Use Your Pearls for This Free Beaded Bracelet Project

I don’t often use two-needle right-angle weave, but it’s a wonderful, speedy bead-weaving technique for making easy beaded bracelets. If you’re looking for a pearl bracelet project that works up in a snap and looks like a million bucks, try the Figure-Eight Bracelet by Julie D’Amico-Beres as a sweet introduction to two-needle right-angle weave!

Materials:

• 8g clear AB size 11 seed beads (A)
• 62 clear AB 4mm crystal bicones (B)
• 11 clear AB 6mm crystal bicones (C)
• 22 cream rose 4mm crystal pearls (D)
• 24 cream rose 8mm crystal pearls (E)
• 1 sterling silver 11mm lobster claw clasp
• 1 sterling silver 4mm clasp ring with connector loop
• Crystal 8 lb. braided beading thread

Tools

• 2 size 10 or 12 beading needles
• Scissors
• Chain-nose pliers

Bracelet Base

Use two needles to stitch the base of the bracelet:

Row 1, Unit 1: Place one needle on each end of 10′ of beading thread. String 1B and slide it to the center of the thread. Use the right needle to string 4A, 1B, and 4A, then use the left needle to string 4A, 1B, 4A, and 1B; cross the right needle through the last B strung to form a circle. (Figure 1, blue thread.)

Row 1, Unit 2: Use the right needle to string 4A, 1B, and 4A, then use the left needle to string 4A, 1B, 4A, and 1B; cross the right needle through the last B strung. (Figure 1, red thread.)

Row 1, Units 3-12: Repeat Unit 2 ten times to form a total of 12 units. Turn the work 180 degrees.

Clasp: Pair the needles together and string 6A, the clasp, and 6A.

Row 2, Unit 1: String 1B on the right needle and pass the left needle back through the same B (Figure 2, blue thread). Use the right needle to string 4A, pass through the nearest B of Row 1, Unit 12, and string 4A. Use the left needle to string 4A, 1B, 4A, and 1B. Cross the right needle through the last B strung. (Figure 2, red thread.)

Row 2, Unit 2: Repeat Row 2, Unit 1, eleven times to add a total of 12 units.

Ring: Pair the needles together and string 6A, the clasp ring through the connector loop, and 6A. Separate the needles and cross through the first B added in Row 1, Unit 1. Weave the right needle through the nearest 1A and set aside. Weave the left needle through the nearest 4A and 1B (Figure 3).

Embellish the Bracelet

Decorate the base with bicones and pearls:

Center: Use the left needle to string 1A, 1C, and 1A, then pass through the next B between rows (Figure 4, blue thread); repeat ten times to add a total of 11C. Weave through beads to exit from the top B of Row 2, Unit 1. Set the left needle aside.

Pearls: Use the right needle to string 1A, 1E, and 1A, then lay the strand diagonally across the unit and pass through the A next to the B on the opposite side of the unit, toward the B, and the nearest A of the next unit, away from the B; repeat to embellish each unit in Row 1 (Figure 4, red thread). On the final stitch, pass through the second A of the final unit away from the B and continue through beads to exit the nearest edge B of Row 1, Unit 12. Set the right needle aside. Use the left needle to embellish Row 2 the same way. Set the left needle aside.

Sides: Use the right needle to string 2A, 1D, and 2A, then pass through the next edge B of Row 1 (Figure 5); repeat ten times to add a total of 11D. Secure the right thread and trim. Use the left needle to embellish Row 2 the same way, passing through the top B. Secure the left thread and trim.

Artist’s Tips:

• To make it easier to get braided beading thread through your needle, grasp the end with chain-nose pliers and pull. This straightens out and stiffens the thread.
• To get the cleanest cut, always use very sharp thread cutters when cutting braided beading thread.
• You can give this bracelet a more petite look by using 12 seed beads in each figure-eight circle instead of 16.

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Bead Happy,

Jennifer