SILKY STAR EARRINGS

Silky Star Earrings, free pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com

Create some pretty star earrings using size 15/0 and 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads, 3mm fire-polished beads and Czech Silky beads.

MATERIALS:
• About two yards of 6 lb. FireLine or Toho One-G
• About 10 size 15/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads
• About 75 size 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads
• 30-32 size 3mm fire-polished beads
• 10 size 6x6mm Czech Silky beads
• two small (2-4mm) closed (soldered) jump rings or Beadsmith Cymbal Elements, depending on which method you use to attach your earring finding (see pattern end)
• a pair of earring findings

Step 1: Thread your needle with about a yard of FireLine or Toho One-G.

Leaving about a six-inch tail that you can weave in and cut at any time, string a 15/0 seed bead, a Silky bead, a 15/0 seed bead, a Silky bead, a 15/0 seed bead, a Silky bead, a 15/0 seed bead, a Silky bead, a 15/0 seed bead and a Silky bead. Bring the Silky and seed beads into a circle and tie a tight double knot:

NOTE: Position the Silky beads the way they appear in my illustrations and make sure that the domed “front” sides are all facing you as you add them.

Step 2: Go back around through the beads that you just strung, grab your tail thread and tie another tight knot:

Step 3: Go back through the 15/0 seed bead and the inside hole of the Silky bead highlighted in RED:

Step 4: Go around and across through the outer hole of the Silky bead that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Pull tight and make sure that the thread stays along the edge of this Silky bead and does not fall in front or behind it.

Step 5: String an 11/0 seed bead, a fire-polished bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go down through the outer hole of the Silky bead below (highlighted in RED):

Step 6: String an 11/0 seed bead, a fire-polished bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go down through the outer hole of the next Silky bead on the circle (highlighted in RED):

NOTE: As you add sets of 11/0 seed beads and fire-polished beads in Steps 5-9, keep the motif flat, even if this creates is a bit a space between these beads and the outer Silky bead holes.

Step 7: String an 11/0 seed bead, a fire-polished bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go up through the outer hole of the next Silky bead on the circle (highlighted in RED):

Step 8: String an 11/0 seed bead, a fire-polished bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go up through the outer hole of the next Silky bead on the circle (highlighted in RED):

Step 9: String an 11/0 seed bead, a fire-polished bead and an 11/0 seed bead.

Go across through the outer hole of the last Silky bead on the circle (highlighted in RED):

Step 10: Go back around through the outer ring of beads highlighted in RED), still keeping the motif flat:

Step 11: Go back down through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 12: String a fire-polished bead, two 11/0 seed beads and a fire-polished bead.

Go down through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead below (highlighted in RED):

Step 13: String a fire-polished bead, two 11/0 seed beads and a fire-polished bead.

Go across through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 14: String a fire-polished bead, two 11/0 seed beads and a fire-polished bead.

Go up through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 15: String a fire-polished bead, two 11/0 seed beads and a fire-polished bead.

Go up through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 16: String a fire-polished bead, two 11/0 seed beads and a fire-polished bead.

Go down through the 11/0 seed bead, the fire-polished bead and the 11/0 seed bead highlighted in RED:

Step 17: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED so that you are exiting from the top-right 11/0 seed bead:

Next you will give your Silky Star arms a point by adding 11/0 seed beads to each arm tip.

If you want your star to dome a bit, pull nice and tight as you go through the beads at each star point to get to the end of the next star arm.

If not, keep the motif flat as you add 11/0 seed beads to each tip and go through the beads that follow.

Step 18: String an 11/0 seed bead and go down through the beads highlighted in RED.

The 11/0 seed bead that you just added should sit above and a little between the two 11/0 seed beads below so that the trio of seed beads form a nice point as you pull tight:

Step 19: String an 11/0 seed bead and go down through the beads highlighted in RED.

The 11/0 seed bead that you just added should sit beside and a little between the two adjacent 11/0 seed beads so that the trio of seed beads form a nice point as you pull tight:

Step 20: String an 11/0 seed bead and go across through the beads highlighted in RED.

The 11/0 seed bead that you just added should sit below and a little between the two 11/0 seed beads above so that the trio of seed beads form a nice point as you pull tight:

Step 21: String an 11/0 seed bead and go up through the beads highlighted in RED.

The 11/0 seed bead that you just added should sit below and a little between the two 11/0 seed beads above so that the trio of seed beads form a nice point as you pull tight:

Step 22: String an 11/0 seed bead and go up through the beads highlighted in RED.

The 11/0 seed bead that you just added should sit beside and a little between the two adjacent 11/0 seed beads so that the trio of seed beads form a nice point as you pull tight:

Step 23: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED, pulling tight if you want the star to dome:

In the steps that follow, I have included two different ways to connect your earring motif to your earring finding. Pick the one you like best.

Closed Jump Ring

Step 24: To add a closed jump ring, string six 11/0 seed beads.

Go around and back through the 11/0 seed bead on the earring that you just exited:

Step 25: Go back around through the ring of seed beads highlighted in RED:

NOTE: If you want, you can stop right here, weave into the motif, knot, cut your thread and attach this seed bead ring to an open jump ring or directly to an earring finding.

Step 26: Go back up through the seed beads highlighted in RED:

Step 27: String a fire-polished bead and an 11/01 seed bead.

Go around through a jump ring and then back down through the 11/0 seed bead and fire-polished bead that you just added.

Continue around through the ring of seed beads below (highlighted in RED):

Step 28: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and your jump ring:

Weave back around through the jump ring, back down into the earring motif, knot and cut your thread. Connect your earring to your earring finding.

Cymbal Element

Many of the Beadsmith Cymbal™ elements work wonderfully instead of jump rings.

Step 24: String two 11/0 seed beads.

Go through a Cymbal element loop. String two more 11/0 seed beads. Go around and back across through the top 11/0 seed bead on the motif that you just exited (highlighted in RED):

Step 25: Go back around through the beads highlighted in RED and the Cymbal element:

Weave back into the earring motif, knot and cut your thread. Attach the Cymbal to your earring finding.

Beads used in the photo above

Silky Star Earrings, free pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com

Labrador version:
• About 10 size 15/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: CZ55006 Crystal Labrador Full Czech Coating on Miyuki Rocailles
• About 75 size 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Czech/Miyuki #27000 Crystal Full Labrador
• 32 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Crystal Etched Labrador Full
• 10 size 6x6mm Czech Silky beads: Crystal Full Labrador

Silky Star Earrings, free pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com

Red/Gold version:
• About 10 size 15/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold
• About 75 size 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold
• 30 size 3mm fire-polished beads: 24k Gold Plated
• 10 size 6x6mm Czech Silky beads: Red
• two Beadsmith Pilos Cymbal Elements: 24kt Gold Plated Pilos

Silky Star Earrings, free pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com

Picasso/Sandalwood version:
• About 10 size 15/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold
• About 75 size 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #4202 Duracoat Galvanized Gold
• 30 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Halo Sandalwood
• 10 size 6x6mm Czech Silky beads: Opaque Green Turquoise Picasso
• two Beadsmith Pilos Cymbal Elements: 24kt Gold Plated Pilos

Silky Star Earrings, free pattern at AroundTheBeadingTable.com

Marea/Violet version:
• About 10 size 15/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #457L Light Bronze
• About 75 size 11/0 Miyuki (rocaille) seed beads: Miyuki #457L Light Bronze
• 30 size 3mm fire-polished beads: Opaque Luster Violet
• 10 size 6x6mm Czech Silky beads: Jet Marea Full
• two Beadsmith Pilos Cymbal Elements: Antique Brass Plated Pilos