads with gemstone beads, but this often makes the bracelet heavier. As an alternative, you could also choose https://dunebeads.com/en/lava-rock-obsidian-and-rhyolite-beads as they are light weight gemstones
  • you could of course also work with smaller beads and replace the 8 mm bead with a 6 mm bead and so on

We used the following beads:

Bleu version:

Cross my Heart, in blue, detail

Yellow version:

Thank you for choosing your beads and finding @ https://dunebeads.com/en !

Happy day, see you soon!

LEARN and CREATE – the Triangle-Angle Weave and the “Manhattan” bracelet

The Triangle-Angle Weave (TAW), a variation on RAW (Right-Angle Weave), could have stepped out of the Art Deco period. Its repetitive geometrical pattern seems to beg for straight lines and bold colors. Contrary to RAW, where you work with four beads and where the middle beads always remain parallel, the central beads in TAW are at an angle. The basic idea of weaving in a circle is the same, however. If you are not familiar with RAW, have a look @ https://dunebeads.com/en/learn-and-create-a-delightful-stretchy-summer-bracelet-in-right-angle-weave-part-1 and 2.

Sleek and sophisticated, the “Manhattan” bracelet can be worn by itself, hold charms or have a https://dunebeads.com/en/search?q=connector in the middle. As you will be working with small beads, the circular weaving in this tutorial has been reduced to a bare minimum.

Manhattan bracelet

Challenge:

This basic stitch requires no previous experience.

Supplies for the « Manhattan » bracelet:

  • 11/0 Japanese Delica beads
  • polyethylene thread (fishing line) for an invisible effect or S-lon thread in the color of your choice
  • a small toggle clasp
  • needle size 10 or 12, scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the « Manhattan » bracelet:

  • cut off about 1,5 meter thread and leave about 20 cm tail thread to attach the toggle
  • pick up 3 Delica beads and pass your needle back through the first 2 beads you picked up

TAW Manhattan bracelet - start 1

TAW Manhattan bracelet - start, triangle 1

TAW Manhattan bracelet - triangle building

  • pick up 2 Delica beads and circle through the second bead of the previous round
  • note: you just made a U-turn

TAW Manhattan bracelet - building next triangle

  • pass your needle through the next bead, which is one of the beads you just added

TAW Manhattan bracelet - get in place for next triangle

  • pick up 2 Delica beads
  • make a U-turn and stitch back through the bead you just left

TAW Manhattan bracelet - adding 2 beads

  • pass your needle through the following bead

TAW Manhattan bracelet - getting to next triangle

  • pick up 2 Delica beads and make a U-turn

SEE - part 2

 

LEARN and CREATE – the Triangle-Angle Weave and the “Manhattan” bracelet - part 2

PART 2: the "Manhattan" bracelet

TAW Manhattan bracelet - detail

  • continue till you have reached the desired length
  • add a small toggle clasp who can serve as a centerpiece of the bracelet
  • weave the thread into your work piece
  • have fun!

TAW Manhattan bracelet

Suggestions:

  • use multiple contrasting colors in the bracelet
  • add a charm at the toggle
  • if you work with a single color, give the bracelet an extra edge and use a thread in a contrasting color
  • you could replace the Delica by: Japanese seed beads or 3x3 mm fire-polished Czech beads. The latter may require that you make an additional
  • pass through the beads to assure the triangle shape.

We used the following beads:

https://dunebeads.com/en/db1681-delica-size-11-light-walnut-brown-silver-lined

Thank you for choosing your beads and finding @ https://dunebeads.com/en !

Happy day, see you soon!

LEARN and CREATE – the « Climbing » bracelet

This cute slender little bracelet is made of floating climbing loops giving it its spring and suppleness. It can accommodate beaded beads or you can wear the “Climbing” bracelet by itself. It's a great beginner's project ... and as the little rope stays very light, why not make it your favorite necklace too.

Climbing bracelet in steel blue lined AB

Challenge:

The start may be a little tricky, but after a few rounds you will discover that it's actually an simple stitch. Once you understand the thread path, you will instinctively rotate your work and pay attention to the thread tension.

