Nostalgic netting

Display vintage buttons in an elegant netted collar

SUPPLIES

necklace 18½ in. (47)

• 7 vintage buttons, approximately ½ in. (1.3 cm)
• 3 mm fire-polished beads
• 34 color A
• 33 color B
• 10 g size 11/0 seed beads
• hank or 20 g size 13/0 Charlottes
• nylon beading thread
• beading needles, #13

INSTRUCTIONS

1. On a comfortable length of thread, leave a 10-in. (25 cm) tail, and attach a stop bead.

2. Pick up one 11/0 and five 13/0s (FIGURE 1, a–b). Skip the last 13/0, and sew back through the next 13/0 (b–c). Pick up three 13/0s, and sew through the 11/0 (c–d).

3. Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, two 13/0s, one 11/0, and four 13/0s (d–e). Skip the last 13/0, and sew back through the next 13/0 (e–f).

4. Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the first 11/0 picked up in the previous step (f–g). Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and one 13/0, and sew through the middle 13/0 in the group above the top 11/0 (g–h). Pick up three 13/0s, skip the last 13/0 picked up, and sew back through the previous 13/0 (h–i).

5. Continue working rows of netting as follows:

Row 3: Pick up three 13/0s, and sew back through the next 11/0 (i–j). Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (j–k). Pick up three 13/0s, a color A 3 mm fire-polished bead, and one 13/0. Skip the last 13/0, and sew back through the A and the 13/0 above it (k–l).

Row 4: Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (l–m). Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and one 13/0, and sew through the middle 13/0 in the group above the top 11/0 (m–n). Pick up three 13/0s, skip the last 13/0 picked up, and sew back through the next 13/0 (n–o).

Row 5: Pick up three 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (o–p). Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (p–q). Pick up four 13/0s, skip the last 13/0, and sew back through the previous 13/0 (q–r).

Row 6: Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (r–s). Pick up two 13/0s, one 11/0, and one 13/0, and sew through the middle 13/0 in the group above the top 11/0 (s–t). Pick up three 13/0s, skip the last 13/0 picked up, and sew back through the next 13/0 (t­–u).

Rows 7–102: Repeat rows 3–6, alternating color A and color B 3 mm beads, until you have 13 As and 12 Bs. Add thread as needed.

Row 103: Work the first two stitches of the next row as in row 3 (FIGURE 2, a–b). To extend the length of the row, pick up three 13/0s, one 11/0, three 13/0s, one 11/0, four 13/0s, one B, and one 13/0 (b–c). Skip the last 13/0, and sew back through the B and the 13/0 above it (c–d).

Row 104: Pick up three 13/0s, one 11/0, and three 13/0s, skip the next seven beads, and sew through the next 11/0 (d–e). Pick up three 13/0s, one 11/0, and two 13/0s, and sew through the next 11/0 (e–f). Work the next two stitches as you did in the previous rows (f–g).

Row 105: Work as in row 5, but extend the length of the row by two stitches (g–h). 

Row 106: Work the row as a mirror image of row 105 (h–i).

Rows 107–110: Continue working rows of netting, adding an A in row 107 (i–j).

Row 111: Work as in row 107, but substitute a button for the first 11/0 and use a B along the bottom (j–k).

Row 112: Work the row as a mirror image of row 111, sewing through the button when you get to it (k–l).

Rows 113–128: Continue working rows of netting, alternating between using an A and a B along the bottom in every fourth row and substituting a button for the first 11/0 in row 123 (l–m). 

Row 129: Extend the length of the row as shown (FIGURE 3, a–b).

Row 130: Mirror row 129 (b–c).

Row 131–132: Work in netting, adding an A along the bottom (c–d).

Row 133: Extend the length of the row as in row 129 (d–e).

Row 134: Mirror row 133 (e–f).

Row 135: Work in netting, but substitute a button for the first and third 11/0. Use a B along the bottom (f–g).

Row 136: Mirror row 135, sewing through the buttons when you get to them (g–h).

Rows 137–270: Mirror the first half of the necklace by repeating the rows in reverse. For the clasp, substitute a button for the 11/0 in row 266 (PHOTO A), and sew back through it in row 267 (PHOTO B). Secure the tail with a few half-hitch knots, and trim.

6. Remove the stop bead from the other end, thread a needle on the tail, and sew through the next six beads (FIGURE 4, a–b). Pick up a repeating pattern of two 13/0s and one 11/0 enough times to fit around the clasp button, ending with two 13/0s. Sew through the middle seven beads of row 1 (b–c). 

7. Sew through the first two 13/0s. 0s of the loop, pick up an 11/0, and sew through the next two 13/0s (c–d). Continue around the loop in modified peyote stitch (d–e). Secure the tail in the beadwork, and trim.