Welcome back to A Jeweler’s Life and The Alluring Bead Boutique.
First of all, let me apologize for accidentally publishing the corresponding videos before writing up the Brick Stitch on a Bead project.
I decided to leave them published, since my viewers were already viewing them.
The project was originally to be published during the Brick Stitch portion of Bead Weaving 101.
But since I have covered the basics of the technique before as part of another project, I decided to write it up now.
One of the main differences in this project, is that we will be using a tear drop bead in the center, instead of a round bead.
The other difference is that we will be adding variety to the project, by adding in several different types of beads, along with the seed beads.
Tools and Materials
- 2-3 grams 11/0 Toho Seed Beads – Silver Lined Sapphire
- 1 gram 10/0 Hex Cut Delica Beads – Metallic Rainbow Blue/Green
- 2-3 grams 15/0 Toho Seed Beads – Galvanized Aluminum
- 12 – 2 x 3 Crystal Rondelle – Light Sapphire Opaque
- 8 – 4 mm Crystal Rounds – Light Sapphire AB
- 2 – 8×12 Smooth Tear Drop Beads – Center Drilled – Light Sapphire AB – Check Beebeecraft or Ebay for these
- 2 – 3 x 7 Rice Beads – Silver Plated Clear – Bought on Fire Mountain Gems
- 2 – 4 mm Silver Wire Guards
- Crystal Fireline .006 or Blue Nymo Thread Size B
- Size 10 Beading Needle
- 1 Straight Pin with a Ball Head
- Beading Scissors
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NOTES:
- I purchased my tear drop beads a few years back from Ebay. But Beebeecraft also sells a similar product, NBeads.
- The Rice beads I purchased from Fire Mountain Gems several years ago.
- You can substitute a faceted tear drop bead as long as it is center drilled.
- You can also substitute a tube or rice bead of any style as long as it is similar in size. You may need to adjust the number of seed beads along the threads in Row 2.
Row 1
Begin by adding four thread bridges to the tear drop by, two per side.
Simply pass through the bead a total of five times, leaving about 4 inches
Add a stop bead to the tail thread to help with tension.
Begin the row by picking up two 11/0 SB’s and passing under the two threads on one side of the drop bead.
Step up into the second bead.
Straighten the first bead if desired.
Position the two seed beads near the center hole of the drop bead, leaving room for the rice bead, as shown.
The rice bead is added as the last bead of the row.
Add six more seed beads, one at a time, to the base on this side, using brick stitch.
Remember to step up into the new bead each time.
To add the ninth SB, pass the needle under the two threads on the other side of the drop and step up.
Add 8 more seed beads on this side of the drop, for at total of 17 seed beads.
Check the position of the beads, making sure they line up evenly along the sides of the drop, with no beads bulging out.
Pick up the rice bead, pass the needle under the thread bridges on the opposite side of the center hole.
Step up into the rice bead.
To close the bead work, sew down through the first seed bead of the row.
Step back up into the Rice bead again.
Insert a straight pin through the rice bead, the tear drop and the seed bead at the bottom as shown.
Positioning for Row 2
Pass down through the first seed bead again.
Pass the needle under the thread bridges on the base bead from front to back.
Pass up through the first seed bead again, from the back side, towards the front.
Row 2
Begin Row 2 by adding the first two DB’s of the row, in the traditional manner.
We will add a total of 8 beads on this side of the bead work.
Straighten the first bead before moving on.
I added the last bead, by reusing the thread bridge of the 7th bead, to avoid having a large gap between the beads.
Pull the straight pin out of the way.
Pick up a 4 mm crystal, pass under the next thread bridge.
Step up into the crystal and re-position the pin.
Pick up a DB, skip over to the first thread bridge on the other side of the bead work and pass the needle under. Step up.
Add the next DB using the same thread bridge and step up.
Add the remaining six DB’s, one at a time to the bead work.
Pick up a bead and pass under the next thread bridge and step up.
Add three seed beads along the long thread bridge on the side of the rice bead.
Remember to step up after adding each bead.
Remove the pin, and add another 4 mm crystal to the top by passing under the threads on the other side of the rice bead.
Step up and re-insert the pin.
Brick stitch three more seed beads to the long thread on this side of the bead work.
Close the bead work by connecting the last seed bead to the first Delica of the round.
Pass down the DB and back up the SB.
For the best results, repeat these steps once more for a secure thread bridge.
Row 3
Pick up two SB’s and pass under the first thread bridge. Step up into the second bead. Straighten the first bead.
Add one more SB to the next thread bridge.
Add one DB to the next thread bridge.
Add a rondelle to the next thread bridge and step up.
Pick up a 4 mm round crystal, skip over one thread bridge and pass under the next. Step up.
Add one more rondelle to the next thread bridge.
Brick stitch one more DB on the next thread bridge.
Brick stitch two SB’s along the long thread bridge, on the side of the crystal.
Pull the pin back and add a rondelle above the 4 mm crystal and reinsert the pin after you step up.
Add the beads in reverse order on this side of the bead work as follows”
2 – SB – 1 DB – Rondelle – 4 mm round – Rondelle – 1 DB – 3 – SB
Add one more seed bead, to each of the two remaining thread bridges, add two SB’s to the long thread beside the 4 mm crystal.
Remove the pin and add a rondelle bead at the top.
Reinsert the pin and add two seed beads on the other side of the 4 mm and one to each of the remaining two thread bridges on this side.
Close the round by passing down the first bead of the row and back up the last bead.
Repeat these two steps for the best results.
Row 4
Work this row using all 15/0 SB’s.
Start the row by picking up two beads and passing under the first thread bridge, step up into the second bead.
Straighten the first bead before proceeding.
Add the remaining beads, one at a time to the base.
You may need to reuse a thread bridge, occasionally, to avoid large gaps between the smaller 15/0 beads.
Add three beads to the longer thread bridges on the sides of the 4 mm crystals.
As you round the bottom, you will add two beads along the longer threads and one at the top of the rondelle.
Continue working along the other side of the bead work.
Add three 15/0 beads on the long threads on both sides of the 4 mm crystal on this side.
Work up to the top, remove the pin and add the beads along the top.
Replace the pin and continue down to the end of the row.
Close the round by adding thread bridges between the first and last beads, at the top and the bottom.
Sew back up to the top of the component.
Position the wire guard and sew into place, above the rondelle bead below.
Reinforce by sewing back through the beads and the wire guard at least one more time.
Weave the thread back into the center of the bead work, until you reach the tail thread
Tie the two threads into two overhand knots. Pass through a few beads and cut the threads off.
Repeat the entire process for the second earring.
Add the earring findings of your choice.
I hope you enjoyed this project. See you again soon.