BOW TIE BRACELET

Bow Tie Bracelet

MATERIALS (for a 7-inch bracelet, not including clasp)
• 3 yards waxed Nymo or C-Lon thread, size D, or 6 lb. FireLine
• About 125 size 11/0 seed beads or Delica beads
• About 17 size 3mm beads (of any type, or size 8/0 seed beads or size 8/0 Delica beads)
• About 72 size 4mm fire-polished beads
• About 34 size 4mm bicone crystals
• clasp

Beads used in my photos

NOTE: Bead colors and coatings (and even bead types!) seem to be disappearing at a rate that I can no longer keep up with. I try to find substitutes when I can but "discontinued" seems to be the norm these days.

Top (purple):
• About 125 size 11/0 Delica beads: Miyuki Delica #34 Lt. Gold Plated
• About 17 size size 8/0 Delica beads: Dark Gold Plated DBL-034
• About 72 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Iris Purple
• About 34 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Amethyst

Bottom (black):
• About 125 size 11/0 seed beads: Miyuki #4204 Duracoat Champagne Rocailles
• About 17 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Matte Metallic Flax
• About 72 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Czech Jet
• About 34 size 4mm bicone crystals: Swarovski Jet

Step 1: Thread your needle with 3 yards Nymo, C-Lon or Fireline.

String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a 3mm bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching the clasp, tie the beads in a circle with a double knot:

Step 2: Go back around through the fire-polished bead, the seed bead, the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead that you strung in the last step:

Step 3: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go back down through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 4: Continue on down through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 5: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go up through the 3mm bead and out through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 6: String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a 3mm bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and up through the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 7: Go back down through the seed bead, the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead that you strung in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 8: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go up through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 9: Continue on up through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 10: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go down through the 3mm bead and out through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 11: String a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a 3mm bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and down through the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 12: Go back up through the seed bead, the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead that you strung in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 13: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go down through the 3mm bead highlighted in RED:

Step 14: Continue on down through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 15: String a seed bead, a bicone crystal, a seed bead and a fire-polished bead.

Go up through the 3mm bead and out through the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 16: Repeat steps 6 to 15 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus about a half-inch and the length of your clasp.

Step 17: To close off the end of the bracelet, string a seed bead, a fire-polished bead, a seed bead, a fire-polished bead and a seed bead.

Go around and up through the fire-polished bead, the 3mm bead and the fire-polished bead highlighted in RED:

Step 18: Continue back around through the seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the seed bead that you strung in the last step (highlighted in RED):

Step 19: To attach the clasp, string four size 11 seed beads, go through your clasp and back through the last seed bead that you just strung (the 4th seed bead).

String 3 more seed beads and go back down through the seed bead that you exited at the end of the last step (highlighted in RED).

Go through these seed beads and the clasp several more times to reinforce your attachment to the clasp. Weave back into the bracelet, knot in several places and cut your thread.

Repeat Step 19 to attach the other end of the clasp. If your bracelet seems a bit too short, just add more seed beads at the end when attaching the clasp.