Hot Summer Beading

The long dry winter was just an intro into a hot summer.

As soon as the exterior temperature starts getting close to my internal one, I start day dreaming of rain and wind.  Most homes around here don't come with air conditioning, so this a has given me an excuse to try to get out to the ocean as much as possible.  The Northwest beaches may not be great places to go for sun bathing, but they are excellent places to go for beautiful vistas and moderate temperatures.  It's just the thing for the summer doldrums.

Escaping to the beach is not a practical long term solution however.  So my knitting and large crochet projects had to be put away in favor of crafts that would not be as hampered by my hands sweating and being to warm to let any work rest on my lap.  

After careful examination of my craft supplies I came across my beading loom which had been put away after I became frustrated by the quality of the bracelets that I had been making.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not get the edges of the bracelets to be square and smooth.  Not a huge problem, but one that I found irksome and bothersome enough for me to give up for awhile.  This fresh bout of weather found me dragging my supplies out and reconsidering the problem that and banished the loom the last time.  After much consideration I finally decided, if I can't bead an edge that I can be happy with, then I can just make a different edge that will do just as well.  And so I designed  and built a new set of bracelets that I liked and wouldn't be embarrassed to give away.

If you're looking for a summer project to help you deal with the heat, here are two of my designs to help you out.  Feel free to change the colors, the size, or the layout.  Just please don't try to sell the patterns as your own.  

If you have any questions about the pattern, please email me at GridMammalCrafts@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Fog Swirls with Crochet Edging

Shown in Size Medium

Materials:

            Beading Loom

            Black Nymo Thread Size B

Beading Needle

            Size 11/0 Seed Beads, 101m – Opaque Jet Black

Size 11/0 Seed Beads, 526 – Silver Grey Ceylon

            Size 11/0 Seed Beads, 595 – Dark Copper Supra

            Size 80 Crochet Thread – DMC, Noir

Size 11, 1.10mm Crochet Hook

Button

Small Dull Sewing Needle

Fine Scissors

Finished Size:

Small

                        ~8.375” x 1.325” (with crochet)

                        ~8” x 1.125 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 6” wrist

            Medium

                        ~8.875” x 1.325” (with crochet)

                        ~8.5” x 1.125 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx.6.5” wrist

Large

                        ~9.375” x 1.325” (with crochet)

                        ~9” x 1.125 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 7” wrist

            Extra Larg

                        ~9.875” x 1.325” (with crochet)

                        ~9.5” x 1.125 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 7.5” wrist

Notes:

            Sizes may vary slightly depending on the color and type of 11/0 Seed Beads used.

            Each bracelet has eight corners, four to a side.

            The single block in each pattern outlined in a thick line denotes the likely position to attach the     

                    button.

            Choose button after the bracelet has been woven to make sure that its size is correct.

            A button with a shank will work better than a flat one.

Key:

Chart:

Instructions:

            Thread a beading loom with 20 warp threads

            Weave in beads as shown on chart, being careful to omit beads for the button hole.

            Remove bracelet from loom and weave in ends.

           

Edging:

                        Starting on a corner, join the crochet threat between two beads.

Row 1: Loosely single crochet around the nymo between each bead on the exterior of the bracelet.  Slip stitch to the first single crochet.

Row 2: Single crochet into the same stitch that was slip stitched into.  #Chain 3.  Single crochet into the same crochet that you just slip stitched into. *Chain 3.  Skip one single crochet and single crochet into the next.*  (Repeat from * to * till the next corner) # (Repeat from # to # around).  Chain 3.  Slip stitch to the first single crochet in the row. 

Row 3: Single crochet 5 over first chain 3.  ∆Single crochet 5 over the next chain 3.∆   (Repeat from ∆ to ∆ around.)  Slip stitch to the first single crochet in the row.

Break thread and weave in ends.

            Using nymo thread and seed beads of choice, sew on the button in the desired position.

            Enjoy.  

Deco Pennant with Crochet 

Edging

Shown in Size Medium

Materials:

            Beading Loom

            Pale Yellow Nymo Thread Size B

Beading Needle

            Size 11/0 Seed Beads, F634 – Silver Lined Gold AB

Size 11/0 Seed Beads, F647– Silver Lined Dark Green AB

            Size 80 Crochet Thread – DMC, Ecru

Size 11, 1.10mm Crochet Hook

Button

Small Dull Sewing Needle

Fine Scissors

Finished Size:

Small

                        ~8.75” x 2.125” (with crochet)

                        ~7.25” x 1.25 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 6” wrist

            Medium

                        ~9.25” x 2.125” (with crochet)

                        ~8.25” x 1.25 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx.6.5” wrist

Large

                        ~9.75” x 2.125” (with crochet)

                        ~8.75” x 1.25 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 7” wrist

            Extra Larg

                        ~10.25” x 2.125” (with crochet)

                        ~9.25” x 1.25 (without crochet)

                        To fit a approx. 7.5” wrist

Notes:

            Sizes may vary slightly depending on the color and type of 11/0 Seed Beads used.

Each bracelet has eight corners, four to a side.

            The single block in each pattern outlined in a thick line denotes the likely position to attach the button.

            Choose button after the bracelet has been woven to make sure that its size is correct.

A button with a shank will work better than a flat one.

Key:

            

Chart:

Abbreviations:

            ch        chain

            dc        double crochet

            sc         single crochet

            sl st      slip stitch

Instructions:

            Thread a beading loom with 20 warp threads

            Weave in beads as shown on chart, being careful to omit beads for the button hole.

            Remove bracelet from loom and weave in ends.

Edging:

                        Starting on a corner on the opposite end from the button hole, join the crochet threat 

                              between two beads.

Row 1: Loosely sc around the nymo between each bead on the exterior of the bracelet.  Sl st to the first single crochet.

Row 2: Ch 4.  *Skip 1 sc of  the previous row and dc into the next sc. Ch 2. * (Repeat from * to *until the next corner.)  #Dc into the same sc.  Ch 2.#  (Repeat from * to * for each straight away, and from # to # for each corner sc.)  Sl st into the first sc in the row.

Row 3: Sc 3  over the next 2 ch in the ch 4 loop.  *Sl st into the next dc, ch 5, sl st in to the next dc, sc 3 over the next ch 2 space*  (Repeat from * to * around the bracelet.)  Slip stich to the first single crochet in the row.

Row 4:  Sl st into the next sc.  *Dc 5 into the next ch 4 loop, ch  3, dc 5 into the same ch 4 loop.* (Repeat from * to * around the bracelet.)  Sl st to the top of the first dc in the row.

Break thread and weave in ends.

            Using nymo thread and seed beads of your choice, sew on the button in the desired position.

            Enjoy.