Sailing Away Earring Tutorial

For many beaders, there are few things more fun and satisfying than whipping up a pair of fringed brick stitch earrings. The classic design is easy to make and offers lots of fun possibilities for pattern and color play. You can create all kinds of variation within the fringe by tapering, adding drop beads, or incorporating a pattern. This week I discovered that brick stitch earrings are also a great backdrop for silhouettes.

In the nautical-themed March bead box from Blueberry Cove Beads, subscribers got so many wonderful treasures, including a lovely packet of wooden cut-out charms with a sailboat motif. I was totally taken with these pretties instantly because they would go so well with my favorite tagua-slice-and-St.Petersburg necklace design. Front-drilled charms and pendants are great for layering as a unique focal. However, since the charms came in pairs – two each in white, pale blue, and navy – I decided to experiment with earring designs instead, and the Sailing Away earrings were born.

Lightweight wooden beads and charms are ideal for earrings, and are a great way to add oomph without making earrings too heavy. You could also use tagua nut slices, shell charms, or mini pendants.

To create these earrings you’ll need a few grams of 11/o seed beads in three colors, and one matching 8/o seed bead color. You’ll also need some lightweight front-drilled charms or pendants, like the sailboat cut-outs, jumprings, and earring findings. For the example project I used an ocean sunset palette of orange, purple, and navy blue, but any color trio would look great!

Sailing Away Silhouette Fringe Earrings

1. Attach a stop bead to 2 yards (1.8 m) of beading thread, leaving a 6 inch (15cm) tail. Pick up 6 seed beads and slide them down to the end.

2. Working in square stitch, add 6 rows of beadwork for a total of seven vertical columns of beads.

3. Anchor the thread by stitching down through the 6th column, and back up through the 7th column again.

4. Pick up 2 seed beads. Skipping the nearest bridge of thread between the top beads, needle under the following bridge, moving towards you. Gently pull the thread snug to bring the new beads into place along the top of the beadwork.

5. Stitch up through the 2nd bead just added and pull snug, being careful not to cross or splice the threads.

6. Pick up 1 seed bead. Pass the needle under the next thread bridge at the top of the beadwork and pull snug. Stitch up through the new bead.

7. Repeat step 6 until you reach the end of the beadwork and all of the bridge threads are covered. Stitch up through the last bead added. Flip the beadwork to start the new row.

8. Repeat steps 4-7 until you have a row with just 2 beads. Pick up 1 size 8/o seed bead, and 13 size 11/o seed beads.

9. Stitch back down through the 8/o and into the opposite brick-stitch bead in the final row to secure the loop.

10. Pass down through the beads at the edge of the brick stitch section and all of the beads in the outer square stitch column.

11. Anchor the thread by stitch up through a few beads in the next column, then back down through the same number of beads in the outer column to exit from the bottom. Leave the working thread for now.

12. Remove the stop bead from the tail thread and weave it into the beadwork, passing through the loop section at least once to add strength. Trim.

13. Pick up the working thread again. String about 3cm of size 11/o seed beads, 1 size 8/o seed bead, and a size 11/o.

14. Skipping the last bead picked up, stitch up through the 8/o seed bead and the rest of the strand. Stitch up through a few beads in the square stitch section, then down through the same number of beads in the next column. Check the tension on the fringe.

15. Continue adding strands of fringe, tapering as desired, until you have 7 strands.

16. Weave up into the center of the brick stitch section. Pick up a silhouette charm and 2 size 11/o seed beads. Skipping the 2nd bead added, pass back through the 1st seed bead and the charm, and needle through to the back of the beadwork. Pull snug.

17. Working from the back of the beadwork, stitch through the nearest seed bead. Weave around to retrace the thread path through the charm, then secure any remaining thread and trim.

18. Attach a jump ring and ear wire to the loop. Repeat to make a second matching earring.

Happy beading!

Mortira

I would like to thank Blueberry Cove Beads for giving me the chance to try out the Nautical Bead Box. Inspiration Beading has not received compensation for including products in this post.

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

Beading Tutorial: Flat and Freeform Brick Stitch

Brick stitch is one of the most basic beading techniques one can learn, along with classics like peyote stitch and herringbone weave. It has a simple structure that can be used in many variations, and with a wide variety of bead types. What makes this stitch unique is the flexibility of its basic rules. It has a lot of potential for freeform work, because it doesn’t have to follow an exact pattern or method.

When worked plain, a panel of brick stitch looks just like peyote, but worked vertically instead of horizontally. You can even use peyote stitch patterns with brick stitch without any adaptations - just flip them to the side. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever used brick stitch in the way it was originally intended - it’s just too much fun to bend the rules.

