Single Flat Spiral Bracelet in Black and Silver

This is my first bead weaving bracelet! It took 3 hours (it will take less time next time as now I know what I'm doing - I hope) but it has already received lots of compliments!

As is my usual colour choice... black and silver

This is a GREAT beginner bracelet as it is single needle and the pattern is quite easy -- put on a center bead, then 5 seed beads, one crystal, 5 more seeds beads and loop back into the center bead for the right side then do the 5-1-5 again for the left side! After the initial center bead, you then loop back into two of the center beads to continue which creates an overlap of the side arrangement




Supplies:


10mm center beads (can be 4, 6 too in any shape)


2mm crystals (I used bicones for this project)


11.0 seed beads (silver in the photo)


One beading needle


.06 Firewire


Toggle bar and loop




Approx. $10 in cost 


All items were available at the local big box craft supply store OR the local beading store OR available online 


I used a youtube video to go through the process step by step (pausing it on my laptop as required). There are several well put together and informative tutorial videos available (search on youtube: Single Spiral Bracelet Tutorial).


When you are ready, they also have a double version of this bracelet  -  twice as nice as the single style!


Note: the beads in this project were not real stones, the crystals were the "knock off'' versions and the toggle and clasp are silver plated. I imagine you could spend a lot more $ in making one of these bracelets using real crystals and stones - the results are quite stunning!

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Tips and Tricks


Ensure that there is not a lot of play when you are assembling the bracelet, i.e. keep the threat tension tight - especially when it comes to affixing the clasp - as these gaps can show on the finished product


Check often that there are no gaps in between the beads before moving on to the next section


If you make a mistake, pull out and remove the last few beads you put on to "undo" - to the point of the mistake and then start that section over


If you run out of fireline, watch a tutorial from youtube on how to join more thread into the work  (I ran out because I could not find an actual supplies list or indication of how much fireline to use) but it is easy to attach another length of the fireline


I started with a "wingspan" as they call it - holding the fireline between both your hands while stretching them out from left to right of your body - I was comfortable only working with one wingspan though as two would have been difficult to handle


Check the size often - I cut a strip of paper the size of my wrist and placed it at the top of my mat while assembling so I could check often (include space for the toggle and bar clasp)

Also, chasing those seed beads around can be frustrating - buy the bead mat at the bead or craft store (so they can't run away as easily) or use a piece of fabric. I kept my needle as laid flat as possible so it is on the angle that the needle can easily slide into the tiny tiny hole and used my fingernail tip to "hold" the bead still - picking these tiny beads up on your needle will be the bulk of the actual assembly of the bracelet and I was frustrated at first but it was worth it - listen to some nice music to avoid frustration!


Additionally, I have various colour photos on my pinterest page of other colour variations of this same bracelet search pinterest: YesIMadeItMysel 
(the full name on my website as translated on to my pinterest page was too long to have included the last "f"' so search accordingly)


Enjoy making this project!

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