DIAMOND CHAIN BAND

Diamond Chain Band, free GemDuo pattern

By request, my Paragon Band design using all GemDuo (or DiamonDuo) beads, as well as 4mm round or fire-polished beads and Miyuki 11/0 seed beads.

Links to exact beads used at the end of the page.

MATERIALS
(for a 7.25-inch bracelet, not including clasp)
• 3 yards of 6 lb. FireLine or Toho One-G
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads (Toho brand seed beads will be a bit too fat)
• About 32 size 4mm beads (round or fire-polished)
• About 18 Color1 Gemduo beads (or DiamonDuo beads)
• About 34 Color2 Gemduo beads (or DiamonDuo beads)
• clasp

Step 1: Thread your needle with a length that you feel comfortable working with and add more as you need it.

Leaving about a 10-inch tail for attaching the clasp, go through the bottom hole of a Color1 Gemduo bead, the top hole of a Color2 Gemduo bead and the bottom hole of another Color1 Gemduo bead:

NOTE: You will not be making a knot until Step 4 so keep the tension tight and hold onto this tail thread for now.

Step 2: String four seed beads. Go around the Color1 Gemduo bead that you just exited and across through the top hole of this same Color1 Gemduo bead:



Step 3: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of the Color1 Gemduo bead that you added in Step 1 (highlighted in RED):

Step 4: String four seed beads, grab your tail thread and tie a tight double knot:

Step 5: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:

Step 6: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 7: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead.

String four seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same Color2 Gemduo bead:

Step 8: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of another new Color2 Gemduo bead:

Step 9: String four seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:

Step 11: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 12: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color1 Gemduo bead.

String four seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same Color1 Gemduo bead:

Step 13: Go through the bottom hole of a new Color2 Gemduo bead and the top hole of a new Color1 Gemduo bead:

Step 14: String four seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the Color1 Gemduo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 15: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the bottom hole of the top Color2 Gemduo bead:

Step 16: Go around and through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 17: Repeat Step 7 to Step 16 until your bracelet is the length you want it, minus about a half-inch and the length of your clasp:

Next you will add 4mm beads in the gaps between seed beads along the outer edge.

Step 18: String four seed beads. Go down through the four seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 19: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 20: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 21: Continue to add 4mm beads in the gap between seed beads all the way down the side of the band:

Step 22: When you get to the end, string four seed beads. Go across through the bottom hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 23: String four seed beads. Go up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 24: Add 4mm beads in the gap between seed beads all the way up the other side of the band:

Step 25: String four seed beads. Go across through the top hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 26: To attach one end of the clasp, string three seed beads.

Go through your clasp and then back through the last seed bead that you just strung.

String two more seed beads and go across through the top hole of the Color2 Gemduo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

NOTE: To make your band longer, just add more beads (or larger beads) than directed in this step.

Step 27: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave back into the bracelet, using the extra tail thread to go back through both outer edges of beads to add some extra strength to your band. Knot in several places and then cut your thread.

Step 28: To attach the clasp to the other end of your bracelet, thread your needle with the tail thread from Step 1.

Go around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the top hole of the end Color2 Gemduo bead (highlighted in RED):

Repeat Steps 26-27.

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.

Diamond Chain Band, free GemDuo pattern

Lavender/Teal version:
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Czech/Miyuki #01700 Aluminum Silver Coating
• About 32 size 4mm round beads: Saturated Metallic Ballet Slipper
• About 18 Color1 Gemduo beads: Saturated Metallic Crocus Petal
• About 34 Color2 Gemduo beads: Polychrome Aqua Teal

Diamond Chain Band, free GemDuo pattern

Aqua version:
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Czech/Miyuki #27000 Crystal Full Labrador
• About 32 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Milky Peridot
• About 18 Color1 Gemduo beads: Milky Peridot
• About 34 Color2 Gemduo beads: Backlit Aquasol

Diamond Chain Band, free GemDuo pattern

Black/Gold version:
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Miyuki #4204 Duracoat Champagne Rocailles
• About 32 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Matte Metallic Flax
• About 18 Color1 Gemduo beads: Matte Metallic Flax
• About 34 Color2 Gemduo beads: Jet

Diamond Chain Band, free DiamonDuo pattern

DiamonDuo version:
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Miyuki #461 Metallic Chocolate
• About 32 size 4mm fire-polished beads: Dark Bronze
• About 18 Color1 DiamonDuo beads: Dark Bronze
• About 34 Color2 DiamonDuo beads: Coral Bronze