Necklace – Seed Bead Patchwork

These little patchwork squares made from your leftover seed beads can be woven together to make a wrist cuff or bookmark, connected to ear wire with a jump ring to make earrings, or hung from a necklace as a pendant. Experiment with different color combinations and patters; the possibilities are endless.

What you need

Beading thread
Size 11 seed beads in various colors
Beading needle
Scissors

Instructions

Project time (per square): about 10 minutes

1. Cut a 20-inch length of beading thread and tie an overhand knot in the thread, leaving a 5- to 6-inch tail.

2. Thread the beading line through a flexible beading needle, and string four size 11 seed beads onto the thread.

3. Run the thread back up through the first two beads to form a small square. Pass the thread through all four beads again to tighten the square.

4. String three more beads onto the thread. Pass the needle back through the last bead in the inner square.

5. Pass the string through the next bead of the inner square, and repeat step 4.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the remaining two beads in the inner square so each corner of the small square has three beads surrounding it. Pass the thread through the beads of the outer square to straighten and tighten it.

7. For a two-layer square, weave both ends back through several beads, tying knots as you go to secure the thread. Trim any remaining thread.

8. With the thread emerging from between the two center beads on one side of the square, string one bead and pass the thread back through the last bead in the second layer and the next bead in the second layer. Repeat once.

9. With the thread emerging from a corner bead in the second layer, add three beads. Pass the thread back through the corner bead and the next bead in the second layer.

10. Repeat steps 8 and 9, adding one bead for every middle bead in the second layer and three beads for every corner bead in the second layer. Pass the thread through all the beads on the third layer to tighten and straighten them.

11. Continue adding layers in this manner until your square reaches the desired size. For larger squares, you can use a 3mm cube-shaped bead in place of the four central beads.