In this tutorial, we’ll be working with 4mm druks and 15/o seed beads - with 11/o anchors. If you want to use larger beads, you can adjust both the seed bead sizes and quantities used until you get a net that fits your accents. Try experimenting with different combinations, but remember that if your nets are too small, the accent beads will get lost inside the beadwork. Less is not more when it comes to this stitch. When in doubt, add more beads to your nets and test the fit with one or two rounds.
To Weave a Simple Pearl Netting Rope:
Start with a comfortable length of beading thread. Pick up one 11/o seed bead and one 4mm druk four times. Slide them down to the end of the thread, leaving about a 6 inch tail.
Pass through all 8 of the beads again, and pull snug to begin forming a small ring. Stitch through the first 3 beads again so that your thread is exiting from an 11/o seed bead. Pull the thread snug.
Pick up three 15/o seed beads, one 11/o, and three more 15/o seed beads. Stitch through the following 11/o seed bead in the ring, and pull the thread snug. Repeat for each of the remaining 11/o’s, until you have a flower-shape. Step up by stitching through the first 4 beads added in this round, so that your thread is exiting from an 11/o bead on the edge.
Pick up one 4mm druk, and stitch through the following 11/o seed bead in the previous round. Repeat 3 times - don’t worry about pulling the thread tight until you’ve added the final druk. Gently push the beadwork into a tube shape and pull the thread snug, then stitch through the first druk added in this round, and the following 11/o seed bead to step up.
Pick up three 15/o, one 11/o, and three 15/o. Stitch through the next 11/o seed bead in the base. Repeat three times and step up, then add the next round of druks.
Continue weaving the pattern until your netting reaches the desired length. Finish with a round of druks, then stitch through all of the beads in the final round a second time to secure them.
A short length of pearl netting is great for earrings or a pendant. Longer pieces can be strung with other beads for bracelets and necklaces, or stitched together for a very dramatic focal piece. By increasing or decreasing the size of your round beads and the quantity of net beads, you can create unique shapes such as spheres and donuts or - my favorite - strawberries!
Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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Wow you have just given me an idea for my next project . Thanks for the tutorial :)
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome! I hope the project works out great.
DeleteA big thank you for this tutorial !
DeleteLike I wrote earlier , I have used this tutorial to create my latest necklace . Your post came at a time when I was in a state of confusion , as no matter what technique I tried , I was not getting the desired result . But ...your post at the exact time was God send , and now my project is complete :)
here`s the link : http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.in/2014/04/my-latest-wip-using-antique-chinese.html
It's gorgeous! I'm so glad that you found the tutorial helpful.
DeleteThis is so interesting! I do bead embroidery on my art quilts..but never heard of a duro bead. Thanks for sharing!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is the difference between druks and other 4mm beads. And why is this called pearl netting when there are no pearls being used??? Just curious. :)
ReplyDeleteDruks are Czech glass round beads - druk is the Czech word for 'round'. I'm not sure where the name came from specifically, except that 'pearl' is another term for a round bead, and it's a great way to specify this particular type of netting, which would be completely different without the round beads.
DeleteReally looks difficult when your a novice but take it slow, follow the instructions and if i can do it anyone can. Only been beading a few months and my partner challenged me to attempt this. To my surprise i completed a 4 inch key chain. Give it a go it is beautiful when completed. Thank you so much for your inspiration and fabulous easy to follow tutorial. Keep up the good work. (Going to try it with bicone accents next.
ReplyDeleteOnce again many thanks.
Congrats on the project! I'm glad that you found the tutorial helpful.
DeleteThanks for d tutorial it's realy helpful
ReplyDeleteI'm going to try this. I looked at another tutorial by a famous beader and I just couldn't get it. I hope I have better luck with it.
ReplyDeleteI also tried this from a magazine but couldn't get it, so a big thank you for this tutorial. I am halfway through a necklace using this.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome! I'm glad that the steps are working for you. It's a bit of a bead hog, but pearl netting is so satisfying to stitch together.
DeleteThis is by far the best beading tutorial page I've come across. I am a self-taught beader and this page is so educative. Love this page.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ama!
DeleteDo you have an exact pattern for the strawberry hun?
ReplyDeleteYou bet! You can find a full project, PDF tutorial for the pendant by clicking the 'strawberries' link above, or copy and paste this url: https://www.etsy.com/shop/sagescupboard?section_id=7382948
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