Bead & Button – October 2019

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22 October 2019

a single bead, each cord should end

with the same number of beads:

48 beads per cord for a 15^1 ⁄ 2 -in.

(39.4 cm) braid.

6) After stringing each cord, wind

it onto a bobbin. Label the bobbins

with the numbers 1–8, making

sure they remain in their proper

positions, as shown in the layout.

7) Attach the counterweight to the

end of the cord, between the knots,

allowing it to hang below the disk.

BRAIDING

1) Begin a braid with no beads

using the following two movements:

Movement 1: Bring the top-right

cord down, and place it next to the

bottom-right cord (figure 1). Bring

the bottom-left cord up, and place it

next to the top-left cord (figure 2).

Rotate the disk 90 degrees counter-

clockwise (figure 3).

Movement 2: Repeat “Movement 1”

with the cords that are now in the

top-right and bottom-left positions.

Repeat both movements until you

have a short braid that is about ½

in. (1.3 cm) long and the bobbins

are back in their original positions.

2) Continue braiding as before,

but starting with cords 2 and 6,

add beads as you work: With each

cord movement, slide a bead up

the braid before you move the cord.

Tuck the bead under the cord that

crosses the cord you are working

with, and then cross the cord as

usual (photo a).

dealing with

the dangles

When you get to a dangle,

treat the entire unit as one

bead. To slide it into place,

reduce the tension on the

cord, grasp the bead at the

bottom of the dangle, and

pull the entire dangle along

the cord. Work slowly and

use both hands to move the

dangle into position at the

point of braiding, making

sure you don’t leave a gap

between the existing braid

and the active dangle. You

may find it helpful to rest

the disk on a vase or a roll

of paper towels so the braid

and beads can hang freely

while you make the needed

adjustments.

3) Release more cord and beads

from the bobbin as needed. As the

braid progresses, move the counter-

weight up the braid to maintain

even tension.

keep it straight

As you braid, the dangles

may cause the braid to twist.

Roll and gently squeeze the

braid between your fingers,

up and down the length of

the braid, to relax the braid

and maintain a straight line.

4) When you run out of beads,

work as in step 1 to end with

½ in. (1.3 cm) of unbeaded braid.

ENDING THE BRAID

1) Using crimping pliers or

a hemostat, grasp the unbeaded

end of the braid just below the

disk. Remove the braid from the

disk, unwind the bobbins, and

tie the loose ends together with

an overhand knot.

2) Allow the cord burner to heat

up, and then apply the tip where

you want to end the braid, which

should be about ¼ in. (6 mm) from

the beaded portion of the braid.

Once the braid is separated from

the working cords, take a moment

to continue applying the cord

burner to the end of the braid

to melt and seal the cords.

If you don’t have a cord burner,

finish the end as follows: Cut

a 6-in. (15 cm) piece of cord, wrap

it tightly around the unbeaded

braid end, and tie it with a square

knot. Place a drop or two of Fray

Check or E6000 onto this binding

cord. Allow the glue to dry, and

then trim the braid and binding

cord to the desired length.

FINISHING

1) Cut a 2-in. (5 cm) piece of

22-gauge wire. Using roundnose

FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3

materials
adjustable necklace
18–21 in. (45.7–53.3 cm)

• 5 mm pinch beads
  
  
  • 256 color A (metallic
    suede blue)
  
  
  • 64 color B (metallic
    suede gold)
  
  
  
  


• 128 2.5 x 5 mm SuperDuo
  beads (bronze)


• 322 4 mm fire-polished
  beads (montana blue AB)


• 3 g 110 seed beads (Toho
  223, antique bronze)


• nylon bead cord, tex 210/
  size 18 (indigo)


• 2 bead cones, 7.2 mm inner
  diameter


• 4 in. (10 cm) 22-gauge wire


• 2 5 mm jump rings


• 1 lobster claw clasp


• 8 in. (20 cm) 26-gauge wire


• 2 in. (5 cm) chain


• 2 pairs chainnose, flatnose,
  and/or bentnose pliers


• roundnose pliers


• wire cutters


• marudai or double density
  kumihimo disk


• 8 plastic bobbins (if using
  disk) or 8 70 g tama (if using
  marudai)


• 56 g counterweight (if using
  disk) or 168 g counterweight
  (if using marudai)


• Fray Check or white glue


• crimping pliers or hemostat


• cord burner (optional)


• E6000 adhesive (optional)

Find Basics online:
FacetJewelry.com/basics

• square knot

a b c