Brick stitch is an ideal technique to use with bead soups, because there is no need for perfectly matched beads. It can easily be worked with many different bead sizes and shapes, with beautiful, organic results. For freeform enthusiasts, it is an essential stitch, because it can easily transition to peyote or right angle weave on the sides, and herringbone weave or picots on the top and bottom.

Brick Stitch Basics

Just like herringbone weave, I like to begin brick stitch with a two-bead ladder. This provides a sturdy base for your first row, and is easier to grip while stitching. First, pick up 4 beads, and slide them down the thread, leaving at least a 6 inch tail. Pass up through the first 2 beads again, and pull snug to form a pair of 2-bead columns.

Stitch down through the 3rd and 4th bead, then pick up 2 new beads. Stitch down through the last 2 beads again, and pull snug. Pass up through the 2 new beads. Pick up 2 more beads, and pass through the 2 just added, chasing your working thread.

Continue adding 2 beads at a time with ladder stitch, until you reach the desired width. Perform a step up if necessary, to bring the working thread to the top of the ladder, opposite from the tail thread.

Pick up 2 beads. Bring the needle under the first bridge thread, which passes between the top 2 beads in the ladder, closest to where your thread is exiting. Pull snug so that the beads rest side-by-side atop the beadwork.

Carefully stitch up through the second bead, keeping the needle from passing under or through any of the existing threads. When you pull the stitch snug, the beads should remain locked in place. If the second bead comes free, the threads have crossed. Pick up the stray bead and begin again.

For the remainder of the row, you will add one bead at a time. Pick up one bead, and pass through the next bridge thread in the top of the previous row. When working with a single bead size, you will only use each bridge once, placing a new bead between each pair in the row below. With multiple bead sizes and shapes, you can use the next available bridge thread, even if it has already been used. This will provide snug, even beadwork.

When you reach the end of the row, the new beads will be slightly shorter than those below. Flip the beadwork, and add the next row as before. Start with two beads, and pass under the first bridge thread from the previous row. The start of your new row will be slightly longer than the previous one. As you add new rows, the sides of your beadwork will start to resemble the edges of peyote stitch.

You can easily incorporate beads of slightly different sizes and shapes into a row. There will only be a minor change to the structure of the beadwork, because the bridge threads for the next row will remain basically the same.

Larger beads can also be added, and these will greatly alter the shape of the following rows. A combination of flat and circular brick stitch can be used to build around accent beads. You can add smaller beads around these accents during the same row, or in the next one. For either method, you’ll need to do some back weaving to bring your thread into the correct position.

Mixing up flat and circular brick stitch with an assortment of beads is a great way to experiment with both freeform and structural beadwork. By ignoring the rules and following your beader's intuition, you can create some very unique designs with interesting shapes and patterns.

Do you like to use brick stitch in your work? Do you follow the rules or make up your own?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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A Bracelet a Week: River Stripes

When I sat down to write about last week’s bracelet, it suddenly occurred to me that this challenge is nearly at an end. It seems that out of nowhere, the end of the year is approaching - there are only a few weeks left to go. It hardly feels like an entire year has gone by, let alone nearly fifty two bracelets.

I had no idea how difficult this challenge would be at the end, with so many changes to my schedule. I would love to make something big and elaborate for the last leg of this journey, but I don’t know if I can find the time. It would be nice to finish off with the best design yet, but I’ll be happy with whatever inspiration, and opportunity, allows.

In any case, I was a little worried that the designs over the past few weeks have been a little dry. While I’m certainly not wanting for ideas, I have a lot less time to execute them within the tight deadlines of a weekly challenge. For the most recent piece, I set out to do something that fits my current style, but wasn’t previously attempted. In the end, I turned to a stitch that I haven’t used in a really long time - since I first started beading, in fact.

Using plain, ordinary flat brick stitch, and a combination of fun bead colors and shapes, I worked up a simple cuff that looks so much like a rag rug that it makes me think of early 1980’s kitchens, flying carpets, and macramé wall hangings all at once. The combination of greens and blues, with a hint of black and white, has a sort of watery effect, like jewels at the bottom of a lagoon.

I’m very tempted to use this stitch one more time this year, because it was so much fun to play with a simple pattern and an even simpler stitch.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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A Bracelet a Week: Leopard Print

This week I was in the mood for some more medallions. After experimenting with brick stitch and stick pearls, I wanted to take things a step further and combine lots of medallions into a single piece. To create a theme that would go with lots of circles, I chose a palette of black and topaz, with tortoiseshell druks for the medallion base.

