TUTO: Earrings
How to make a (small!) bead weave?
Here's a colorblock earring DIY, I promise it's not too complicated and you can create endless patterns! You'll see it's very meditative... And perfect for using up all those little scraps of seed beads from previous creations lying around in your drawers, we see you! š
šFor this DIY you'll need :
- seed beads (even a small quantity will do)
- sewing thread
- beading needle
- scotch tape
- earring fasteners
- pliers (optional)
šHow to make :
Start by deciding on your patterns and colors according to the beads you have. Feel free to make a sketch so you can refer to it while weaving. We recommend that you start by making 1 to 3 monochrome stripes at the bottom of the triangle, so that you can calmly learn the technique and gesture.
Don't panic, it may look very technical, but it's all about moving back and forth in an "S" pattern. If you're at a loss, just watch the video in detail and do a few tests, you'll see that it's an easy knack to pick up!
The loop is built in two stages: a triangle of woven beads, worked from bottom to top, ending at the top with a sort of beaded semicircle for inserting the fastener. Then a second part with bangs, which adorn the bottom of the triangle.
Note: if your thread isn't long enough, or if it breaks, or (horrors!) knots, don't panic: you can add a new thread by connecting it to the previous one with 2 small, discreet knots.
The triangle :
Take about 1m50 of sewing thread, leave about 15 cm free at the end and tie several knots to prevent the beads from escaping. Don't hesitate to tape your thread to your table, to hold everything in place and ensure even work.
Thread 4 beads through the needle. These will be the very first beads at the base of your loop, i.e. the base of the triangle just above the bangs. Divide these 4 beads into 2x2 on your thread.
Pass the needle through your beads again, but only the first two (i.e. the hole on the opposite side to where the thread with the needle exits). Tighten well. Your 4 beads are positioned 2 by 2, forming a sort of square.
Pass the needle through the second pair of beads, starting again in the opposite direction, as if you were drawing an S, so that the thread comes out of the bottom of this second pair.
Thread two beads again and pass the thread back through the previous pair of beads, tighten, pass the S-shaped thread through the last two beads threaded, tighten, thread two new beads, pass back through the previous two beads, tighten... you've got the technique!
Continue weaving as wide as you like (here, 15 pairs of beads).
To move on to the row above, you can change color if it suits your pattern, and here's how to go about creating this new row: pass your needle through the loop created by the thread just before your last pair of beads. Pull tight. You can now start a new row.
Thread 2 beads. Pass the thread under the same loop again, between the last two beads of the row below. The two beads you've just put on the thread will come to rest one above the other on the bottom row. Now thread the thread through these two beads again, starting from the bottom and working your way up, then thread two new beads onto your thread. Pass your needle through the next loop on the bottom row, tighten, and you've just formed your first new row of 4 beads!
Now you can add two more beads and repeat this exact process: go back through the last 2 beads, once you've reached the top, add two beads, go back down, go through the next loop, go back up again adding 2 beads, and so on.
Until you reach the end of your row, where you repeat the process to create a new row!
Insofar as you always pass through the previous loop to create the new row above, this will automatically create a reduction row after row, resulting in ... a triangle.
Continue in this way, reproducing the pattern you've drawn in beads, changing color as necessary. š When you reach the very top of your triangle, i.e. with only 2 beads left, thread 6 beads, then work your way down, passing the thread through all the last beads of the rows on the opposite side to the one you came from!
That's it! Pass the thread 1 or 2 times through a loop at the bottom of the triangle to secure everything, and you've got your triangle - you've done the hard part!
The bangs
Now string beads until you reach the desired length for your curls (here about 12 beads).
Isolate the last bead, then thread the needle upwards again, through all the beads except this last one, so as to block your fringe. Then work your way up, and into the 2 beads of the bottom row of your triangle. Your first fringe is now firmly attached to your triangle. Now pass your thread through the next 2 beads at the base of your triangle, threading 12 beads again, while respecting your pattern and color changes. Again, pass the thread through all the fringe beads except the last one, then through the 2 beads at the bottom of your triangle, tightening... Etc. Add all the bangs in this way (here, there are 24), until you reach the end of the triangle. Finish by going up one last time through the fringe beads, and tying a discreet double knot connected to the 15 cm or so you left at the start.
Repeat on ... a second earring! We liked the fact that the two were mismatched in design, but kept the same color code and size.
All that's left is to attach the two earring clips, using pliers to secure them to each 6-bead loop.