This stunning, seed-bead heavy netting project is not for the faint-hearted beader. If you’re already familiar with netting, then you’ll love the tricky increases and decreases used to create the star shaped outer edge in this collar. The traditional edging on the inner portion of the necklace is cinched together at the very end to create a smooth finish. The extra step makes a complicated project even lengthier, but it’s totally worth it.
For clarity, I’ve listed every new step in the process, but if you can do netting in your sleep you’ll be able to do most of these steps without thinking. To help break up the netting and make it easier to see the increases and decreases taking shape, I’ve added a pattern to the beadwork. Once you’ve mastered the steps you can experiment with different motifs. I highly recommend sketching out some ideas and then trying them out!
For best results, I recommend using Czech size 11/o seed beads. They fit together very nicely in the closer stitches near the inner edge. For the best overall shape, save the skinniest beads that you come across in your seed bead batches to use in the cinching steps. I’ve used a different color at the end for clarity, but using the same color at the tips of your netting gives a very smooth look.
The amount of beads you’ll need for a full collar will vary depending on the pattern that you create. It’s a good idea to have a full hank or at least 20 grams of each color to be safe. You’ll also need your favorite size D beading thread and about 5 grams of size 15/o seed beads.
How to Weave Netted Star Collar
1. Attach a stop bead to a comfortable length of beading thread, leaving an 8 inch tail. Pick up: 9 yellow; 3 green and 1 red, 4 times; 2 green and 1 red, 2 times; 5 red; 6 yellow; 4 size 15/o; 1 yellow. Slide all of the beads down to the stop bead.
2. Skipping the last yellow bead added, stitch back down through the 15/o beads and the following yellow bead. Pull snug to lock the final yellow bead in place at the top of the row.
3. Pick up 4 yellow. Stitch down through the first yellow bead added to this section in the previous row (the yellow nearest the set of 5 red). Pull snug.
4. Pick up 5 red. Stitch down through the first red of the section in the previous row and pull snug.
5. Pick up 2 green, 1 red, and 2 green. Skipping 1 red in the previous row, stitch down through the following red bead.
6. Pick up 3 green, 1 red, and 3 green. Skip 1 red in the previous row and stitch down through the following red.
7. Pick up 3 green, 1 red, and 3 green. Stitch down through the topmost yellow bead in the previous row.
8. Pick up 7 yellow. Stitch down through the first yellow bead added in the previous row.
9. Pick up 5 size 15/o beads. Stitch up through the 4th (center) yellow bead added in the previous step.
10. Pick up 4 yellow and 3 green. Stitch up through the nearest red bead in the previous row.
11. Pick up 3 green, 1 red, and 3 green. Stitch up through the next red bead from the previous row.
12. Pick up 3 green, 1 red, and 2 green. Stitch up through the next red bead from the previous row.
13. Pick up 2 green and 3 red. Stitch up through the center red bead of the all-red section in the previous row.
14. Pick up 2 red and 3 yellow. Stitch up through the 3rd bead in the all-yellow section of the previous row.
15. Pick up 2 yellow, 4 size 15/o, and 1 yellow. Stitch back down through the 15/o beads and the 1st yellow pick up. Pull snug.
16. Repeat steps 3-6 to work a new downward row of netting to match the pattern.
17. In the next stitch, pick up 3 green and 4 yellow. Stitch down through the topmost yellow bead of the adjacent section in the previous row.
18. Pick up 5 size 15/o seed beads. Stitch up through the center yellow bead just added, and pull snug.
19. Pick up 4 yellow and 3 green. Stitch up through the next red bead in the previous row.
20. Continue the usual pattern upwards for the rest of the row, add the 15/o turn, and the 1st three stitches of the next downward row. Repeat steps 17 and 18 to turn at the end of the row.
21. Pick up 4 yellow and 2 green. Stitch up through the nearest red bead of the previous row. Finish the row and make the 15/o turn.
22. Add the all-yellow and all-red stitches, then add a set of 2 green, 1 red, and 2 green.
23. Pick up 8 yellow and 5 size 15/o beads. Stitch up through the 4th yellow bead added and pull snug. Don’t worry too much about the shape of the stitch for now. As long as the tension is good, it will take shape as other stitches are built around it.
24. Add a set of 3 green, 1 red, and 2 green. Finish the row and turn.
25. Add the yellow and red stitches, and two green/red stitches. In the last stitch, pass down through the last yellow bead added in step 23.
26. Repeat step 23 to turn and lengthen the netting again. Add 3 green, 1 red, and 3 green. Finish the row and turn.
27. Complete the downward row, finishing with 3 green, 1 red, and 3 green. Pass through the last yellow bead added in the adjacent section.
28. Add another increase/turn with 15/o beads. Pick up 4 yellow and 3 green. Stitch up through the nearest red bead of the previous row.
29. Add 3 green, 1 red, 3 green. Finish the rest of the row and turn.
30. Complete the entire downward row, following the pattern. In the final stitch, add 7 yellow seed beads, passing down through the last yellow bead of the previous row.
31. Pick up 5 size 15/o beads. Stitch up through the center yellow bead of the previous row and pull snug.
32. Repeat from step 10 until the netting has reached the desired length. Weave in any remaining tails and trim.
33. Attach a stop bead to a comfortable length of thread, leaving a 6 inch (15 cm) tail. Enter the beadwork at the bottom, and weave up through the netting to exit from the last stack of size 15/o seed beads at the top. Pass through the yellow bead so that the thread is pointing away from the beadwork.
34. Pick up 4 yellow seed beads. Pass back through the 1st bead added, and the same yellow seed bead again. Pull snug to form a picot.
35. Pick up 2 seed beads. Pass through the next yellow seed bead in the netting. Repeat 5-10 times.
36. To help maintain tension and strengthen the beadwork, add 5-10 seed bead pairs to the edge, then pass down into the netting. Weave back up to exit from one of the previously worked 15/o stacks. Pass through the seed bead pairs already added and exit from the last yellow bead worked at the edge.
37. Repeat steps 35 and 36 until you reach the first 15/o stack added to the netting.
38. Pick up 4 seed beads. Stitch back through the 1st bead added and the yellow seed bead. Pull snug to form a picot. Weave the remaining thread into the edge then secure in the netting and trim. Begin new threads to add a clasp as desired.
For variation, try adding some accents to the turns at the outer edge, like small drops or a contrasting size 11/o bead. If you feel lost at any time, remember that with basic netting your stitches should always match the adjacent section of the previous row. If you follow all of the steps here, you should be able to refer to your work for hints on how to proceed if you get stuck.
Happy beading!
Mortira
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