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MINI GEMDUO BAND

Mini GemDuo Band, free pattern by Deb Roberti

Matubo now has a "mini" version of the GemDuo bead—the Mini GemDuo, which measures 6x4mm. I have adapted my Paragon Band to work with these adorable beads.

I got my Matubo Mini GemDuo beads from RedPandaBeads.com here:
https://www.redpandabeads.com/Mini_GemDuo_Beads_s/6017.htm

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 50 size 15/0 seed beads
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads (Toho brand seed beads will be a bit too fat)
• About 40 size 4mm beads (fire-polished or round work best)
• About 38 size 4x6mm Matubo Mini GemDuo beads
• About 20 size 5x8mm Matubo GemDuo 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 an 8-inch tail for attaching the clasp, go through the bottom hole of a GemDuo bead. String a 15/0 seed bead. Go through the top hole of a Mini GemDuo bead. String another 15/0 seed bead. Go through the bottom hole of another 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. In addition, GemDuo and Mini GemDuo beads have a tapered front side and a flat back side. Make sure the front side is facing you when you add each GemDuo and Mini GemDuo bead.

Step 2: String four 11/0 seed beads. Go around the GemDuo bead that you just exited and across through the top hole of this same GemDuo bead:



Step 3: String a 15/0 seed bead. Go through the bottom hole of a new Mini GemDuo bead. String another 15/0 seed bead. Go through the top hole of the GemDuo bead that you added in Step 1:

Step 4: String four 11/0 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 Mini GemDuo bead:

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

Step 7: Go through the bottom hole of a new Mini GemDuo bead.

String three 11/0 seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same Mini GemDuo bead that you just strung:

Step 8: Go through the bottom hole of a new Mini GemDuo bead and the top hole of another new Mini GemDuo bead:

Step 9: String three 11/0 seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the Mini GemDuo bead that you just exited and through the top hole of the adjacent Mini 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 Mini GemDuo bead:

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

Step 12: String a 15/0 seed bead. Go through the bottom hole of a new GemDuo bead.
String four 11/0 seed beads. Go around and across through the top hole of this same GemDuo bead:

Step 13: String a 15/0 seed bead. Go through the bottom hole of a new Mini GemDuo bead. String another 15/0 seed bead. Go through the top hole of a new GemDuo bead:

Step 14: String four 11/0 seed beads. Go down and across through the bottom hole of the GemDuo bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED). String a 15/0 seed bead. Go through the top hole of the adjacent Mini GemDuo bead (highlighted in RED):

Step 15: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED to exit from the bottom hole of the top Mini GemDuo bead:

Step 16: Go around and through the top hole of the Mini 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:

At this point, I like to grab the band at each end and give it a gentle snap in an outward direction to make sure the beads are smooth and the band is stretched as far as it will go before adding the edge beads.

Next you will add 4mm beads in the gaps between the 11/0 seed beads along the outer edge of the band.

Step 18: String an 11/0 seed bead, a 4mm bead and an 11/0 seed bead. Go down through the four 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 19: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 20: String a 4mm bead. Go down through the 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 21: Continue to add 4mm beads in the gaps between 11/0 seed beads all the way down the side of the band:

Step 22: When you get to the end, string an 11/0 seed bead, an 4mm bead and an 11/0 seed bead. Go across through the bottom hole of the Mini GemDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 23: String an 11/0 seed bead, a 4mm bead and an 11/0 seed bead. Go up through the 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 24: Add 4mm beads in the gaps between 11/0 seed beads all the way up the other side of the band:

Step 25: String an 11/0 seed bead, a 4mm bead and an 11/0 seed bead. Go across through the top hole of the Mini GemDuo bead highlighted in RED:

Step 26: To attach one end of the clasp, string three 11/0 seed beads.

Go through your clasp and then back through the last 11/0 seed bead that you just strung.

String two more 11/0 seed beads and go across through the top hole of the Mini 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 11/0 seed beads highlighted in RED and the clasp several times:

Weave back into the bracelet, using the extra tail thread to go back around 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 Mini GemDuo bead (highlighted in RED):

Repeat Steps 26-27.

 

 

Beads used in the photo above

Mini GemDuo Band, free pattern by Deb Roberti

Purple/Green version:
• About 50 size 15/0 seed beads: Miyuki #457L Light Bronze
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Miyuki #457L Light Bronze
• About 40 size 4mm beads: Iris Purple Fire-polished beads
• About 38 size 4x6mm Matubo Mini GemDuo beads: Gold Shine Dark Olive
• About 20 size 5x8mm Matubo GemDuo beads: Jet Red Iris (Purple Iris)

Mini GemDuo Band, free pattern by Deb Roberti

Copper/Picasso version:
• About 50 size 15/0 seed beads: Miyuki #461 Chocolate
• About 200 size 11/0 Miyuki rocaille seed beads: Miyuki #4212 Dark Berry
• About 40 size 4mm beads: Opaque White - Picasso round beads
• About 38 size 4x6mm Matubo Mini GemDuo beads: Crystal Bronze Fire Red
• About 20 size 5x8mm Matubo GemDuo beads: Opaque Luster - Picasso

 

For more color and bead combinations, click on the photo below to visit the RedPandaBeads.com Gallery of Color Suggestions!

Mini GemDuo Band, free pattern by Deb Roberti