This bracelet was a lot of fun to make. I added a loop of seed beads to either side of each medallion while adding the picot finish, and connected them together as I stitched. The best part was being able to incorporate a button clasp seamlessly into the design - it exactly matches the smaller circles in the chain, and completes the pattern as well!

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading
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Favorite Techniques: Beaded Washers

Sometimes, the beading techniques that we favor most are inspired by the use of a favorite material. Delica lovers are masters of peyote stitch. Chainmaille and jump rings go hand in hand. Today my guest, Tamara of Vanishing Pearl Jewelry, shares an insight into her favorite combination of technique and material - beaded washers.

Inspirational Beading: What is your all time favorite beading or jewelry technique?

Tamara: I don't necessarily have a favorite beading or jewelry technique. I believe that most designs will dictate the techniques used as you go along. However, I have recently been designing jewelry pieces that incorporate beaded washers! They are made using circular brick stitch with various embellishments. This is my current favorite line of jewelry.

Inspirational Beading: How did you decide to make this combination?

Tamara: I first came across washers as a design element while bored at Wal-Mart in the middle of the night. You can see the entire story behind beaded washers on my blog. Ever since then, I've had nothing but washers on my mind. I had learned circular brick stitch years ago, but it had never occurred to me to use something with a large hole in the middle rather than wrapping thread around a bead and going from there. This was a revelation for me and is still an experimental process.

Inspirational Beading: Of all the creations you’ve made with this technique, which one is your favorite?

Tamara: I'd have to say that Fire Powered Plumbing is still my favorite. This was my very first beaded washer piece and the most challenging to make. It was a finalist in the 2009 Fire Mountain Gems beading contest. This piece opened up a whole new set of possibilities for me, which I am constantly expanding upon.

Inspirational Beading: Can you share any tips for getting started with this method?

Tamara: Actually, I recently uploaded a free photo tutorial on my blog! It includes a material list and step by step instructions for one of many beaded washer designs. You can embellish them in any way you like or look out for more tutorials from me in the future.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite material to use it with?

Tamara: There is no need to just stop at washers! I have used rubber washers and rubber O rings. Go one step further and venture into your bead stash. There is a piece that I made using mother of pearl shell disks. I call it Jasmine Fancy. I plan on using stone donuts, glass donuts, lampwork discs, rondelle beads, and anything else I can get my hands on.

Inspirational Beading: If someone had to choose to learn only one technique, would you recommend this one?

Tamara: I would definitely recommend this as a beginning technique. Although the stitch is very easy, the uses are limited only by your imagination. The amount of variety is endless. I have even changed the color of the thread according to what looks best at the time. I'm sure that patinas and paints could be applied to washers to give them different effects. Plus, washers are lightweight and fairly inexpensive. That's always a bonus in my book!

You can see more unique beaded washer designs and inspirations at Vanishing Pearl on Etsy and Facebook. For more fun beading ideas and to see what’s new, visit Tamara’s blog, Vanishing Pearl.

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and Vanishing Pearl
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Beaded Body Parts

Disclaimer: This post contains mature subject matter.

The only thing better than using your talents to help someone else, is doing it with a sense of humor. I often get a burst of enthusiasm every time I come up with a new beading challenge for this blog, but none of them top the excitement of creating cheeky designs for April’s Army.

I actually have a few different designs lined up to donate, but they keep getting shuffled around. The piece I wanted to make for this month’s charity shop got pushed back yet again, because some of the supplies I needed were held up in the mail. So I moved on to my next, but no less outrageous idea - a beaded nipple.

The concept for this unusual design occurred to me awhile ago. Whenever I make something with circular brick stitch - especially if the first few rows match the base bead - I noticed there was something odd about the look of the beadwork. When I realized what it was, I knew I had the makings of a great Regretsy-worthy design.

To make this necklace, I combined a pink cat’s eye with seed beads in pink and pale beige. The domed shape of the circular brick stitch really adds to the overall effect, don’t you think? The pendant is suspended from an optional reverse-daisy chain, with a few different styles of beads in pink, white and cream.

The April’s Army charity shop opens today, and is stuffed full of handmade and vintage goodness. Not all of the designs are wild, and there’s something for just about every taste and budget. You can learn more about the shop’s mission, and the recipient of this month’s fundraiser on Facebook and Regretsy.

Here are a few of my favorite jewelry designs from the shop:

















Click images to see the listing and learn more about the artist behind each design.

Have you ever made a totally outrageous jewelry design? What’s your favorite ‘against the grain’ theme?

Copyright 2011 Inspirational Beading and April's Army
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