Looking through lattice beaded beads

Beadwork reveals the color of an inner bead

SUPPLIES

beaded bead ⅞ in. (2.2 cm)

• 1 14 mm round acrylic bead (usbeadery.com)
• 48 4 mm bicone crystals or Czech fire-polished beads
• 96 15/0 seed beads
• Fireline 6 lb. test, clear
• beading needles, #12
• pens, red and black
• straight pin or T-pin

INSTRUCTIONS

Section 1

1. Thread a needle on each end of a 1-yd. (.9 m) length of Fireline, and use a pen to color one end of the thread black and the other end red (hereafter referred to as the red and black thread).

2. Center a 15/0 seed bead, a 4 mm bicone crystal, a 15/0, a 4 mm, a 15/0, a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm, and cross the threads through the last 4 mm to form a ring (FIGURE 1, a–b and f–g). Position the red thread to the left side of the ring and the black thread to the right.

3. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm. Cross the black thread through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (b–c and g–h).

4. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the black thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm. Cross the red thread through the last 4 mm picked up in this step to form a triangle (c–d and h–i).

5. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm (d–e). With the black thread, sew through the next 4 mm in the first ring, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (i–j).

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 twice (FIGURE 2, a–b and d–e).

7. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the black thread, pick up a 4 mm. With the red thread, sew through the first 4 mm picked up in step 3, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the 4 mm picked up in this step (b–c and e–f). Snug up the beads to form a shallow curved bowl (PHOTO A).

Section 2

1. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm. Cross the black thread through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (FIGURE 3, a–b and g–h).

2. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the black thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm. With the red thread, sew through the next edge 4 mm, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (b–c and h–i). You will begin to form a band that will circle the midsection of the bead.

3. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, pick up a 4 mm, a 15/0, and a 4 mm. With the black thread, sew through the next edge 4 mm, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (c–d and i–j).

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 twice (d–e and j–k).

5. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the black thread, pick up a 4 mm. With the red thread, sew through the next edge 4 mm, pick up a 15/0, sew through the first 4 mm picked up in step 1, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the last 4 mm picked up in this step (e–f and k–l and PHOTO B).

Section 3

1. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, pick up an alternating pattern of a 4 mm and a 15/0 five times. Sew through the second 4 mm in the same direction to form a cap ring (PHOTO C), and pick up a 15/0 and a 4 mm (FIGURE 4, a–b). 

2. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the black thread, pick up a 4 mm (h–i). With the red thread, sew through the next edge 4 mm, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the 4 mm picked up in this step (b–c).

3. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, sew through the next cap 4 mm, and pick up a 15/0 and a 4 mm. With the black thread, sew through the next edge 4 mm, pick up a 15/0, and cross through the 4 mm picked up in this step (c–d and i–j).

4. Insert a 14 mm bead into the beadwork. Position the bead hole beneath the cap, and slide a straight pin through the center of the cap ring, the hole, and the center square of the bottom section (PHOTO E). This will prevent the bead from shifting as you complete the beadwork.

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 twice (d–e and j–k). Snug up the beads as you close the beadwork around the 14 mm bead.

6. With each thread, pick up a 15/0. With the red thread, sew through the next edge bead (e–f). With the black thread, sew through the first 4 mm picked up in step 1, pick up a 15/0, and sew through the edge bead (k–l). Tie a concealed knot in the edge 4 mm. Weave the tails through the beadwork before trimming.