Supplies for the « Climbing » bracelet:

  • 11/0 Japanese Delica beads in two contrasting colors: color A and color B or set A-B
  • polyethylene thread (fishing line) for an invisible effect or S-lon thread in the color of your choice
  • a small toggle clasp
  • needle size 10 or 12, scissors and a bead mat

Weaving instructions for the « Climbing » bracelet:

  • be aware that as the holes of the beads stay visible, so does your thread, as consequence take the color of your thread into consideration when you choose your beads
  • cut off about 150 cm thread and leave about 25 cm tail thread to attach the second part of the toggle
  • pick up 4 Delica's as follows: color A, color B, color A, color B

Climbing bracelet - base, start

  • go with your needle back through the 1st bead you picked up, which is a color A, to create a circle

Climbing bracelet - base, close the circle

Climbing bracelet - base

  • pick up a Delica set A-B
  • pass your needle through the previous bead in color B, which is the 4th bead or the last one you picked up before closing your circle

Climbing bracelet - 1st round

Climbing bracelet - tighten first round

  • you will find out that two colors B are almost set in a row (set B-B)
  • to build up the rope and make a step-up fix your attention on the set B-B
  • rotate the rope slightly so you get easy access to the next bead of the B-B set
  • pick up a color set A-B and go through the 1st bead of the set B-B

Climbing bracelet - round 2, adding set A-B

  • pull your thread tightly in order for the beads to shift in place
  • rotate the rope slightly
  • pick up a set A-B and go through the 1st bead of set B–B
  • rotate the little rope slightly
  • pick up a set A–B and go through the 1st bead of set B–B
  • note: you will never attach a set A-B to a color A and as a consequence, color A will always stay floating

Climbing bracelet - continue adding two beads

  • continue till you have reached the desired length

SEE - part 2

LEARN and CREATE – the « Climbing » bracelet - part 2

CONTINUATION: the "Climbing" bracelet

Climbing bracelet - detail

  • to attach the clasp, consider each part as a B bead:
  • pick up a color A and a part of the toggle clasp
  • pass your needle through the 1st bead of a set B–B
  • go up and down the rope and a part of the toggle clasp while making half hitch knots (=overhand knots) to secure the thread
  • do the same on the other side
  • enjoy your creativity!

Suggestions:

  • make the bracelet in a single color especially if you want it to hold charms or beaded beads
  • if you work with a single color, give the bracelet an extra edge and use a thread in a contrasting color

Climbing bracelet in one color

We used the following beads in this tutorial:

Thank you for choosing your beads and finding @ https://dunebeads.com/en !

Happy day, see you soon!

LEARN and CREATE – the « Damselfly » pendant

In search of an easy and quick project with a WOW factor ... « Damselfly » is just that ... and the good thing is that you need very little material. The result in about 15 minutes: ... the cutest little dragonfly pendant .. and a dashing pair of earrings.  Would it not be nice to have one on your purse and keychain too?

Damselfly pendant

Challenge:

A project for complete beginners based on the crossing of wires, no special knowledge is required.

Supplies for the « Damselfly » pendant:

  • 15/0 Japanese seed beads
  • 4x4 mm Czech fire-polished round beads
  • 3x11 mm Czech dagger beads
  • polyethylene thread (nylon fishing line), scissors and a bead mat
  • a 3 mm leather necklace and/or a pair of French hook ear wires

Weaving instructions for the « Damselfly » pendant:

  • check the holes of your beads before starting
  • cut off about 50-60 cm thread
  • start with the loop of the pendant: pick up seventeen 15/0 seed beads and slide them to the middle of your thread

Damselfly pendant - start loop

  • check if the amount of beads is to your liking and sufficient for the necklace
  • to close the loop, go back with the needle through the first bead you picked up

Damselfly pendant - closing loop

  • for the head: pick up one 15/0 seed bead with each thread, put both threads together through a 4x4 mm bead and pick up one 15/0 seed bead with each thread

Damselfly pendant - start head

Damselfly pendant - add bead for head

Damselfly pendant - complete head

  • for the wings: pick up two daggers with each thread and circle with one of the threads through the four daggers to strengthen the construction

Damselfly pendant - add daggers

Damselfly pendant - re-circle through wings

  • to keep the wings steady: pick up two 15/0 seed beads with one thread and pass the other thread from the other side through both seed beads

Damselfly pendant - steady wings with 2 seed beads

Damselfly pendant - crossing threads in seed beads

Damselfly pendant - crossed threads

  • you just crossed the threads in the seed beads
  • for the body: pick up five 4x4 mm beads with both threads together

Damselfly pendant - add beads for body

SEE - part 2