Lacy Seed Bead Choker — Project Sheet #68-002-42

Parts:
      2     61-249         Size 2 Braided Nylon Needle End Cord
      2     41-264         Fold-Over Bead Tips
      2     39-242         Heart Lobster Clasp
      2     37-133         Heavier Round Jump Rings
    3"     40-414-1         Heavy Curb Chain
    68           Cast Flower Spacer Bead
      2     27-572         2mm Metal Round Beads
    39     23-444         4mm Glass Firepolish Beads
    12     23-224-044         4mm Glass Round Beads - Matte
      1     23-368-044         8mm Diagonal Cube Bead - Crystal Matte
      2     20-128         Japanese Toho Seed Beads - 2 tubes, different colors
        (1 Main and 1 Accent Color)
 

Instructions:
  1. Knot the cording:
    2. Knot the (non-needle) ends... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    1. Knot the (non-needle) ends of the cording together. Apply a drop of glue for extra security. Trim any extra cord from the end.


    2. String both cords into a fold-over bead tip. With the knot in the cupped area of the bead tip, gently close over the knot. This is a nice way to hide knots!
  2. Start design:
    3. String 5 seed beads... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    1. String 5 seed beads on each cord. (Make this the choker's main color)


    2. On one cord, string a matte colored round bead.


      3. With the other cord... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    3. With the other cord, string back through the same matte bead, but go through the opposite bead hole. There should now be a cord coming through each end of that bead.


      4. Now string 6 more... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    4. Now string 6 more seed beads on each cord (main color).


      5. String another matte bead... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    5. String another matte bead on one end and again take the other cord back through the opposite hole.


      6. Continue one more time... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    6. Continue one more time with the above steps, using 6 seed beads and a matte bead, for a total of 3 groups. Pull groups snug but not overly tight. They should be slightly rounded.
  3. Making the main design:
    4. After the last matte... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    1. After the last matte colored bead, string 3 of the main color seed bead and 3 of the other (accent color) seed bead. Do this on both strands.


      2. Now on one strand... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    2. Now on one strand, string a metal flower spacer bead, a firepolish bead, and another flower spacer bead.


    3. Using the other strand, string cord back through the group of spacer, firepolish, spacer, so that there is a cord coming through each end.
      4. String 2 of the accent... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    4. String 2 of the sccent, 2 main, and 2 more accents on each cord.


    5. Continue making 4 more of this same pattern with a spacer, firepolish, and spacer and then the group of seed beads from step 3d. This is the main design in the necklace.


      6. After the 5th firepolish... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    6. After the 5th firepolish group, string 3 accent color seed beads and then 3 main colored.


    7. Now string a matte bead instead of the firepolish. No spacer beads!
  4. Repeat the above pattern.
    5. Continue with steps 3b... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    1. Start with 3 main colored seed beads and then 3 accent colored beads, on both sides.


    2. Continue with steps 3b. - 3g, for a total of 5 firepolish groups and 1 matte group.


    3. String 3 main seed beads and 3 accent beads on both top & bottom.


    4. On one strand, string a metal flower spacer bead, a firepolish bead, and another flower spacer bead. Using the other strand, string cord back through the group of spacer, firepolish, spacer, so that there is a cord coming through each end.
  5. Start the fringe:
    1. Now determine what will be top and bottom of the project. (It hasn't mattered before this point.)


      2. Now determine what will be top... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    2. String 2 accent, 2 main, and 2 more accent beads on the TOP cord.


    3. On the BOTTOM cord, string 2 accent, 4 main, and 1 accent. Push to the end of the cord and then string cord back up through the first 3 main seed beads. This will leave the bottom accent as an anchor bead, starting the bottom fringe.


    4. Keep stringing on the bottom cord: a main seed bead, 2 accents, a spacer, firepolish, and a spacer.


    5. Pull the TOP cord through the spacer, firepolish, and spacer.


      6. Continue with steps 5b... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    6. Continue with steps 5b. - 5e three more times for a total of 5 firepolish groups.


    7. After the 5th firepolish group, string 3 accent and 3 main beads on the TOP cord.


    8. On the BOTTOM, string 2 accent beads, 4 main, 1 accent—anchor by going up through the first 3 main ones and then string 3 more main and a matte colored bead. String so that there is a cord on the top & on the bottom.
  6. Make center piece:
    7. On the top cord... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    1. On the TOP cord, string 3 main & 3 accents.


    2. The BOTTOM cord needs 6 main, a firepolish, and an accent. Pull cord back up into the firepolish and the first 3 seed beads.


      3. String 1 main... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    3. String 1 main & 2 accents, a spacer, firepolish, and another spacer. Pull top cord through the firepolish/flower grouping, so there is a cord on top & bottom.


      4. Start again on the top... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    4. Start again on the TOP with 2 accents, 2 main, & 2 accents. String the BOTTOM with 2 accents, 5 main, one 2mm metal, a firepolish, and an accent. Anchor cord back up through the firepolish and the first 4 accents. Continue with a main, 2 accents, a spacer, a firepolish, and a spacer. Pull cord through.


      5. String 2 accents... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    5. String 2 accents, 2 main, and 2 accents on the TOP cord. The BOTTOM has 2 accents, 5 main, the large matte cube, a 2mm metal, firepolish, and an accent. Anchor the cord, go up into the firepolish, cube, and 4 seed beads. Pull snug and continue with a main, and 2 accents, making a cord on top & on bottom.




      6. Continue the other half... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
    6. Continue the other half of the necklace. Follow the same pattern. Be careful to match pattern and not to pull too snug.

    Finish necklace... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)

    Apply glue to the knot... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
  7. Finish necklace with 5 main colored seed beads—5 on top cord, and 5 on the bottom cord. String the remaining bead tip on both cords, pull quite snug. Grasp both cords directly inside the bead tip using pliers. Wrap ends of pliers with a rubber band to hold secure and tie a knot right on top of the pliers. Apply glue to the knot and trim excess cord. Loosen rubber band and let knot slip into cups. Close over knot.


    8. Use a jump ring... (illustration courtesy of Rings & Things)
  8. Use a jump ring to attach the clasp to one side of the necklace.
    On the opposite end, attach the chain directly to the bead tip.
Designer: Angela Womach
Illustrated by Lauren Lind
© Rings & Things,

The finished product: Lacy seed bead choker



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